2012 Keuka MC Nor'Easterns

For the twelfth year running Keuka Yacht Club in the beautiful Finger Lakes of New York host the Nor’Easterns MC Regatta. 20 Boats competed in moderate, no strike that, let’s call it “interesting” winds.

Friday night rains prevented much of anything other than drinking and playing cards and such. Everyone found their hosts and was tucked into bed pretty early. Saturday morning sailors arrived at the club to see SSW winds at a nice 8-10. Race 1 was scheduled for 10:15. It didn’t quite make that time.

Race 1 – After a delay while the RC chased the clocking breeze to the west, The race got off with Scott Norris and Chris Hawk quickly jumping out to a good lead. The 5-12 mph winds were shifty with 30 degree shifts. It didn’t much matter what kind of boat you sailed as long as you picked the right shifts and sailed toward the next puff. Doing so would make you more gains than subtle boat speed differences. At mark 1, Norris and Hawk had a 15 length lead on the pack chasing them down. Both extended on the leeward making it a 2-boat race. On the windward leg large holes appeared and shift got even wilder. Norris broke cover on Hawk to go another 100 feet or so before tacking which let him extend dramatically and left Hawk in a hole. Stuart Strother  hit the right corner and closed the distance on Hawk eventually narrowly missing third lace at the finish. Norris however had checked out and won by a couple hundred yards. Will Hendershot from Montreal and Matt Newman from Hoovers rounded out the top 5.

Race 2 – The wind continued its clocking to the NW and North but picked up to a good moderate breeze. Race 2 started out eerily similar to race one with Norris and Hawk rounding the top mark in 1, 2. But the fleet was right their heels. On the second windward the wind did a Crazy Ivan splitting the fleet a bit. Norris and Hawk split with Norris right. The right came in and Norris, led the parade of Sean Treacy, Stuart Strother, Chris Craig, Devon Howe and other past all those on the left. Hawk rounded 14th. Norris went on to win again followed by Treacy, Strother, Andre Marcotte, and Hendershot.

But the real story of race 2 was the seamanship of Chris Craig, DNF for the race. We experimented a bit with the course this weekend doing a 2 lap center line course with the line set close to the leeward mark. This limited the need to move the RC boat and pull the 250 feet of anchor line. But this also allowed for almost two full windward legs and a windward finish. It worked out okay. Chris rounded the bottom mark in fifth place with a very very short windward leg to the finish. He had struggled with his borrowed boat getting it tuned right with the bent mast (not possible) and a 5th place would be very good. He trimmed in around the mark, heard a bang, and the boom hit the deck. The forestay shackle broke. But the mast was still standing! The heavily trimmed main forced the boom onto the deck holding up the mast! He was sailing still…sort of. He may still pull out a good finish. But he was below the layline. He lay in the bottom of the boat as much as he could and tried to tack. But the handling was so poor he couldn’t quite pull it. So with the mainsheet cleated he tried to find a replacement shackle and reattach the forestay while “sailing.” The effort was valiant but too late. While holding up the mast with one hand he lowered the sail, repaired the forestay, raised the sail and sailed in for lunch.

At lunch everyone had the same question. Who the heck in Scott “Chuck” Norris?

Race 3 – During the day the wind clocked 180 degrees to the right, then back 60 degrees, all the while oscillating 30 degrees left and right as it clocked. The poor RC continued to struggle. At the start pin end boats could lay the mark on port while boat end boats were 20 degrees lower than that. Norris, Wynkoop, and Bob Cole started at the pin end with Craig and Hawk at the unfavored boat end. Craig banged the right corner, Hawk played the middle and the pin boats layed the mark. Strother and Craig followed. At the top mark Norris rounded first followed by the gang of Hawk, Strother, Craig, Newman, in some unremembered order. These boats battled the whole race with Norris extending a bit, Hawk and Strother picking up on the long windward, and eventually catching Norris. Matt Newman also made large gains. Going into the last mark rounding Norris, Hawk, and Strother were nose to tail. Strother made a great move toward a skewed line to almost win the race but didn’t quite catch Norris. Hawk dropped to 3rd followed by Chris Craig and Matt Newman.

Race 4 – By 4:15 the RC had set and moved more marks than practically the whole season. The course had to yet again be completely moved. The race had a familiar feel. At the top mark Norris rounded first with Wynkoop, Cole and Hawk overlapped behind him.  Treacy, and Craig were close behind. Cole quickly jumped up to second and started chasing Norris. Two legs later he was able to roll over Norris and held on for the win closely followed by Hawk. Bob Wynkoop held off Sean Treacy to round out the top 5.

At the end of day 1 Norris had a seemingly insurmountable lead. The battle was for second with Strother 16 points, Hawk 17, and Treacy 20. Cole was 5th with 31.

Saturday night’s turkey dinner with all the trimmings was spectacular. Sunday with only 2 scheduled races the start was set at 10:00.

Race 5 - At 9:00 there was a beautiful 10-12 South wind. At 10:00 after one recall the entire course had to be moved yet again as the wind shifted. Race 5 was started after the RC decided close enough was fine. The pin end was favored to where boats could lay the mark on port. At the boat you had different wind headed perfectly down the course. The fleet and anyone with any sense started at the pin. Locals Cole, Penwarden, Hawk, and Jenkins among others started at the boat. Hawk took the most extreme angle nearly reaching away from the line of boats streaming off the pin. Local knowledge paid off a bit. The wind did another Crazy Ivan dying out and shifting way right. Cole led at the mark with Hawk, Penwarden, and Strother close behind.  The wind dropped to almost nothing and got weird, or technically weirder. Cole rode a puff and checked out. The fleet scattered all over the lake looking for zephyrs. Chris Craig went and got a miracle puff to pass a dozen or so boats, almost catch Cole and roll into second. Hawk, who rounded mark 1 in 2nd, rounded mark 2 in 16th. Leg 3 had the fleet reaching in East wind. Cole held off Craig to round mark 3 first followed by Strother, and I’m not sure who else because I (Hawk) was now 19th and quite a ways away. A following puff closed up a lot of the fleet into a giant jumble at mark. With 15 boats 4 and 5 wide beating to the short offset many rules were bent and words were had, all in slow motion.

Leg 4 had Cole and Craig battling for the lead. The tight reach had other boats strung out all looking for that puff or clean air. The advantage went to the boats in back who climbed high off the mark, found a building breeze and rolled over those below. The biggest recipient was a trio of Penwarden, Jenkins, and Hawk who went from 16, 17, and 19th place at mark 3 to 3rd, 4th, and 5th at mark 4. On the tiny final leg, Cole parked up at the line, and Craig creeped closer. The miracle trio closed the gap quickly with Hawk catching Jenkins and Penwarden just as Cole found a puff to win with Craig second.

Hawk went from 2nd, to 19th to 3rd to ensure a win over Cole. But the overall places were still up for grabs. Norris and Treacy were deep, drifting along in the pack. But Norris was able to pull out an 11th place to clinch the regatta with Hawk second, 4 points back. Treacy’s 13th put Cole in 4th place overall.

At the awards ceremony I asked for a show of hands. Who was in 5th place or better at some point in race 5? 15 hands went up. Who was in the last 5 places at some point? 12 hands. Who was in BOTH top five and bottom five during the race? 8 Hands went up. As crazy as that is, it was exciting!

