the PMG CanAm CL16 Regatta
 Hilton Beach, August 12-13, 2006
Saturday: Race 3.1
photos by Jake Cormier (commentary by Uncle Al)
2006 CanAm Photography is available to purchase! Please note image numbers, then contact jake@hiltonbeach.com to order digital versions ($20 each) or professionally printed 8x10s ($35 each, includes postage).


Bob and Jeff Tisdall (1237) roll along beside Tony and Stu Cond as race 3 draws near. With the wind seeming to have settled into an ENE direction, Marc and I had no special strategies, other than to try not to get buried at the start and to sail a conservative race (i.e. no big risks of any kind). The line was once more lovely and square to the wind so that you could start anywhere along it without giving away an appreciable amount. 
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Still, the RC boat end (above) was attracting quite a crowd with perhaps 30 seconds to go. Note that Al (r) has parked in a nice spot with just a smidgen of forward momentum to maintain steering control. If someone comes up from leeward, Al will have room to come up without hitting the RC boat.
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As the start signal goes, Becky (2756) finds her timed run back to the line has left her with an solid wall of sails in front of her.  Jake Dann (1143), Peter Foster (1979) and Andrew Haill (282) are moving very nicely, but ...
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... a bit too late as Al (3854), Mike Codd (628) and Kipp Sylvester (1336) will all be giving them dirty air. Al has gotten the start he wanted: his nearest threats are 628 and 1301 (Tony Cond), both of whom have blown out mainsails that he should be able to pinch past. And check out the daring port-tack start for Colin and Heather, who should be able to cross most, if not all, of the fleet.   for full size pic, click here - use Back button to return to this page
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Seconds later, Colin still looks very healthy on port tack. Three and Craig (2767) have started a bit late but do have options: they can tack away or hold starboard in relatively clear air, too. With there being no compelling reason to go left in this race, Becky (2756) has wisely chosen to tack towards clear air.   for full size pic, click here - use Back button to return to this page
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Mac and Nick Thomas look good going upwind here although ...
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...  their beautiful jib looks kind of stretched across the foot. Is it being sheeted outboard??
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Just about halfway up the first beat, Al (nearest the camera) holds a narrow lead in a closely bunched fleet in perfect hull-speed sailing conditions. Having moved up well after a less than spectacular start are Andrew Haill and Dave Hansman (l) who now lie a close 2nd to Al.    for full size pic, click here - use Back button to return to this page
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It's a glorious day ...
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... indeed!
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Who could ask for better ...
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... sailing than this?!
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Becky and Kim make good use of a lift as ...
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... they near the windward mark.
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The top three - Al, Andrew and Mac (main out, Mac!!!!) - start their first run.
That lift the Becky got has made the run into a broad port-tack reach - for the moment, at least.
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The battle here is hot and heavy: (l to r) Colin (oversheeted! do I recall his telling me he had to do a 720 after his great start?), Peter and Peggy Foster, Three (with unidentifiable boat astern), Jake Dann, Stu (badly oversheeted!)
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Having made full use of puffs down the run, Marc and Al rounded onto the second beat of the windward-leeward course with a comfortable lead. Can't recall why our jib was luffing here. Very unlike Marc!
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Andrew (282) is about to round in a clear 2nd while Steve and Andrew Macklin (523) look good for 3rd.
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The battle for 4th is close: (l to r) Mac, Jim and Alice Hill, Kipp and Anne Sylvester, Jake Dann, Mike Codd and Kirk Iredale
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The wind continued to increase very gradually and Marc and I actually began to use some vang to ...
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... help us keep the boat flat in some of the puffs. Note how much more curve the foot of our jib has than Mac's did in that picture from the first beat near the top of this page.
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Likewise for Andrew and Dave who have their boat beautifully trimmed and seem to be ...
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... closing in on Al. Both leaders went fairly far right (along the shore) on this beat and now nervously watch the left side for signs that someone is making big gains, although the steady winds make this unlikely.

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