AUGUST 2nd, 2003
What did we do to deserve this? Warm, Clear, and Sunny is the norm here; no one blinks twice when we get this200 days in a row! But some one ordered up a can of "whoop-ass wind" for Saturday, our August Meeting. Sure, I know, 10-14 mph is considered sub-planing in some parts, but here in San Diego (in the Summer) it's a gale!
So there we were, the usual suspects and a few new faces, quickly rigging so as not to miss the fleeting gust. It's just that the "fleeting" never came. This must be what Maui's likeon a bad day.
The First Race was an upwind, then twice around beam reach. Dave D edged out Lasse for 1st, and Dave O finished 3rd. Newcomer Donna D (Dave's better ½) fought off Amy B in our 1st ever women's heat.
Same course for Race two. The only change in results were Lasse and Dave O switching 2nd and 3rd.
Race 3 was our classic "Enchanted Isle loop", a short upwind followed by a beam reach drag race through "Stinky's cove, and then around Enchanted Isle and a drag race back..
Lasse blasted to an early lead ahead of Robert, and "the two Daves". By the lee of the Isle, Robert had reeled in Lasse and it looked like a close battle for 1st. Meanwhile, the two Daves caught a magic gust from behind and flew up and over Lasse and Robert. Lasse managed to hold them off for the victory, just finishing seconds ahead, with Dave D, Dave O, and Robert, all finishing very close (and in that order). Don Ezernack took 5th and newcomer Lawrence (?) 6th.
Race 4 was another E.I. Loop. Entering "Stinky's", Robert powered to a 50 yard lead over the pack and snuck through the lee of a falling Kiter. Bridge Down! The Kiter dropped his rig (thanks!) and forced the fleet to windward, leaving Robert a comfortable margin for victory. Dave O finished 2nd, followed by Dave D and then Lasse, Don, Alfonso, and Lawrence.
The last Race used the same course as Race #'s 1 and 2. Dave D was leading when a mark-rounding pile-up took out Dave O, Lasse, Lawrence, and Robert. Don and Alfonso swept harmlessly by, and before the swimmers could recover, Dave D had won again. Don took 2nd and Alfonso 3rd.
Radar gun in hand, we did some "speed" runs in the remaining 10-12mph winds. Lasse bested everyone with a 27mph run (but you should lose 5mph for splashing the gun!). No surprise that everyone had similar bests, all around 23 to 25mph. It seems that our equipment in evenly matched. A good thing!
A good day.
Robert
