| The
Cottonwood
Regatta & U.S. Nationals Catawba YC, Charlotte, NC April 24-25, 2004 Saturday: race 4, part 1 photos by Alan Hallwood |
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| We join this race
already in progress with the Wayfarers already mostly on
their way down
the run. This time ... ... |
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|
... race
leader at the
windward mark, Uncle Al (red spi) has his
closest pursuers,
John de Boer (blue spi) and Peter Rahn (just
a sliver of
his spi visible in front of Joe DeBrincat with the
blue, gray and red
spi), safely tucked up to windward and won't
have to choose which
one to cover. As soon as he pulls his main in a bit,
Hans (938) can
start a comeback that will end up with him passing one
of the three
leaders who currently enjoy a substantial edge over
the rest of the
fleet. A good first beat for Jim Higgins and Joanne
Kumpf (10302), made
even sweeter by the fact that ...
... |
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| ... they are
ahead of
arch-rivals, Richard and Michele (10139). Rod Anderson
(3568) will end
up getting around ... ... |
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| ... just ahead of
Morris Metcalf (10245). ... |
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| Coming in along
the
port layline already are the leading Lightnings, one of
whom - Pete
Marriott - has ... ... |
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| ... already
almost
caught Mike Anspach (W4271). ... |
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| Now - if Mike
would
just move his ass out of the way ... ... |
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| ... Pete will be able to get on with the
business at
hand. ... |
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| Uncle Al (3854)
and
John de Boer (7351) duel it out for the lead as they
pass the start/finish line "no go" zone with a comfortable edge over 3rd-place Peter Rahn. ... |
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| Joe DeBrincat
passes
the line in 4th place, but closely pursued by Jim
Lingeman (3rd
from left), Hans Gottschling (938), Joe Spencer (orange & white spi) and Nick Seraphinoff (pink & blue spi). ... |
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| And now things
get
dicey for Joe who leads the way into a dead spot! Hans (orange
hull)
continues his march through the fleet that will end up in 3rd place at the finish, ahead of Peter Rahn (far left). ... |
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| With Marc nursing
the
spinnaker masterfully through the light airs and Uncle
Al helping out by heeling the boat to windward and holding the boom out to leeward, SHADES pulls away to ... ... |
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| ... win the day's
finale. "Beer off the port
bow!" Having held off John and Dolores (far left)
... ... |
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| ...
Marc and Al rush - parched -
back towards the club. Hans Gottschling and Frank Goulay (938) are about to cap an impressive comeback ... ... |
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| ... with a 3rd over Peter Rahn (286).
Meanwhile, another very nice comeback will see Richard Johnson and Michele come all the way back to finish 5th after a very disappointing first beat. Well done! ... |
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| Uncle Al sits to
leeward while Marc holds down the boat. No sloppy,
overly relaxed
sailing here! The beer beckons. ... |
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| Ditto for Dolores
and
John. A marvellous day's racing in the books after John
has been out
with bum knees for two years!! ... |
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| Could it be????
Nah!
But it does sort of look like ... Nah! Hans would never
whip Frank ...
would he??? ... |
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| Still the
comfortable
overall leaders after day 1 are Peter and Alex Rahn
(286) but if we get
enough races in to have the drop kick in, Hans (938) as well as John de Boer and Uncle Al are all still in the hunt. ... |
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| More finishes at
the
currently favoured RC boat end. ... |
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| The waiting free
beer
puts a whole different complexion on a trip back to
shore. Seems to
have more purpose!! |
| 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) |