Start and start-related scenes
Gale Shoemaker (93) checks out the line before race #1
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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!
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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
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a start sequence on Friday...

less than a minute to go - RC Boat end slightly favoured
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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
 
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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

and another start sequence

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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l to r: Uncle Al, Bill Fyfe and Geoff Edwards have escaped from the mess at the RC Boat.
Further to leeward, Jim McIntyre (3991) has moved well to sneak past Hans (938)  
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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
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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)
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and finally, a light air start sequence and first "beat" from Sunday...

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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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Note Bob Frick (3975) doing likewise. Al (3854) luffs up behind Hubert who has stopped.
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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


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.

 
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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


a beautiful sight: a few ripples appear on the water!  - larger image

bad news for those to leeward though - it's a starboard tack lift  - larger image

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

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