So who is Scott Norris? I asked him on the way in from the last race. He was in the area for personal reasons and thought it was time to try an MC-Scow. He borrowed boat 1856, had 4 hours sailing Friday and some phone advice as his preparations. He led every mark for 3 ¾ races and dominated the regatta. He said he has done some Melges 32 sailing, Melges 24, has a J24 and a Laser.

Well I googled Scott. “Some” Melges 32 sailing includes crewing with Harry to take the 2010 Worlds, and crewing for Jason Carroll in his 2012 Nationals win. He got 2nd in the 2008 Melges 24 regatta in Newport, and sailed the worlds in 2008 as crew. In the J24, he crewed to a worlds win in 2005 and is active today. There’s probably a whole lot more out there. These were just the first few hits on Google.  We had fun sailing against him and certainly hope to see him back here again.

July 4, 2012

Winds SW 5-10. Forecast 10-20 SW. GoPro camera onboard for E-Scows.


George started mid line aiming to go left. Bob Cole started toward the boat. William Hudson toward the pin. Others sailed but were not a factor in either race. Bob out to the right got a little better wind. On the first cross he was ahead. On the second cross we picked him up. Coming back to the layline bob tacked short of us and accelerated better to lead at the top mark followed by us then William.


Our set was less than stellar. We lost distance on Bob. On the rest of the leg we struggled for speed while Bob sailed lower and faster. The rest of the race stayed like that with us making some gains then losing more. In the end we lost by about 30 seconds.


Race 2 was more of the same. But this time we led at the top mark and extended. At the bottom mark the wind went crazy Ivan. We escaped with only a small lead. Half way upwind Crazy Ivan reappeared and Bob  scooted through and below us. But the silliness continued. We were 8-10 boat lengths to the West and behind. And just like that we got a shot, rode over the top of Bob and the race was over. The wind clocked right for awhile. We led the next two marks and held on through the some more crazy stuff to win.


After just 2 days of sailing Steve Brown is showing real promise. We are talking details with him rather than big things. The boat is moving well enough for the old boat that it is.


MC-Scow sailing was more of the same but a little more West. 11 boats including John Anderson's first time out.


Start 1 was a quick 1-lap short course. I wanted mid line on starboard, which I timed well, I think. I suspect I was over the line and the RC was very lenient. But my number was never called and I was scored a finish. I rounded the top mark just a length or two in front of William Hudson. He proceeded to spank my butt all the way down to the leeward mark. Lucky for me he missed the board drop, rounded wide and slow and I was actually able to pass outside and go on to win.


Race 2 (2 laps) I was more conservative but still on the line. I was sort of holding the fleet on starboard. I was somehow just able to flop to port first and scoot ahead of the fleet and round in the lead. Brent rounded just behind me, I think. Tough to remember. I held the lead to the bottom mark. On the windward leg I was the first to tack on the header splitting a bit. From there I stayed exactly in phase on every tack and watched the fleet tack on lifts and drive wrong ways all the way up. I rounded minutes ahead of second. From there I coasted to a long lead win.


Race 3 was another 2 lap. The line was port favored. So I started on Starboard mid line. I was bow out and going well but held out left much farther than I wanted to go. Brent went way right and led at the top mark with me second. He held that to the bottom mark. On the long windward I worked out to the right of him crossing ahead with only 1/4 of the leg remaining. I rounded 3-4 lengths in front of him. I promptly lost that distance on the run and we rounded close at the bottom. I was ahead and on top of him when I got a nice big header. I was expecting it and tacked for the finish line. Brent did not. I quickly got headed. We split to opposite sides. I expected my SW shift and Brent expected his NW. He got his wish and reached into the finish 5 lengths clear ahead of me.


So on the day it was 2, 1, 1, 1, 2 for finishes. Very nice. Very tiring. Time for a double rum and some fireworks.

Keuka in July

Sunday's racing had a few pretty good rides, including one afternoon downwind blast in the MC-Scow that rivaled any speed the E-Scow attained that morning.


We had to wait for the South morning thermal to get replaced by the West prevailing wind. So the E-Scow racing started closer to 11 than 10. Steve Brown joined the boat as the new jib man.


At the start the last remaining South was battling the building NW wind right at the starting line. Mid line had no wind, boat end had NW at 5, and pin end had SW at 5-8. So everyone won the start regardless of their position.


But even the blind birds could see the wind on each side of the course. The skill was deciding which side to go for. George opted left. After a dozen tacks and twice as many wind puffs and shifts, we rounded second sandwiched between Bob Cole and Brent Penwarden. We quickly gybed and cleared our air and got a puff the others didn't to extend to a 10 length lead.


We gybed back to consolidate just to find we took ourselves out of the streak. Coming back on port we threaded the itsy bitsy teeny tiny space between the two other boats on starboard. It was just enough clearance to let us get to the left and inside Bob. At the mark we had a good lead which we promptly disposed of by dumping the sea anchor overboard. It took all Steve had to get the spinnaker up out of the lake. We dropped to third.


George did a nice job that leg in a building breeze to pass Brent and close back up the distance with Bob. We rounded close enough to mess with Bob's wind. A few lead changes later Bob made what we thought was an unforced error gybing for the mark too soon. We got inside him, successfully doused the sea anchor without getting it wet, and sailed the last leg a couple lengths in front of Bob to take the win.


The West wind had piped up to about 12-18 with real gut punching shots. Noon had arrived so E-Scow sailing was officially over. (Coincidentally the bar opens at Noon.)


The afternoon was set aside for the first annual Solstice Regatta, originally conceived by Brent Gillette who passed away before seeing it happen. We cancelled MC-Scow sailing in lieu of a single lap of the triangular course set up for this Portsmouth Handicap race. The course was about 6 or 7 miles long.


We launched boats and had the start right off the club main dock, tucked up nicely in the lee of the West hills in the West wind. Needless to say it was a little hairy. I had a great start alone about 2/3 the way out in the lake along the line. I promptly capsized.


Upside down is slow. On your side is a little faster but still not competetive. So I quickly rectified the situation, gathered up my floating debris field, drained my boots, and set off again.


Leg 1 was 1.5 miles from the club to a mark along the bluff about 1/4 mile up the West branch. It was anywhere from a broad reach to a tight beat depending on the shot you were in. I had a fleet of lead-bottom boats ahead of me to plow through. I decided on the next shot I'd simply run deep and go way low of the fleet. What a shot it was. I ended up the third MC, fourth boat at the first mark.


At the mark the wind lulled to 12-15 just in time to let me gybe without having to "chicken gybe." After the rounding I climbed up on Steve bender just ahead of me. When the next shot came I dove low and flew over top of him.


Now "flew" is the right term. This shot was all of 22 mph, probably 25. I was sitting as far back as I could right next to the tiller with only one foot under the strap because the other could not reach. The main was way out sideways. The vang was on about half what I normally would. The bow wave spray was as far back as the middle of the board. I was going way faster than the MC is designed for. But I was gaining like mad on Brent to.


At this point I hear a noise that isn't right. I was probably dropping off a wave. But I look at the rig. The boom is driving the mast sideways something fierce. The mast side bend is unnatural. The tip of the mast is bent so far forward I have mainsail wrinkles going up and away from the spreader. The bend in the tiller from the helm was about 1/2 an inch. The tiller extension (which I should have replaced or repaired weeks ago) is 1/4 from the tiller and coming off. The forces on the side stays were intense.


