2007 Wayfarer/CL Regatta: race pics

the Mississauga Wayfarer/CL Regatta
Mississauga SC * Sept. 15-16, 2007
race pics 1.6
by Gord Leachman, Gaetan Benoit & Michael Clayton
...

Colin waits for Heather to stow the pole while keeping an anxious eye on Geoff just inches ahead. If Colin intends to tack, the wise choice, this would be a good time to pinch which will slow him down a bit and gain windward distance.
...

Not quite as good a choice is bearing away, which of course ...
...

... loses windward distance, i.e. if Colin had pinched for these few seconds, he would come out of ...
...

... this tack with a boatlength or two less to be sailed.
...

The Lone Sailor rides again. Gary's crew-less situation provides one the few times where sheeting in early for the leeward mark rounding is probably advisable, since there is no feasible way to make a perfect rounding without the helping hands of a crew.
...

As it is, Gary makes a laudable rounding, just ahead of Alan.
...

A quick tack and Gary is off to the left, out into the lake. Especially as a solo sailor, Gary needs more vang tension here: with his the top of his main twisted off as it is here, he won't be able to point very well. To be sure, he can't hold the boat flat in these conditions and letting the top of the main twist off depowers the main. But more vang tension will accomplish the same goal while letting him point (much) better, even with the boom eased out further than it is here!!

...

Following Gary out to the left are Alan and Jillian who look very nicely trimmed, as do ...
...

... Colin and Heather who are digging back in towards the rhumb line after their early tack to the left.
...

What a team!
...

The last leg to the finish: The top three are still close with Al (600) leading the way while sticking to the rhumb line. Meanwhile, Mark (7673) is in a very close race with Marc (3854) who looks to be just slightly astern of Mark. The latter must be careful here, since he is on port tack, while 3854 is on starboard, and "overtaking boat, keep clear!" only applies between boats on the same tack!!

...

As Tom and Al add a splash of colour to the Toronto skyline, Colin and Heather - having passed Geoff and Ron (9483) -
get set to round onto the offset leg.
...

Coming in at good speed from the left are Rodrick and Rod.
...

The single-handed Gary wants to be a bit quicker than this to spill wind and stay flat!!
...

Alan and Jillian approach the mark while Colin and Heather (l) are about to hoist the chute.
...

Note how Al (600) and Mark (7673) are sailing the shortest course here by sailing directly at the finish line camera, while 3rd-place Marc is angling off towards his right, presumably in hopes of getting a streak of (even) better breeze.
...

Tom Wharton, ace spinnaker man, is a study in total concentration!
...

Marc (middle) is continuing to gain separation from Mark (r). The latter is thus leaving the door open for Marc to get lucky. A more conservative, safer approach to defending his 2nd would be to position himself more or less directly between Marc and the finish line - while staying away from Marc's wind shadow, of course!! - more or less what ...

...