the 2008 Wayfarer Midwinters
Andrew Haill's photos - 1

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2008 Wayfarer Midwinters… and subsequent road trip down the coast 

After an all-day and uncertain trip to Orlando (complete with standby leg and delayed luggage after the intended first flight out of Thunder Bay was cancelled due to weather issues), it was nice to finally arrive in Florida and feel warmth. Lori, who had flown direct from Ottawa after the same snow storm had made the planned Toronto airport rendezvous impossible, and Andy Douma met me at the airport and shortly thereafter we reached Lake Eustis and Andy’s mobile home where we met with Tony Krauss and Mary Abel.  The next day, Andy’s red W555 needed nothing but a quick wash to be ready for battle … its loan to us was much appreciated.

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Friday: heading out for Race 1 in light air
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Somehow we managed to do something right during the first upwind leg, and reached
the windward mark in the lead … such a view astern had not previously been experienced.

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The equally rare empty view ahead added a new responsibility: to actually find the leeward mark.
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A final look back near the leeward mark before we were eventually
passed on the upwind leg to the shortened course finish.

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Mike Murto and ...
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... Dave Hepting (2945) at the finish of Race 1
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Lori thinking about snow
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moored at the dock for lunch
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a very nice surprise: a visit from Sue Pilling of North Bay via her return from sailing the BVI’s
and visiting with parents in Florida (her mum at left)

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Race 2: Three LESC boats - (l to r) Dave Moring, Mike Murto, Dave Hepting - fight it out as they ...
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... chase Ted Benedict (991) to the windward mark.
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a returning W seen through the reeds
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sunset and Spanish moss
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Scott Tillema and Lori on the quad
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sunset over Lake Eustis
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evening’s final glow
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sandals and a snowsuit
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Colin and Heather spinnaker drift in their CL16 while awaiting the third race.
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Mary Abel enjoys the tow to the clubhouse after a race attempt was abandoned. Lori and I used the delay and lunch break as the needed opportunity to go pick up our rental car before closing time, but just missed the start of the post-lunch third race … and so took pictures instead.  Alas, it turned out later, that there were no drops.
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Colin and Heather lead around the ...
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... leeward mark with Peter Rahn (286) and the Heffernans (2458) in pursuit.
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Peter and Alex round the mark.
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As Tony and Mary (r) close in on the mark, Shadow starts off upwind, followed by ...
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... Jim and Linda Heffernan in Morning Star.
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Butch Minson and Andy Douma approach the leeward mark with the fleet just behind.
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Tony and Mary round the mark …
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… and head out on port tack towards the better pressure on the right.
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Geoff Edwards rounds nicely with ...
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... Dave Moring (4106) and Joe DeBrincat (1115) right on his tail.
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... rounds ...
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... and starts back upwind.
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Sue and Scott at the leeward mark
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… and rounding
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still smiling despite the missed start disappointment

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