02 CLYC: Sat. racing

The first of the Interlakes spinnaker around Eagle Point (left) as the Sunfish beat towards the west end of Clark Lake.
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After patchy winds early in this, the first race, a nice westerly breeze has filled in as Tom Marriott (909) pursues #1341 registered only as Cathy. Note how, even though the ripples appear to show a steady breeze across the whole photo, 909's spinnaker tells a different story - getting far more breeze than 1341's.

Mr. Bradley always one of the top Interlakes has pulled out all the stops in trying to catch up
by dousing his jib. He would come back to win the Interlake division.
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Tim Marriott (1268) holds a slim edge over Mr. Barker (1010) and his lovely crew.
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The leading Rebels round Eagle Point on their way past the RC boat to #4 at the east end of the lake. Neil Robb and Jeff Stebing (4162) maintain a (currently) comfortable lead over Uncle Al and Marc Bennett (4069, right) who are steering low into the centre of the lake in order to cater to Uncle Al's paranoiac fear of getting too close to the windward shore. Note how Uncle Al and Frank Goulay (centre) are the only ones heeling their boats to windward to encourage the winged jib to set better. Judging from apparent mast height, it looks like Frank is dead even with the Vorels, Al and Karel (yellow hull).

Looks like game over for Uncle Al (right) as Neil and Jeff gurgle along with a comfortable edge as they pass the RC boat which is on station for the finish after a final half-mile beat from #3.
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Photographer, Tim Dowling, takes a less than perfect opportunity to capture his boat while Al and Marc try to adjust to a wind that first backed enough to necessitate removal of the whisker pole...
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... but then veered enough to encourage Al to gybe to make sure he stays well away from the south shore (background). Note how Al is sitting pretty far aft (short extension tiller!) and has raised the rudder halfway for the downwind legs so that he won't catch the weeds with which this lake is well supplied. Note also how the main cunningham is completely loose to give the luff of the main what Mike Mac calls speed wrinkles. Marc prepares to repel boarders!! In the end, this gybe into mid-lake may have been decisive as Neil lost the wind near #4 when it backed into the SW and Uncle Al reached up to sneak into first place with just a short reach across the lake to #3 and the short beat to the finish left.

Hubert Dauch and Joe DeBrincat (spinnaker, left) - sailing to their first of 5 straight wins - have already caught up five minutes on the three Rebels fighting over 5th place: Scott Wright and Cameron Dowling in 3982, Steve and Alice Cummings (4167) and Brian Main and Mike Wolf (4160). Note how the wind has backed towards SW - off the windward shore - and Steve has decided to unwing his jib.

A nice little puff coming up from behind Brian (4160) and Hubert (W3636)
but note how the area nearer shore looks like it will get less wind!!
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As the Lasers run down towards #4 (right behind the end of 4069's boom), Uncle Al and Marc (4069) have nicely protected their lead gained near #4 over Neil Robb (4162), Frank Goulay (centre left) and Al Vorel (far right).
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And a nice little puff to finish off a pretty amazing comeback which saw Al (and Frank!) virtually last 3/4 of the way to the first mark! Neil Robb in 4162 will hold a comfortable 2nd...
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... while Frank Goulay and John Weakley (3923) hold 3rd just ahead of Al and Karel Vorel (3914).
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A very exciting finish among three Interlakes as Mr. Gall (1325) just noses out an unidentifiable Interlake who appears to have tacked just in time to stick his nose in ahead of Mr. Gies in 987. Taking the wind leftovers are Scott Wright and Cameron Dowling in Rebel 3982 who placed 6th in race 1 behind Dan Hockenberry with Scott Dowling.

Race 2 saw similar winds but the PRO had no time for photos. Hubert Dauch and Mike Codd had a close race in W's and once more it was Hubert who prevailed. In Rebels meanwhile, Uncle Al and Frank Goulay had the wind gods smile on them as they pulled away from the fleet to end up 1-2. In fact, what with the break for free beer between races 2 and 3 thrown in as a bonus, it seemed like life was just perfect aboard Rebel 4069 until ...

... Marc (centre) discovered that our mast foot was disintegrating as it came away from its heel plug. We were sure we'd have to sit out at least race 3 but Tim Dowling (still on station at the finish line) gave us instructions on how to locate his repair supplies ashore while Neil Robb (right), Wayfarer Man, Frank Goulay (left) and John Weakley leapt into action...

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... and made sure would not have to miss a race. Thanks, gentlemen! This was true sportsmanship!
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This is the only shot Tim found time for from race 3 - a nice puff for the Interlakes as they approach the RC boat. Notice how the lower pole on the 1286 spi stretched the spi luff and thus opens out the leech! Hubert again defeated Mike in W's - this time a horizon job - to take a stranglehold on the series.

In Rebels, it was an ecstatic ending to a fine day for Dan Hockenberry and Scott Dowling who led for much of the race, then lost the lead just prior to the start of the final short beat to the finish, but then recovered very smartly to beat out Frank Goulay and Uncle Al who in turn edged out Steve and Alice Cummings and Larry Schmida who was introducing Patti Long to the joys of sailing. Perhaps it was fortunate for Al, Dan and Frank that Tim was too busy to take pictures as there was considerable comedy at the leeward mark where none of the Rebel leaders knew which way to round, guessed wrong and had to correct - the full story is told in the regatta report.