As we round the end of the bluff and head East to mark 2, the waves and wind build. The tops of the white caps were blowing off. All I needed to do was stuff the bow into a wave and I would be swimming...again. And the forces if that happened could be more than the mast or rig could handle. I don't have insurance nor the funds to deal with any replacements. At this point I was in pure survival mode protecting the boat. I decide the race isn't worth it. If I bail out now I can still make it upwind to the club without tacking.


So I quit.


Now getting from a blasting dead downwind plane to upwind was the next challenge. First I worked my way forward to reach the vang and popped that off. Then I went really deep down wind and kicked the board release. The board worked its way down about 3/4 of the way while I struggled keep upright. I started my slow turn upwind and the boom hit the water. I immediately aborted, tried again at a full hike and was able to round up enough to start trimming in.


The ride back to the club was intense. Of the 23 boats that started, 15 finished including 5 of the 10 MC-Scows. the wind never did really calm down for another 2 hours. According to the nearest WUNDERGROUND.COM weather station, the average gust speed between 2 and 3 PM was 26. That means gusts over and under that. Hmmm.


I don't need to do that again.


I have to keep perspective. The Volvo Open 70's racing through the North Atlantic spent 2 days never going slower than 20 knots. I never was going faster than 15 knotts or so. Those guys have balls.

GoPro footage from Fenton

Race 3 edit:

Hoovers 2012

The 2012 version of the Cow Town Regatta at Hoovers reservoir near Columbus, Ohio, is over. It is the first northern regatta of the year and usually the first time people get their boats wet unless they travelled to Florida.

The forecast early in the week was okay with medium air Saturday going light Sunday. Unfortunately the front passed earlier than expected Friday afternoon and Saturday was light and Sunday was even lighter, defined by most sane people as windless. Despite this, we got in 5 races, 4 Saturday and 1 Sunday morning.

Earlier this week Zack Clayton sent me an e-mail wishing me luck. My response was that I just wasn't feeling it. I've beaten everyone in attendance in multiple races, some many times. I've never beaten Ted Keller in a regatta, but I cam close at this regatta last year. The stats said I should be in contention but everything else was against me. I just wasn't feeling it.

So I get to the starting line of the first race. The "wind" was Northish blowing 2-8 with real big holes. Total registration was 33 boats on a lake where this is a crowd. I chose not to use the new sail and put on the Z-Max with 120 races or so, well past its racing prime. The sequence starts and I get in the zone. With a minute to go I'm in good position and get a first row start. But the wind was down and I was low side but not all the way low. I was hunched under the boom in the most uncomfortable position ever trying to squeeze any life out of the sail I could. I didn't have enough. I got rolled above and below and had to tack out to the wrong side to escape. At one point I was trying to escape one of those drives. I was below and a bit ahead of a boat on starboard. I drove down, tacked and was able to easily spin to clear his transom and go behind him. But our mast tips collided and I had to do circles.

At the top mark I started counting boats ahead of me and realized it was easier to count the few behind me. For the next three legs I continued struggling in the pack trying to find clean lanes on a lake where the few lanes were already taken. I was driven the wrong way more than once.

By the last mark I recovered to somewhere in the mid teens and rounded the right gate while the pack went to the other. Upwind the crowd went right feeding off a puff that had the whole pack above me laying the finish on starboard. I had no choice but to stay low of them and go for speed (albeit still on the low side). The puffs worked in my favor holding for me and dying for the pack. I picked up a slew of boats to finish 6th. However the finishing place was as high as I got in that race and it was well behind the leaders. It was luck that allowed me back in the race.

The next race was worse. This time I was nowhere near front row at the start and struggled again all race finishing very deep, I think 19th. There was one puff where I got to hike out though. At lunch the wind really died. It was unclear if we would get any more racing. But alas the breeze filled in enough to send us out there again, still nothing more than 5 or so. I screwed the starts of races 3 and 4. I had to work both races to get anywhere. Both were in the low teens for finishes. My only saving grace was that my sometime arch nemesis Chris Craig was also tanking the regatta. I beat him 2 of 4 races and at dinner we found out we were tied at 51 points.

Dinner was the best prime rib I've had in a very long time. Ron Stryker puts on a good meal.

Sunday I had one goal, beat Chris Craig. Well...2 goals, beat him and have a good race. The wind was forecast East at 4, but was North at 6-8. At the start I won the boat with speed on a right side favored course. I finally had a good start...until it was general recalled because the RC could not read two boat numbers over early.

For the second attempt they shifted the line and the wind also shifted left making the pin strongly favored. I was early for the pin and got squeezed out. Circling around behind the fleet with 20 seconds to go ensure a deep second row start. 

On that first leg I went left and was only 8-10 lengths behind Chris. We both rounded deep, him maybe 15th and me maybe 20th. With absolutely no wind showing on the water we languished forever drifting around the course. At one point I had 3 boats behind me. I also spent a full windward leg not leaving the deep low side of the boat. 

At the first bottom mark I rounded 25th or so around the right gate. Chris Craig was only just in front of me rounding the left gate. He went right up the course and I was driven left by the pack. I found a good lane back right and picked up 6-8 boats. Bout Chris picked up 20 rounding the top mark in the top five. He went on to win the race while I ended up like 19th again.

My final position in 14th overall was probably the worst regatta for me in 15 years or so. There were no redeeming moments. There were no great golf shots that make you want to go play golf next time even though you shot a 110. I simply shot a 110 with nothing memorable. Boat speed was never good. Starts were abysmal. Tactics were okay but digging out of such holes in light air is difficult.

So if I have a distinct hole in my abilities and it is light air, conditions I'd rather not sail in ever again. But to get better I need to practice in those conditions. So do I want to get better? That's the thousand dollar question.

The next sailing is Memorial Day weekend at Keuka.

Sailing Year in Review

Early in the year I put together the season schedule. There were 8 regattas, plus club sailing. This was an aggressive plan and it turns out it was just a bit too aggressive for year end. I dropped the Western Michigan regatta due to time and distance. I dropped the last regatta because it was the last of a series of regattas that kept me away from home too long.

Here's how it went:

• 2/5-2/6 Train Wreck, Lake Eustice, FL (9th place)


• 4/30-5/1 Cow Town Classic, Hoover SC, OH (2nd place)


• 6/4-5 MC Horse Race, Saratoga, NY (3rd place)


• 8/4-8/7 Western Michigans, Crystal Lake, MI (did not go)


• 9/10-9/11 nor'Easterns, Keuka Lake, NY (5th place)


• 9/14-9/17 National Championships, Keuka Lake, NY (7th place)


• 9/24-9/25 MCSA Blue Chip Championship, Spring Lake, MI (10th place)


• 10/1-10/2 Cowan Scow'n, Cowan Lake, OH (did not go)

I did not win any regattas. However in all regattas I performed well in most races. Unfortunately most races is not enough to win regattas.

TRAIN WRECK - in fourth place overall on a borrowed boat until the last super light air race.

COW TOWN - Messed up day 1 and won each race day 2 by a LOT of distance.

HORSE RACE - Lost 2 boats on the last leg of the last race to lose the regatta.

NOR'EASTERNS - A really bad race taking me out of 3rd overall. Best finish of 2nd. Not a good regatta.

