Here, Al (l) is in the process of making the mistake that cost him the race. He spent a fatal few seconds worrying about Dave's job, spinnaker trim, instead of doing his own. When he looked up, Heider had sailed up into a puff to windward of Al and was now surfing up right alongside. Instead of worrying about the spinnaker, Al should have been going up with Heider to stay between him and the finish line! After that, Al concentrated on his own job, and a very exciting race ensued with the lead changing hands each time one boat or the other reached a surfing wave. In the end, Heider and Tom got the last surf and beat us by about one foot. It is indeed unfortunate that neither of our photographers recorded any of the many very exciting finishes that these races produced. They would have been classics! Next time???

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