the 2008 Wayfarer Midwinters Lake Eustis SC * February 8-10, 2008 race synopses by Jim and Linda Heffernan ...

Friday Race 1: Winds light from the northwest, seas calm. Peter Rahn and crew Alex (W286) figured out the light air technique quickly, jumping off to a comfortable position on the first beat. At the start, Ted Benedict and Charley Jensen (W991) worked out from the line until they buried Jim and Linda Heffernan (W2458) forcing them to tack to the non-paying side.  The crew of Lori Beehler and Andrew Hall (W555), sailed a flawless first beat, rounded the mark first and had the opportunity on the downwind to photograph all the fleet following in their wake.  What a great moment for them. As the race progressed, the light winds began to flicker and the positions changed depending where the zephyrs appeared. On the last leg, Peter and Alex moved into a nervous lead and watched the fleet creeping up from behind. Ted Benedict handled the light winds well and followed Peter across the line for a first in the non-spinnaker group. Dave Moring and Kevin Rankin in W4106 moved up from well behind to edge Jim and Linda at the committee boat.  Butch Minson and Andy Dooma (W3951) then finished just ahead of Jim McIntyre and Jim McIntyre (W1629) who along with Lori and Andrew were moving quickly to the finish as the backing wind favored the left side boats. Race 2: Winds light from the west-south-west, seas calm. As the wind was still trying to make up its mind, the fleet was sent to shore for lunch. As the wind filled and backed, we were quickly summoned to hoist sails and join the committee boat.   With the backing winds, the race course was shifted closer to the southern shore of Lake Eustis. As the fleet got away with only one boat recalled, the left side was slightly favored. Jim Lingeman (W3991) moved up the left side and rounded the windward mark third, close behind Jim and Linda and Joe DeBrincat and crew Nick Seraphinoff (W1115). Others gained from the slight lift near the starboard layline and moved up quickly behind the lead group as the downwind began. This group of boats led by Richard Johnson  and Michelle Parish (W10139) included Peter and Alex, as well as Colin Junkin and Heather Wood (CL1820). On the second beat, Jim and Linda held a narrow lead over Joe and Nick, while Peter and Alex continued to move closer up the beat.  Lori and Andrew went to the other side and moved into position to eventually finish second in NS. On the second downwind, Peter Rahn and Jim Lingeman went to port tack while Jim Heffernan tried to hold off Joe DeBrincat. After the gybe, Nick Seraphinoff's neat spinnaker handling put W1115 into a lead that they held to the finish. Peter and Alex slipped by Jim Lingeman with their spinnaker but then had to defend their third place position near the finish line as Jim came up smartly from the left side to challenge them at the line. Saturday Race 3: Winds 4-5 mph from the northwest, seas calm. The early morning breeze died as the fleet moved toward the starting area. Mike Murto encouraged all of us to "whistle" up some wind, which was unsuccessful. Thirty minutes after the scheduled start, the fleet was towed back to the club to await the wind. After a quick lunch, Dave Williams, the PRO, summoned the wind and sent us back for the start of race 3. This time the committee put out a reaching mark, so there was only one straight downwind leg. As the wind filled and steadied, Peter and Alex again jumped off to a good start and moved up the center of the course.  Ted Benedict and Charley liked the winds and got their boat moving really well. Hot on their stern, the McIntyre team used their local knowledge to hold a solid second place in the NS group. Jim and Linda held a nice lead around the reaching legs, but Peter and Alex used their superlative spinny work one the run to edge into the lead which they held to the finish. Close behind, Colin and Heather used their excellent light air windward sailing ability to keep the pressure on the leaders. Race 4: winds as for race 3? With a line that favored the port end, a number of boats attempted port tack starts. Colin Junkin (CL1820) succeeded in establishing a good position and then exchanged tacks with Jim and Linda. Together, they led the fleet around the next three marks with Colin taking the lead for good on the second beat. On the run, Joe and Nick along with Tony and Mary put on some good pressure from behind with their spinnaker handling. With a sputtering wind, the committee elected to finish the race downwind. Colin held his lead over Jim, while Nick and Tony placed a close 3-4. Race 5: winds 5-6 mph from the northwest, seas calm. With a short starting line that heavily favored the pin end, a few more boats started on port tack. Scott Tillema and Sue Pilling (W11) almost made it but were forced into a crash tack as the starboard tackers bore down on them.  Jim and Linda took their stern and squeezed past the pin into clear air. At the other end, Peter Rahn and Joe DeBrincat moved out smartly and established lead positions on the first leg. Lori and Andrew again found the shifts and lead the NS fleet around the buoys. With the left side favored at the end of the beat, Tony Krauss and Mary Abel made their move to round the windward mark in the lead. Meanwhile, Jim and Linda were trading tacks with Geoff Edwards and Greg Murphy (W9483). At each windward mark, Jim was forced to pass behind Geoff as they rounded. At the end of the last run, Jim secured inside position and moved into fourth.  Peter Rahn moved past Joe and Tony to take another first as the backing wind made things a bit tricky near the finish line. Jim Lingeman took the second spot in the NS fleet followed closely by Butch Minson. After a few brews and rehashing the race, we headed for the Crazy Gator where Dotty Murto had made arrangements for a tasty dinner. She did not include the gator that was hanging out about 100 yards from the docks. Sunday Race 6: Winds northeast at 16-18 gusting to 22 and maybe more, seas 1.5 feet A bright, beautiful morning with gusty winds greeted the fleet as it sailed out of the lee of the Lake Eustis Sailing Club.  It became quickly apparent that this racing would be very different, as the boats began to plane towards the starting line under main and jib alone. Spinnakers stayed safely in the boats as crews began adjusting for the stronger winds. At the start, a jam-up occurred behind the committee boat that required Butch and Andy to do a 720 and Jim Heffernan to go behind the mess to start a little late behind Peter and Richard and Joe. Jim tacked to port behind the leaders and followed Dave Moring to the right side. Colin got off cleanly and followed Peter Rahn, Dave Moring, Richard Johnson and Joe DeBrincat around the windward mark. Peter and Alex bravely flew the chute and even executed a gybe much to the pleasure of the spectator fleet.  As the rest of the leaders began their gybes, the wind became a bit more frisky and the red W1115 with Joe and Nick aboard gybed into a spectacular capsize. The crew was quickly assisted by the patrol boat but not before turning turtle and digging the mast into the shallow Lake Eustis bottom. A variety of fish and one small gator turned up in the bilges as Joe and Nick came upright. At this point the race was shortened.  Butch recovered from the starting mess and passed Colin and Jim on the final windward leg.  At the finish line, a shifting gust sent Butch into a partial capsize, allowing Jim and Linda to slip past them for a fourth. At this point, the race committee decided to send everyone to shore, since the wind was gusting and shifty beyond 20 mph. ...

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