NATIONALS - Only 4 races, one of which I won. I ended up 7th but only 4 points from 2nd with a better tie breaker. I just needed more races.

BLUE CHIP - Started with 2 bad races then a win. Ended up a very respectable 10th.

CLUB RACING - Far too little of it this year. I won it by just showing up.

So the season included very low lows, and some big race wins. It also was a significant time commitment at inopportune times. I'm struggling a bit with the balance between sailing and other commitments. The yard is unkempt. I only have seen one of my son's band competitions. The house has gone unmaintained...etc. etc.

I believe every person has something that gives them inner satisfaction. It may be a sport, a hobby, family, work, or whatever. Sailing is the thing that is a challenge to me. I know I'm good, maybe not great, but definitely able to compete at the national level. This year has shown me that.

What will it take to be a national champion? Where is the room for improvement? What skills do I need? Can I even put the effort into it? Can I prioritize that with the rest of my life? Can I afford it?

I know there are a few things I can do now. I can get in shape. I know my extra weight helped in the heavy air. But my lack of conditioning countered that. If I lose 20 pounds and get in shape I can still compete in the heavy air. But I also will be far better in the lighter air.

My equipment is as good as it gets. I have an excellent boat and a very good new sail. That can't get better.

I need practice on certain skills, particularly boat handling. More boat time will help.

I have to figure out a schedule that will be inexpensive, yet competes against the best in the country. Should I do 2 or 3 big regattas like Midwinters (FL), Nationals (MI), local regattas, and Blue Chip (MI) only? Or should I do more smaller regattas closer to home? I don't know.

But now it's off season. Marching band, indoor drum line, work, family, house, and cottage are now all higher priorities than sailing, at least until next year.

Confusion, Humiliation, Redemption, and Just Plain Fun

Last weekend was the final regatta of the year for me, and probably the last until next Spring's thaw. It was the Blue Chip, an invitation only event held at the end of the season.


When I was growing up, a Blue Chip invite in E-Scows meant you have made the big time. You have performed well enough to win place or show in sanctioned regattas, or maybe top 5 in an Easterns or top 10 in nationals. It's a regatta where everyone there is a great sailor that can win any race or place last in any race. Since I was a teenager I wanted an invite. As a skipper I never got one. As a crew I was on a few boats that received invites, but we never went. I'm 47 years old now and never got to go to a Blue Chip.


A few years ago I borrowed a boat for the local regatta and won the regatta. On the way to the first start was the first time I set foot in an MC-Scow. I received a Blue Chip invite for that. But I had no boat, no money, and absolutely no confidence I could sail an MC-Scow.


Flash forward to 2010. I sailed 3 regattas and failed to qualify. OK, fine. I get it.


So this year I set a few goals as you can see in prior blog entries. I wanted to win a regatta, (failed at that), place top 10 in Nationals (success), place top 3 in the local regatta (failed), and qualify and attend the Blue Chip and not get last (succeeded), and rank in the top 10 nationally (failed). Last year a couple people outside the local fleet learned who I was. This year I wanted become a more recognizable name by doing well and sailing with the "A-Fleet" boys.


Well I think many of them know who I am now.


So I'm driving 9 hours to Spring Lake, MI, Friday afternoon. I'm nervous, a really excited nervousness. I'm coming off a nationals where I got second in a clean hard fought race and won a local knowledge race. Yes, I tanked a race. But I'm stoked. I know I can sail with the top national level sailors. I'm listening to a book on tape and eating my wife's secret stash of candy. All the way across Ontario I'm getting more of a swollen ego than ever. I'm going to win this thing. I have the boat, the sail, the talent, and...well maybe not the fitness level I need.


Whatever. I carry my crew with me between my belt and chest.


I pulled into Spring Lake Yacht Club about 10 PM just as the last folks were leaving for the night.


Spring Lake: Seven miles of beautiful lake. Unfortunately it is not in my view. There must be more around the corner. It looks like I can clear this lake with a 3-iron. Hmmm.


The next morning I set up my boat and meet lots of really nice people. They jokingly explain the sailing area is somewhere between the 9th green and the 10th tee...right in front of the club. Oy.


I did something I hadn't done ever with my boat. I measured the rig. Rake was 2 1/2, and 3/4 inch difference between sides. Oh my. For non-sailors, it was like I had a car with a carb that was running rich and wheels out of balance. It may be fast but not a winner. I fix it.


Skipper's meeting: interesting black flag modification that if you are over you won't get called but you CAN restart. And if someone flips you back upright you can keep racing. I get it. This regatta is to be SAILED, not won or lost on technicalities.


There are something like 7 past national champions in the fleet, the current Junior Champion, and various regatta winners and age classification winners. I have sailed against about half at one time or another. The fleet is small though, only 23 boats. But the water hazard, I mean lake, probably couldn't handle more than 30 or so.


RACE 1 - CONFUSION


"Wind" was 2-8 from the NE-WNW all at the same time. It was a washing machine of directions. I poke around the lake checking shore effects and such. Easy peasy. Poke in this cove, hit that point, avoid that bay...etc.


The starting sequence kicks in and I have to poop. Now now. Easy there.


I think 20 of the 23 boats hit the line right and off we go. Tack, cross, duck, tack, in phase. Good. I'm sailing great! Speed is good, point is good, sail adjusted just fine. 3/4 up the first leg I'm in about 7th place playing with the big boys. I'm on starboard heading to a port layline 100 yards from the mark. I'm thinking of the pack and where I can slip in between other boats to get around the mark. Header - tack. Perfect. Right on the mark. The pack to the right is toast.


Header. Low on the mark. That's okay. I'll go to the starboard layline and cruise in. Not as much advantage but still good. More header. Hang on. Why would I tack 50 yards short of the layline? People seem to be though. I'll pick them up on the shift back, the inevitable oscillation. More header. Crap. Time to cut my losses.


Tack. Header. What?! 40 degree shift. Jeesh! The right comes in, the left comes in, the entire fleet rounds the mark and I'm stuck straight leeward of the mark in a hole. I finally get there 2nd to last, and significantly behind the leaders.


In 3 minutes I went from a big emotional high to total confusion. I did it right! I sailed the way you are supposed to. It didn't work.


Next to me is this kid that is singing and carrying on like it was his birthday. He was wearing multi-colored shorts so I mentally called him Happy Pants. I recognize him. He sat on me at the nationals for my first 2 miserable legs of the first miserable race. I'm thinking about redemption. But he's kind of funny carrying on and such.


I sailed the remainder of the race trying to pick up one boat at a time. I eventually picked up about 6 to lose 3 at the line doing the same thing, finishing 19th out of 23. But mostly I wanted to beat Happy Pants. He got last. Woohoo! There was a race going on up front but I couldn't tell you much about it. I couldn't see that far. But my arch nemesis Chris Craig finished well. Goal #1 of beating him was going to be tough.


RACE 2 - HUMILIATION


My bad race was out of the way. My butterflies are gone. Okay this is it.


Wind was the same - all over the place.


I start mid-line with a really good aggressive anti-sag push and a good kick. I smoke the person above me and drive. Well I wasn't quite good enough. I'm lee bowed by the guy below. I have to clear. I tack, take stern or two, find a hole, tack back, get tacked on, and try to clear out again. I'm third row, in the middle of the course and in a hole. In 1 minute this race was shot.


