April, 2005 Race Report
Race #4 (final) of the 2005 Bahia Series
The wind was disappointing, and that should be the end of this report; but it’s not.
Despite 4-6mph winds, we launched about 2:00pm fully expecting the winds to pick up. At 2:30, rather than drift around, we started a race and railed our non-planing Formula boards to windward.
Devon was able to plan up and quickly flew away…on a beam reach. Meanwhile Peter out-shlogged Robert for 1st to the windward mark and then on the first reaching leg caught a few micro-gusts to plan off to a huge lead. Never planing, Robert, followed by Dave O’Connor lead the rest of the straggling pack down the reaching leg with Devon waaaaaay back in last. Devon’s beam reach to windward wasn’t such a hot idea, but that didn’t hold back the champion. After rounding the windward mark about 1/3 of a mile behind Robert, Devon pumped onto a plan in the 4-6mph winds and ate up the Fleet, passing Robert into second at the first reaching mark. Quite a display!
Peter blew a commanding lead when missing the final mark, but still easily finished 2nd to the hard charging Devon. Half the Fleet managed to plane up from time to time on the final reach, and Dave Dombrowski, one of San Diego’s earliest planers, managed to make up huge ground and finish an impressive 3rd. Gabor finished 4th followed by Robert, Tuan, and Lasse.
We shortened the windward for the 2nd race in hopes of increasing planing time. Didn’t help. Once again most railed their non-planing boards, while Devon, with just a hair more wind than last race, managed to plane upwind leaving it a race for second.
Peter once again was outstanding to weather and followed Devon for an easy 2nd on the semi-planing reaching legs. Gabor managed to hold off Dave D for 3rd, while Dave O followed in 5th.
It was getting late and the races were pretty long considering the snails pace of most. We ran a third race anyway. Masochists!
Same story; Devon horizoned the field. This time however, Gabor held off Peter for 2nd with Dave D again 4th and Robert 5th.
With the SCRA Committee boat calling it a day, we headed back…that’s when the wind finally began to freshen. Proof again that the Gods have a warped sense of humor!
April’s tally: Devon 1st, Peter 2nd, Gabor 3rd.
Final Placings for the 2005 Bahia Series: Devon 1st, Peter 2nd, Dave D 3rd.
