SAILORS OUTWIT MOTHER NATURE

 

Tuesday, July 13th brought storms over Long Lake threatening to cancel the Lake Region Sailing Club’s weekly race.   After watching the radar meticulously, and with clearing skies, the race committee declared the race would go on.   A few daring sailors showed up before the race and enjoyed a 10 knot wind.   Just before the 5:30 pm starting horn, a rain storm blew through, drenched the sailors and proceeded to stall the wind to a mere 1 knot breeze.   By this time a fleet of 10 were ready to race!

 

After the starting horn, the fleet slowly crossed the starting line, with Jerry Guyot’s Scow first followed by Dave Stuart and Sandy Trend’s Sunfish.   Drifting up to the windward mark, they watched as Walt Read’s Laser, Mike Caron’s Flying Scot, Mark Cotton’s Catalina, Bob Bean’s J22, Dave Eddy’s Thistle, Pat Klofas’ Highlander and Jesse Mann’s Hunter crossed the starting line without incident.   The Committee Boat shortened the course and settled in for a long drift off.

 

Halfway to the first mark, the drifting fleet anxiously waited and watched as a steady wind moved up the lake from the south.   Soon after sails filled and the race was on.   Read caught up to the Sunfish and Scow rounding the A mark first.   Stuart, Cotton with crewman Joop manning the sheets, Bean, Trend, Guyot and Eddy found themselves clustered together as they each battled to round the mark next.   Eddy and Cotton prevailed and rounded the mark ahead of the two Sunfish, Scow and Bean’s J22.   Next to round the mark was Caron with crewman Art Falk and Mann with crewwoman Doris.   Due to technical difficulties, the Highlander had to withdraw from the race before the mark.

 

The second leg was all about catching the best southerly wind heading downward to the gibe mark.   Starboard was the favored tack with Eddy and Cotton battling it out near the eastern shore and Bean strategically moving towards the center of the lake allowing him to speed by the Sunfish.   The rest of the fleet was close behind.   Winds were up to 8 knots!   Read’s Laser was already around the second mark on his way to the leeward mark, well ahead of the fleet.  

 

Dave Eddy with crew Carol Eddy and Sherry flew their spinnaker in a futile attempt to catch Read before the 3rd mark.   Next around the leeward mark were Bean, Cotton, Stuart, Trend, Caron, Guyot and Mann.   Read and Eddy battled their way to the finish, staying close to the west shore before tacking to the finish line.   Eddy’s Thistle triumphed and claimed first place.  

 

The next fight for the finish was between Bean’s “Rampage” and Cotton’s Catalina which finished third and fourth respectively.   Stuart and Trend covered each other closely, tacking several times before reaching the finish line.   Trend changed course and stayed to the middle with Stuart going to the west shore.   Trend finished 5th, Stuart caught some dead air near the shore allowing Caron to cross the line next with only a few inches to spare.   Guyot’s Scow and Mann’s Hunter rounded out the fleet.

 

 

Race Results by Class:

 

Racing Class

1 – David, Carol Eddy and Sherry/Thistle ‘Gwaihir’

2 – Walt Read/Laser

3 – Bob Bean and crew/J22 “Rampage”

4 – Mike Caron and Art Falk/Flying Scot

 

Cruiser Class

1 – Mark Cotton and Joop/Catalina

2 – Jesse Mann and crew/Hunter

 

Dinghy Class

1 – Sandy Trend/Sunfish

2 – Dave Stuart/Sunfish

3 – Jerry Guyot/Scow

 

 

Interested in sailing or trying out racing?   Check out our website at www.lakeregionsailingclub.com for contact info.    We welcome all newcomers!   Until then, Sail Fast!
 
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Bridgton, Maine

15 July 2010

Submitted by Sandy Trend 207-627-6080