the 2007 Tim Dowling Memorial Regatta
Clark Lake YC * September 22-23

Saturday racing pics by Mike Smith - 2

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The gun goes and Gail is off to ...
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... a nice safe leeward start with R Rogers (76742) and Don Jones (8) in close pursuit.
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Not a promising start for the eventual series winner, Matt Heywood (79306)
or for Ryan Mabie (80024) who is getting a fine cross-section of dirt from a variety of sources.
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Soon, the Interlakes come at the RC raft from the west.   - for full-size pic, click here
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Having beat up around #5 (across from Eagle Point), and then sailed two more beats (of sorts) to #1 and then #2, we then had a long, long (mostly) downwind leg to mark #3 near the east end of the lake. There, we would gybe to another broad reach that would take us diagonally across the lake to #4 where we would start a beat back to start/finish line.  - for full-size pic, click here
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The Committee gets a fine view as the leading Interlakes carry a puff towards their raft. Judging by apparent mast height, 1340 (Steve Savage and Jamie Jones) appears to be slightly ahead of 909 (Tom Marriott and Mike Judd), while Brooke Smith (1380) and Steve Aspery (2nd from left) are still well in the hunt.
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Yup. As they pass the RC boat, it's Steve leading Tom by a nose. Though Tom is tactically well placed: if he can hold his overlap, he'll have room at the mark and be well placed to take Steve's wind as the boats gybe towards #4. Even here, far from marks 3 and 4, it pays to plan ahead with a view to having that all-important inside position at #4: whoever has it, will get to set the pace for the short (half a mile?), mostly starboard-tack, beat to the finish. Admittedly, lots of weird things can happen on small lakes, but your odds of being lucky are definitely better if you get there on the inside and can have first dibs at the best choices.
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Our safety boat? trawling for mariners in distress?
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Brooke and Colleen look good as they motor past the RC boat, as do ...
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... (l to r) Steve, Claire and David.
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Craig Spear and Joe Schardt have the venerable 161 and her wooden mast well placed as they continue to lead perennial Clark Lake Regatta contenders, Bob Bradley (1332) and Tim Marriott (1268)   - for full-size pic, click here
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A dead spot has Andy Nixon and Kristen Petro eyeing their chute with some concern.
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No such worries for Bob Bradley!
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Fast reaction time for Tim Marriott and his crew, David Branson, as the wind suddenly veers
and the spinnaker run becomes much more of a ...
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... reach. The Interlake spinnakers were indeed a lovely sight on this fine, warm late-September afternoon.
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Well ... most of them. Clark Lake's Mike Sharkey lets ...
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... his crew ...
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... get some valuable on-the-job training. Here, Mike stoically concentrates on sailing his course
while foredeck man, Felix, and Tim, the halyard man confer.
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Looking on the bright side, they still haven't sailed over their chute
- something I did on my first Lightning spi hoist in Toronto Harbour in 1958.
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And who wouldn't love a boat named GRINNIN GREGGER??!!
Though I suspect that even Gregger's big grin may be a tad forced at this point in time!!
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Spinnaker veterans, Joe DeBrincat and Brian Johnson ...
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... on the other hand, have no such problems as they run down with a lovely little gust.