In this fleet every boat is about as fast as they can be. The winner is tactically smarter, handles the boat better, and extends their lead in clean air. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.


I'm 19th at the top mark (counting from the back), and about there at the bottom mark. Here is where someone in last has an advantage. The fleet is all over the lake, working both shores. I can see all the wind on the lake and exactly what is happening. Right is dying out, left is filling in, the pack left is laying the mark half a leg ahead. I go left.


Left dies, right comes in. The 6 of us left behind by the pack on the first rounding are now 2 at the top mark. I'm dead last with one guy ahead. As I round the mark I see the leaders about 1/4 of the way back up to the finish. I still have 2 legs to go.


I'm dejected. I'm crushed. For the first time all year I show some bad mojo. I'm standing (bad form in light), slouched, and just don't care. With each inevitable crap shift I'm more confused, cursing under my breath and pouting.


I catch Mark downwind. We round and split. I KNOW left will pay this time. Right pays better and I fall 10 lengths behind. The wind dies. We are the only two remaining boats on the lake. The time limit is now very much in play. Mark finishes. They give him a horn. Lunch is served, I'm still trying to drift over the line.


100 feet short of the line I hear a whistle and my number. The very generous race committee finished me, probably with little or no time on the clock.


Chris Craig had another top 10. Gap is now insurmountable. Goal #1 is fading away.


I go in for lunch. 44 points in 2 races in a 23 boat fleet. How much worse can it be? Chris has 16. Justin Hood won both races.


Lunch was tasty - lasagna, garlic bread, salad (eew), beer, etc. I meet Happy Pants. His name is Chris Lopez (C-LO). Good kid. We vow to fight to the death for last place if it comes to that. I'm sitting in second to last right now. He's a couple ahead of me.


RACE 3 - REDEMPTION


We sail out on the same air. We gather near the start and the wind dies. For about an hour we float around waiting for wind.


I stew. I'm a joke. Why did I think I could even compete here. These are the big boys! I can't start, can't beat them on boat to boat tactics, can't even pick the shifts. This can't get much worse.


It rains.


Wet, cold, depressed, old, worn out, and beaten, I draft the Craigs List note in my head: " 2008 MC-Scow lightly used, never won anything - cheep." I can probably save some money by leaving tonight.


The wind starts to fill from the opposite direction (generally) from before. It's nice, maybe 5-8 with a bit more at times. The race course is set up. The starting line boat is 3 lengths off the yacht club dock. It was like the old days as a kid in Jr. Sailing starting off the end of the dock. Getting the timing for that end was going to be tough. Right is the way. I'll start middle and work right.


I'm stuck right with a minute to go. The crowd is low of the line with a good right shift helping them accelerate late. I ride over 5 boats, 3 more. With 30 seconds to go I'm too close to the line. I look for an escape. None. Eric Hood (EHood) below me pushes. 20 seconds, way too close. Slower, stop the boat. Dan Fink (Blaze) is above me driving down. 10 seconds. Oh hell. 8 seconds, still too soon to go - way too close. 6 seconds and I go. EHood carries his speed from behind to a nice lee bow and Blaze drives down. I'm slower than both, sandwiched and totally screwed.


I have to get spit out the back. I wait, finally tacking to duck Blaze. I look and see I am now taking every stern. I can't clear anyone. I'm toast. Last place start. I'm headed right. The fleet is headed left. Left looks like good wind.


I'm deflated. I'm beyond deflated. Someone sucked the last bit of air out of the balloon making it all wrinkly and wet.


Whatever. I get lost in thought. The Devil on the shoulder kicks in:


Pack it in. The club is RIGHT HERE! Maybe nobody will notice I'm even gone. No. I can't do that. That would be more humiliating than the gutter ball last place trophy. Beside Happy Pants would beat me.


Maybe an injury. No. Nobody would believe it in a drifter day. The only possible injury is chapped lips.


What do the Japanese do? Hairy Carry? But no sword. Besides I wouldn't be able to spell it in the blog. But I have a knife. It's probably too short to get all the way to my heart. But there is a saw thingy in it too. I can cut away ribs.


I was sailing by feel. I look up for the first time in awhile. My sail is luffing. The shore is closing in. Whatever. Tack. Who cares.


I tack, trim in, look straight ahead and see the windward mark. Whoa! What? Yup I'm on a layline, and I'm hiking out in a breeze! How is this possible. I look through my window and see the fleet pounding up the left shore going like gang busters. That makes sense. This lift won't hold, they carry the oscillation back across and I get last like I should.


Hmmm it's holding. EHood calls out "tack or cross?" "Cross!" Absolutely cross. I'm on a layline!


Still on a layline. EHood tacks on my back hip in clear air.


I get a LIFT! What?! I peek through the window at the fleet. Looks good! Hike! Hike! You are IN THIS RACE!


I round first, EHood second, and there is a gap to third of about 100 feet. We both sail low and fast. I hold the lead at mark 2. Upwind I make a couple too many pokes into the right and lose EHood. He leads, I'm right on his transom, and Andy Molesta is on mine. Downwind I split from them, come back and slide right through them still all three of us bow to stern. That was cool. I lose Andy to an inside overlap.


Off the bottom mark I want right. Both guys ahead are hold. I'm in bad air. Andy tacks out. I have breathing room. I work to point, clear a width to EHood's left to reasonable air. He tacks to chase Andy. I go farther right. When we come back together, I'm a length in front of Eric.


I got...well let's just say I was very excited.


I went on the win the race holding off both EHood and Cam McNeil who caught Andy. Last in race 2 to first in race 3. And now with this entry everyone knows it was total dumb luck. Even a blind bird gets a worm sometimes. Take down the for sale sign. I'll stay another day.


Nemesis Craig got a 20. Happy Pants got a 16. The plot thickens.


We are sent to shore because of thunder. We soon realize the storm will be here for awhile and further racing for the day is cancelled. I'm 16th overall, out of gutter ball trophy contention. Time to party.


DINNER


Eric Hood was nice enough to arrange with Jamie Kimball for me to stay at their incredible house on the shores of Lake Michigan. We all go there. I don my jacket from 20 pounds ago, and what appears to be a child's tie. Off we go to the restaurant.


Nemesis, aka Serge (according to his name tag) buys me a drink. I realize I forgot my wallet. Uh oh. Dinner is great. Lots of laughs. But I pretty much stayed sober. I wasn't driving. I knew there was no way I could find Kimball's place ever again on my own.


So I became "DD" for a few people, 7 to be precise. We piled into a tiny car, blasted the country music and debated the virtues of Taco Bell back to the house. Great people. And Connor Davis is my hero.


RACE 4 - FUN


I wake to rain. Lots of rain. And lots of wind too. The forecast is for it to blow a lot and increase to blow snot.


I swap out the new sail for the club race sail. No sense blowing out the brand new sail. I'm not in contention for anything. I'm just going to go out and have fun.


The wind turned out to be much less than predicted, about the same as race 3 but from the opposite direction. We go down into this cove and start between someone's dock on one side of the lake and someone else's on the other side. I can't see the windward mark that is up the lake around the point. Apparently if you stand up and look between docks and such it is there somewhere. Needless to say the point is in play. In fact winning either end means tacking VERY SOON or hitting something.


