RAIN DRENCHES SAILORS

 

Twelve sailboats ventured out to race on Tuesday night, July 20th.   At the 5:30 pm horn, the race started with a manageable south/southwest breeze of 5 knots, blue skies and sunshine.   Guyot’s Scow was first over the line with three Sunfish and a Harpoon close behind.   Next to start were Jay Douglass’ O’Day 25, Rob Knowles’ Capri 22, Mike Caron’s Flying Scot, Pat Klofas’ Highlander, Charlie Perry’s Capri 25, Bob Bean’s J22 and David Kantar’s O’Day DS 17.

 

Six boats reached the A mark at the same time prompting much conversation between skippers.   Shouts could be heard declaring “buoy room”, “starboard” and “boat overlap” rights!   Quick maneuvering was required by Caron and Knowles on port tack in order to avoid fouling.   Guyot and Stuart, on starboard tack, stayed the course while Caron, Knowles, Andrews and Grigsby were forced to dip behind them before rounding the mark.   First around the windward mark were Jerry Guyot’s Scow, Dave Stuart’s Sunfish and John Andrews’ Harpoon followed by Caron, Knowles and Cathy Grigsby’s Porpoise.   Next to round the mark were Trend, Douglass, Perry, Bean and Kantar.

 

Seconds after the fleet rounded the mark, the winds accelerated up to 15 knots and a drenching squall blew through.   The winds did a 180, now blowing from the north/northwest accompanied by strong gusts.   Several boats headed east towards the B mark on a port tack.   As the rain strengthened, some skippers headed for dry land on the west shore.   Bean, Perry, Knowles and Caron stayed the course and rounded the B mark.   Trend, Stuart and Guyot returned to the race and rounded the gibe mark next followed by Douglass and Kantar.

 

The winds dropped to 10 knots, the rain continued causing visibility to decrease, which challenged the skippers to guess where the C mark was exactly located.   Everyone was headed in the right direction, with corrective tacks being done as the fleet got closer to the mark.   Rounding the leeward mark, Bean, Perry and Knowles battled it out to the finish line as the rain ceased, the sun emerged and the winds started to calm. Caron and Trend were side by side to the finish line with Trend catching a last minute puff and passing the Flying Scot.   Stuart’s Sunfish followed by Guyot’s Scow, Kantar’s O’Day DS 17 and Douglass’ O’day rounded out the fleet.  

Results by Class:

Racing Class

1 – Bob Bean and Barbara Zeller/J22 “Rampage”

2 - Charlie Perry and Boyd Estabrook/Capri 25 ‘Lee Bitts”

3 – Mike Caron/Flying Scot

 

Cruiser Class

1 – Rob Knowles/Capri 22

2 – Jay Douglass and crew/O’Day 25

 

Dinghy Class

1 – Sandy Trend/Sunfish

2 – Dave Stuart/Sunfish

3 – Jerry Guyot/Scow

4 – David Kantar/O’Day DS17

 

Interested in sailing or trying out racing?   Tuesday evening races start at 5:30 pm and continue weekly through the end of August.   Our next Saturday races are August 14th, September 4th and September 11th.   Check out our website at www.lakeregionsailingclub.com for contact info.  We welcome all newcomers!    Until then, Sail Fast!
 
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Bridgton, Maine

20 July 2010

Submitted by Sandy Trend 207-627-6080