The Cottonwood Regatta & U.S. Nationals Catawba YC, Charlotte, NC April 24-25, 2004 Saturday: race 3 photos by Alan Hallwood (and a few by Bill Waller and Emily Johnson)

Uncle Al (red shirt) and Marc are going to be on time for this race! ...

The Wayfarers are off in race 3! ...

A bit of pre-race upwind tuning for three Wayfarers and one Vanguard (l). ...

Leonard Little and crew check out the port tack possibilities ... ...

... as does Pam Barron. ...

Bill Sloger and crew check out the possibilities without any wasted effort. ...

The Vanguards begin to ... ...

... jockey for position as their start nears. ...

Just seconds to go. ...

And they're off! ...

Mo Metcalf flying the chute as he and Bill Waller set off in pursuit of Roderick Anderson (W3568) ...

Meanwhile, the leaders among the Wayfarers - who got the first start - are already nearly back to the start area. Realizing that another loss to Peter Rahn (4th from left) will leave him in a big hole, Uncle Al (2nd from right) has decided to cover Peter along the South Carolina side. ...

In doing so, Al let his closest pursuers at the windward mark, John de Boer (blue spi) and Hans Gottschling (beside John) get away to the North Carolina side. The latter got a bit more wind on that side and ended up placing 1-2 in this race with John taking a photo finish ahead of Hans. But Al did hold onto 3rd and strategically most important, held off Peter Rahn. Nick Seraphinoff finally began to show his stuff with a 5th. ...

The Lightnings again opt for the right side of the run. ...

Jill Kazerski prepares to hoist. ...

The view from the YC as the Lightning leaders go by in a close race.

...

2004 Cottonwood Regatta & U.S. Nationals results report photos: Friday - 1 Friday - 2 Saturday morning ashore Saturday pre-race Saturday: Race 1 Saturday: Race 2.1 Saturday: Race 2.2 Saturday: Race 3 Saturday: Race 4.1 Saturday: Race 4.2 Saturday post-race - 1 Saturday post-race - 2 Sunday (incl. awards & home)