I pull a hole pop start, mid line. This means I came behind everyone on port going fast, tacked into a hole, accelerated out of the tack and jumped off the line. It takes a lot of luck to have to timing fit the hole.


I have clean air, work the shifts and round the top mark top 10. I play all race anywhere from 7th to 12th or 13th. but every time I get out on a nice shot, there is 2549 again! EHood and I were always close. I think he was following me, or was I following him?


Right at the line I miss a shift and lose three boats to finish 11th. Very cool. I can actually count the boats ahead of me. In fact I was in touch with the lead pack most of the race.


Nemesis was 16th and Happy Pants 12th. Progress.


RACE 5 - MORE FUN


Same wind. More rain.


I abort another hole pop start because the pin is wide open. One boat there is early. I drive down and round up maybe 1 second early. Pin boat was over early. The Race Committee starts yelling numbers. I go back immediately and restart. As I'm restarting I realize they did not call my number. I won the pin and let it go. Oh well. I don't care.


Advantage me. The fleet is showing me the wind again. I get in phase and climb. I'm about 15th by the top mark, the same back at the bottom, and climb to about 10th on the next leg, right with EHood...again. Two legs later I lose a couple few at the finish and end up 12th. This is cool! I'm sailing pretty well!


Happy Pants pulls a 2nd. Wait, what? Nemesis and Brian Fox dog fight the last leg to not be last. Brien wins that last place with Chris just ahead. Up front Justin Hood locks up the regatta, for all intents and purposes.


RACE 6 - EVEN MORE FUN


Same wind, more rain, I'm hungry, cold, and I have to pee. I don't care. I'm loving every minute of this. The racing is tight, clean, VERY competetive, and intense. Risk reward balances are tough. Corners don't necessarily pay. Good sailing goes a long way.


I start mid-line sag with clean air and speed. Blaze is right with me. We work upwind staying front row with another 6 or 8 boats.


Dan Fink earned the name Blaze at Keuka. He wore this blazing bright orange jacket, which he was wearing again this day. You can't miss him. You can see him through your sail!


I round the top in the lead pack, like 6th and totally in touch with the lead. There's EHood, Blaze, Justin, Richard Blake, Ted Keller, ... This is so cool.


I mess around, play, take some chances and stay with that lead pack. On the last leeward gate I round right, Blaze rounds left with others. Coming together I'm within a length of him. We bot hare headed right in phase. I hard duck 2 boats. I lose 3-4 lengths on Blaze. If I had 1 more foot I could have crossed, sailed in phase and stayed with him. He went on to win. I finished on EHood's transom but three places behind him with Ted Keller and Justin Hood sneaking in between us. It was that close for 5th to 8th in that race.


Regatta over. Pack it up (in the rain).


At the trophy ceremony I collected my 10th place mug, the hardest earned and most rewarding mug of the year.


Gas, lunch, road. I went 400 miles of the 500 non-stop. I pulled in at home about 11:30. The car stunk (still does), everything was soaked (still is), I smelled like a rotted hot sweaty wetsuit. But I was still happy.


First time at Spring Lake (lots still to learn about that place). First time to a Blue Chip. First time I was last place in a regatta race since I was a kid. First Blue Chip race win. First top 10 in a Blue Chip.


It was a good way to end the year. Time to put the boat in storage.

Finally - More Sailing

It has been weeks since we sailed MC-Scows in races at the club. We finally got that chance yesterday afternoon. It was blowing SW 10-20 at lunch after the E-Scows had a thrilling ride or two in the morning. But by the time the 2:00 start time rolled around for the MC-Scows, the wind eased up significantly and got pretty shifty.

It is the end of July and I have a 1-point lead for the season. It was time to step it up. I put on my best sail, a mid-life crisis Melges Z-MAX. It is in its mid-life crisis, not me in mine. It has probably 30 regatta races on it and maybe another 10-15 local races. It wants to look good but knows it is sagging in all the wrong places, just like its mid-life crisis owner.

Four boats made it out in time for the 2:00 start. I had a clean start drag racing Sean Tracey off the line with little other pressure. He was ahead and below me so I drove down on him. He was driving down trying to tack behind me. He did, cleared, and we separated slightly with me to the left and him right. With 100 yards to go at the top mark it appeared he had me on Starboard. But then the wind Gods smiled on me with a big port lift, so much Sean could no longer make the mark. I rounded ahead and led the drag race to the finish.

Race 2 was our first 2-lap race of the year. The course was pretty good for a Keuka west wind. I had a clean start but got caught on the wrong side of a big right shift. I was overstood on Port on a long layline. I worked the traveller and reached as much as I could on a full hike. I was able to roll Brent Gillette and just lee bow another to get into touch with Sean as he rounded first. Down hill Sean extended as I fought hard to stay ahead of Brent. He is ridiculously fast downwind. I barely held the inside at the bottom for second place while Sean extended to about 15 lengths. Everyone split upwind chasing puffs and shifts. Half way up I caught up to Sean and spilt right again. RIght was hard to make work. I rounded second yet again but by only a length or two from the lead. Sean and I had pulled away from Brent.

Down wind Brent closed the gap but still remained 10 lengths behind. I had closed the gap on Sean to just round inside him. He split left and I let him go just a bit. When we crossed again I had to lee bow him, which was touch and go if it would work. It did and I led him to the line for the win.

Race three was a one-lap abreviated race with only four boats. The wind had dropped to 3-8 very shifty with plently of holes. The entire race was a search for breeze. I led the entire race. But every time I got comfortable, trailing boats would find that puff and close the gap. The race was much closer than the finish distance appeared.

After the race I had the biggest race of the day. I had a mile to sail home in light air while a storm bore down on me. My daughter showed up with the jet ski to tow me in just in time. I was putting the cover on the boat when the 20+ hit.

There were some new faces on borrowed boats out on the course yesterday, people I'd really like to see join us again. The fleet seems to get the afternoon sleepies. We need to keep the boat count up to keep the interest high.

It was a good way to end the week of vacation. I suspect the sailing will get tougher to fit in the schedule now. I know I will miss a week to take my daughter to school. But the September regatta season is right around the corner.

Testing

Memorial Day weekend came and went and there was no blog entry. Let's say I still don't want to talk about it and leave it at that.

With E-Scows, last weekend I had prior commitments and didn't sail. This weekend the South thermal lasted just long enough for us to stretch out a lead. The ensuing light and fluky wind meant that lead went from big to 5 seconds at the finish, but we won.

In MC-Scow racing, last weekend there was no wind and we cancelled racing. This weekend there was no wind and we cancelled racing.

However the wind came up around 3:00 in the afternoon and held pretty well. About 4:00 I rigged the boat and went out and did some playing around. There were a couple things I wanted to test. 1) Boots are not necessary 2) padded shorts are not necessary 3) short duration puffs do not require gear shifting.

So I can say with full confidence that traction on the cockpit floor is not sufficient to have full confidence when standing up sailing. I need boots.

Also my tender ass is old and soft. Yes, I can hike without pads but it sure makes it more comfortable. And comfort translates into stamina. The padded shorts stay.

So on to the real testing. The wind was West 5-15 with puffs rolling across the lake pretty consistently. I had to go from standing (leeward side weight) to hiking in seconds. The question is, do you put the effort into depowering (vang traveller etc.) when the puffs are short duration?

