| Start and start-related scenes |
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| Gale
Shoemaker (93) checks out the line before race #1 - larger image |
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| Bill Fyfe
(937) and Bill Abbott (9235) get ready to tack to
starboard and join the line-up in the final minute before a Friday start - RC Boat slightly off left edge of photo! - larger image |
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| one of the
Saturday light air starts: the wind backed just before
the start and several boats have already tacked to port while Uncle Al and Bob Brown (extreme right) started on port - larger image |
| a start sequence on Friday... |
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| less than a
minute to go - RC Boat end slightly favoured - larger image |
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| off to a
flying start - except Hans (extreme right) who too
early and an unidentified red boat (93?) taking what appears to be a suicide run at the others after an early crossing - larger image |
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They're
off! Geoff Edwards (9483) in a nice spot, Jim McIntyre
(1904) and Bob Brown (1385) could be in a bit of
trouble. Further to windward, we can see Uncle Al
(partially black mast) being squeezed by Bill Abbott
(white) and Peter Hylen (yellow). If Al's boat is not
moving at top speed, he's in big trouble! - larger image
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| and another start sequence |
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seconds
to go before the start: RC boat end well favoured.
Note Uncle Al (dark green hull) sitting in perfect
position to squeeze out the potential bargers to
windward. Several boats are reaching/running down
the line. They are giving up distance to windward
but will likely have clear air off the line. On
the extreme right, a red boat comes in on port and
well away from the others! Could this be Bob Brown
protecting his brand new baby from Abbott??? -
larger image
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the
red start flag goes up! Not many of the group near
the RC boat will escape with clear air, while
those further down the line look like they've got
clear air and speed - especially Jim McIntyre
(beige deck). Uncle Al (dark green) meanwhile has
piled up a bunch near the RC Boat - larger
image
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image |
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Further to leeward, Jim McIntyre (3991) has moved well to sneak past Hans (938) - larger image |
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| Jim
McIntyre (3991) continues to move very well - note
the partial luff in both main and jib which enable
Jim to keep his boat flat despite a (RARE!) puff! Further to windward, you can see the masts
of Uncle Al (masthead fly) and Bill Fyfe still
struggling for supremacy. - larger image |
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| the
windward boats are losing some wind - Al (3854)
appears to have won the battle with Bill Fyfe (937) while Bill Abbott (9235) (r) recovers from a poor start but appears to have a lift - larger image |
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| Geoff
Edwards (9483) and Jim McIntyre (3991) have already gone
by, but Graham and Gary Armstrong (1115 white) and Mike Murto (2945). To windward of Mike, Uncle Al continues to control #1 threats, Bill Fyfe (937) and Bill Abbott (9235) - larger image |
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| and finally, a light air start sequence and first "beat" from Sunday... |
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image |
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| just
before the first Sunady morning start signal: With
so little wind and so little time left, this is a
bad spot for Bill Fyfe (937) to stall or tack. Even
though the RC Boat end is favoured, Al and Marc have
decided to go for speed off the line above all else
- note 3854 (green hull in middle of photo) sailing
with main well eased to build up speed. - larger image |
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larger image |
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| With
Marc wearing the lucky Team MoJos shirt,
SHADES gets off the line in perfect shape with
speed and a safe leeward position on Bill Abbott.
The rest of the boats that bunched up at the RC
Boat are out of luck as they are killing each
other's wind and mobility. The only one getting
out that mess nicely is Bob Brown (1385) who is
moving nicely with his sails well eased. - larger image |
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Only
three boats got off the line well: Uncle Al
(3854) is already backwinding
Bill Abbott (partially hidden behind red boat) into submission while Bob Brown (1385) moves out also. - larger image |
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| a study in light air:
fine weather for single-handing, but on the far
right, Bob Brown (red) is not likely to get
through Al's wind shadow. Meanwhile, light air
wizard, Bob Frick whose situation looked totally
hopeless in the previous photo, has moved through
Geoff Edwards' (9483) backwind. Is Geoff's jib
leech just a tad too tight??? And finally, at
left, Mike Murto foots off very nicely with his
sails well eased to pick up speed and get better
effort from his foils!
- larger image |
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| a beautiful sight: a few ripples appear on the water! - larger image |
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| bad news for those to leeward though - it's a starboard tack lift - larger image |
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| It became a one-tack beat - with Uncle Al who was windward-most boat benefitting the most - note SHADES (red spi) already "flying" down the run as Hubert (2415) prepares (yet again!!!!) to tack within 2 lengths of the mark - risky stuff! I think the red boat at left is Joe DeBrincat. - larger image |