The question is a cost/benefit analysis. Minimum work is jumping onto the straps and getting weight over the rail, keeping the tiller controlled and trimming for the puff. Maximum work adds to that traveller dumping, vang loading, and cunningham snug. To adjust any means cleating the mainsheet during the puff, always a risk for speed when feathering is the only option other than capsizing.

On the E-Scow we do all this. And we can because we have six hands. On the MC I can only do two things at once, unless I steer with my foot. And with one hand to work a line, the cleating and uncleating has to be taken into consideration.

Long story short, the key is the prep. You see the puff, estimate the size, do one adjustment before it hits and get over the rail before it hits. The slight slowdown before the puff is more than compensated for by having a better rig setup. Maintaining the correct angle of heal is very important in these boats particularly with the center mounted rudder. Once is rides up forget speed. So sheeting is most important.

The tuning guide talks about vang sheeting. I found a different approach a bit better. As the puff is about to hit I over trim about 4-6 clicks and cleat it. When the puff hits I drop the track completely (to a knot) and pick up the mainsheet. This action will even further trim the main with the distance added in the mainsheet. That overtrim is comparable to vang on. When I have found the balance and speed, I can then recleat the main and track up if needed for point. The vang stayed cleated at snug. If I needed to sheet for balance the vang kept the top of the sail in.

There is a big risk here. If the puff is more than I can handle, the boom is nearly in the water before I can get the vang off. But that adds to the excitement!

The goal was improved speed in the puff and coming out of the puff. That seems to be where I ended up. Net gains are made by reacting before the puff hits.

It was a fun sail late in the day. I'll have to remember to pleasure sail more often.

Father's Day

The wind was up and down all day yesterday. My wife and I finished putting shingles on the porch roof late morning. After lunch I rigged the MC-Scow for the afternoon races. While I was rigging it my daughter helped me out a bit. I asked if she wanted to go sail with me, knowing full well that would never happen. Minutes later she was ready with a water bottle and life jacket.

We sailed about two miles to the start. The wind was 2-5 from the Northwest, and we had 340 pounds on the boat. This should be fun. We won the pin and port tacked the fleet. Okay, maybe not as dramatic as that. There were three other boats and we beat them off the line. We were first to the mark by quite a bit. Then I sailed into a hole and ended up even with last at the bottom mark.

Going into the bottom mark, about 10-15 lengths away on port, I cut across the stern of another boat on starboard, dove inside him and gained the overlap with about 5 lengths to go. I thought that was a cool move that would impress my daughter. "Dad! That was a dick move!" So much for impressing a 17-year-old.

We closed the gap to the leader to seconds but never got around him again. Still it was high fives on the boat.

My wife was watching by power boat. She gave my daughter the option to get off the boat. She stayed with me. What a mistake. Right after my wife left in the powerboat, the wind died, the races were called and we had 2 miles to go to get home. We were well past half way there after an hour when we got a tow from a friend. Still it was great to be out there with my daughter.

Scowabunga

I opted not to sail a regatta I was originally planning to sail in Tennessee last weekend. So all weekend I was thinking about what could have been.

Friday night I got the call from Chris Craig rubbing it in more. He was there. Sunday I called him to get a regatta report. Chris took second to Keuka sailor Bob Cole. He also said the wind was my kind of wind, that I would have done well.

So rather than drive 14 hours each way to sail, I finished tiling a shower stall, put bead board paneling on the porch ceiling, fixed a spigot, etc. I also spent some time with the family.

So in hindsight what would I rather do? Hmmmmm.....

Bad Ending

The day started with no wind, built a bit and the Race Committee sent us out. The line was good, the air was OK, light at 3-6 maybe with a few 2-3 areas. I wanted to start center line just getting on the front row. I got caught up with a novice sailor and had to spin out and duck. That put me 30 seconds late for my plan and I ended up bailing to the pin. I won the pin but it was very much the wrong side of the course. The right shift came soon after the start. I took sterns trying to get right. I ended up about 25th place at the top mark, very bad.

The wind started easing up to make downwind very frustrating. The second upwind I needed a miracle so I banged a corner, and lost ground. There were 6 boats behind me.

By the top mark the wind was 0-1 from nowhere. We drifted the last two legs. I drifted better than many around me and clawed my way back to a 22nd place.

I ended up losing the tiebreaker for 8th overall, 2 points out of 6th, 7 points out of 4th. Like golf, you remember the last hole more than the entire day. I walk away from this regatta with a rough feeling that I blew it. All I had to do was follow around a hot shot and finish 12th or so to get 4th overall.

People say "Ah well, it's a lesson learned." I'm 46. I should have learned that lesson long ago.

I almost had a good start to the season. Instead I have a bitter taste from a lame start.

Next regatta is possibly April.

Between now and then I am concentrating on Indoor Drumline season.

Regatta by Air

This weekend will be the first time I will compete in a regatta getting there by air. I have been generously loaned a boat for the Train Wreck regatta in Florida. This is the regatta where I purchased my boat last year. So it is the one year anniversary of sailing MC-Scows.

So there are a couple challenges wit hthis regatta. First, I haven't sailed, worked out, or even slightly exercised since sailing ended last year. I am woefully out of shape.

Second, I have to pack whatever I need and carry it with me including a sail. I took a coupe hours today to clear out my family room furniture, unroll the sail, fold and roll it, pack it in a tube, and put the tube in a ski bag. It should be good to go. I emptied my scuba gear bag and started filling it with gear: life jacket, boots, rain gear, gloves, glasses and such. The bag is 2/3 full and I still need to pack clothes.

On top of this I am putting the regatta into a business trip, meaning I still have to pack the business clothes and laptop bag with reports. It ends up being a week long trip.

Last year at this time there was a nasty storm crossing the country as far north as Pennsylvania and as far south as North Carolina. It made the drive interesting to say the least. This year the storm is hitting as I try to fly. We'll see if I even get there.

A month ago this regatta was a 20% possibility, two weeks ago the business trip plans fell in line to make it work, maybe a 90% chance of sailing. I hope I get to sail.

I've been sailing competetively since I was about 10, winning my first junior regatta at 12. But living in NY this means sailing from June through September. Each WInter by March or April I would be stir crazy, really going through withdrawl, not so much sailing withdrawl but competition withdrawl. I miss the chess match aspect, the intensity of a close race.

Graduating to E-Scows and getting a drivers license allowed me to sail some regattas starting around Easter and ending in late September. In college these were full blown road trips, coolers, tents, all night travel, the works. We could do a regatta for the cost of gas, registration, beer, a loaf of bread and some peanut butter (and Dad's boat).

Later when I had a real job I would do regattas with hotels, day travel, time off from work, etc. The cost jumped way up. Well I have two kids about to need college tuition. I'm back to cheap regattas. I have to figure out how to get back to basics.

MC-Scows have a great regatta schedule, but it isn't very local to the Northeast.

2011 Season is Starting

I am confirmed to sail my first regatta of the year, the Train Wreck regatta in Lake Eustice, FL, the first weekend in February. At this regatta last year I purchased my boat. For this one, I hope to borrow a boat. I just so happen to be in Jacksonville for a businss trip. What a coincidence.

In the off season athletes train constantly to keep in tip top shape. The schedule for training may be easier in the off season with a bit more relaxed approaches. With me, I emphasized the relaxed approach more than the exercise. So I am completely and totally out of shape. I did get reading glasses for the first time in my life.

Time to kick-start the season. I'm going to drop a few ponds before the event, and maybe even start some sort of exercise plan. Yeah... I think I will. Sure.

So if I can find the money, time, and approval, my plan is to sail this regatta schedule:

• 2/5-2/6 Train Wreck, Lake Eustice, FL
• 4/30-5/1 Cow Town Classic, Hoover SC, OH
• 5/14-5/15 Scowabunga, Privateer YC, TN
• 6/4-5 MC Horse Race, Saratoga, NY (new this year!)
• 8/4-8/7 Western Michigans, Crystal Lake, MI (tentative)
• 9/10-9/11 nor'Easterns, Keuka Lake, NY
• 9/14-9/17 National Championships, Keuka Lake, NY
• 9/24-9/25 MCSA Blue Chip Championship, Spring Lake, MI (if I qualify)
• 10/1-10/2 Cowan Scow'n, Cowan Lake, OH (probably not though)

Now that I have all this on one page, it is a lot, maybe too much. but I'm not getting any younger. I've always wanted to do a full campaign. Maybe this year is the year. But it means I will miss most of the marching band season, which I really enjoy as much as sailing. It's my kid after all!

I'll have to ponder. Maybe early season success will convince me to persist. Or early season flops will teach me I'm just a local hack sailor and should stay with that.

Time will tell.

The Regatta Was Mine to Lose...And I Did

Two races today. I finished 10 and 7 to successfully lose the regatta by a point.

I woke up this morning early, unable to sleep. The first start was scheduled for 10:00. By 9:00 I had the boat ready to launch. I delayed awhile knowing I didn't want to be out on the water too long. It was 46 degrees, blowing 15 from the N NW. I was wearing neoprene shorts, padded shorts, bib overall rain gear pants, a t-shirt, sweatshirt, and a spray top. My ears were still cold.

After launching I sailed to the parts of the course that were not in yesterday's course. The top mark was in a different bay. I noted the shifts, the shore affects, all the scouting I needed to do.

Then I sailed to the starting area, right up against the leeward shore, a shoreline with some height. The wind was lifting up and over. At the right end of the line was a big right, the left end a big left. Puffs rolling down the lake would make one end or the other favored.

I saw the course was right favored but the line left favored. I started at the pin, got quick clear air, and immediately ran out of lake. Tacking over I had to hard duck, then duck again, then duck again. I ended up in a crowd. I tried to get right as planned and eventually succeeded. Of course the left came in and I ended up very deep in the fleet. But I caught a couple critical shifts correctly at the last minute of the leg to pick up 10 or so boats, and get in contact with the lead pack. From there it was work to get into the top 5.

On the last leg of the race, Chris Craig had the race locked up. If I could get to 3rd place I would have the regatta locked up. I was in 6th at the last mark. I picked up Sean to get to 5th, lost him again, then split a little farther left than the pair battling for third. I came back just behind them. I made a couple more moves and gained. All I had to do was cross in front of them on port and tack to the finish on starboard to get 3rd. I had him cleared until a big puff and shift. He got lifted and accelerated, I got headed and stalled. I was too close to duck. I had to tack. I cleated the main to release the board and pull it down (doesn't go by itself) and turned. The first grab on the board failed. The second grab was good but I missed uncleating the main, The boat was already around with me still on the low side. I could still recover. But I was ducking under the over trimmed boom while capsizing, and wearing an entire closet of clothes. The main would not uncleat. I went over.

I stayed dry somehow climbing up the overturned boat like a rat fleeing a sinking ship. I learned from my one prior capsize that I need to take a rope with me. I grab the traveler. I'm standing on the top board now pulling on the traveller. Nothing. The main is still cleated on the low side. Over I go hanging upside down to uncleat it. Back on the board and slowly the boat comes up.

I look to see I'm in maybe 9th place. I spend the last 100 yards of the race cleaning up and cruising in. I know I just blew it. I had the regatta won. It was like getting to match point in tennis and losing the set. The anger sets in. The adrenaline fades. Something is wrong with my left arm. Somehow I hit my arm hard on the outside of my left arm. I have trouble holding a water bottle.

Regatta winners know where they stand after each race. I knew I had a throwout and Sean who was in 3rd had another bad race (ended up 8th I think after doing penalty turns). So Chris Craig is now holding the cards, driving the race.

I know I want to go up the right side for race 5. So like an idiot I get sucked into the great looking pin end. I win it and extend, tack and cross the boats near me. I'm in good company. Chris Craig, Richard Blake are right there. Sean takes his initial tack all the way to shore and come out later on port. And sticking to my plan when I come out, I go all the way across. I beat the left end of the line but ended up deep fleet by the time I got right. Sean banged the left corner and got a great lefty, which meant I was on the wrong side.

Each puff is snappy. I have to trim and ease constantly. My arm is throbbing. I have to wrap the sheet to hold onto it. I have no grip strength.

At the top mark I regained enough boats that I was within striking distance. Downwind I had a great puff that closed the gap more, picking up a few boats. On the second upwind I picked off a few more. But the crowd was keeping me from doing what I wanted when I wanted. By the last leg I was somewhere in the 5-7 range with Chris Craig covering me hard. I timed a tack in a crowd with another boat to drop clear left of him. All I knew was that I had to get to top 5. But now I had a boat on my hip. I was locked out left. When the shift came that boat did not tack. My opportunity was fading. Chris was way out on the right. The split was solid. The hip boat tacked away. I held on until I was almost over stood for the port layline to the finish. I tacked, worked through the shifts for 15 seconds and met Chris at the line. He was very slow on starboard struggling to make the pin. I was very fast on port. I ducked him and shot up. The whistle was less than a second apart. He got the position. In the end my day's finishes were 10 and 7, not very good.

Sailing in I could not tell if we were 5 and 6 or 6 and 7 place. In the end it did not matter. But what neither of us counted on was that Sean winning that race put him also in contention. In the end 2 points covered the first three places. I had 8 hours to drive home and think about this.

The Cowan perpetual trophy is a cow's ass, about 2 feet tall with the cow looking back at you. Maybe I actually won. I cannot imagine that on my mantle.

Cowan is an interesting place to sail. No boats and a small lake means no waves. Getting wet was hard. I showed how though - capsize. Flat water and big shifts means different sail performance. I realized I need to expand my inventory to include more than one regatta sail. I also need to practice slam tacks, capsizing, and other unusual maneuvers.

Thursday one of my employees asked me if there were any hot shots coming. I looked and decided Richard Blake was my competition. He was. In fact I started next to him in 4 of 5 races. I see now Sean is going to be hard to beat at home too. He sailed well.

This was my last regatta of the year. I met great folks this year. I think it was a successful start. I made my name known to a couple hotshots, giving them fits. I didn't have any real goals other than to win the local fleet. This second place will get me on a ranking list. My "new guy" status will be gone.

What this year did for my confidence is probably visible in reading these posts. I started the year having been away from regatta and driving for many years. Now I know I can hang with the big boys. People told me I was a good sailor. I think I can believe it. I'm not great. I need lots more work. But I know what I have to work on. There were race wins in regattas, three of them. I need to put four or five good races into a regatta though. not two or three.I need to learn to clear traffic. I need to work on my boat a little bit. It if fast but has some glitches I need to fix. I need to get in shape. I need to go to more regattas. But I think I'm on the right track.