the 2007 North Bay Wayfarer Weekend
Mon 2 July: Don Rumble Memorial Series
Race 1.1
photos by Julia Schonborn

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The start signal has just gone. Dwight gets the best RC boat-end start, but at the far end, John de Boer (r) looks like
he and Dolores will pull off a port-tack start and be able to cross the fleet!!   - click here for full-size pic
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Even with a brief, very localized starboard lift, Marc (l) and Sue (4677) to a lesser degree are in an unenviable position, being caught in Henry's backwind (3125). Marc is about to tack, probably briefly, to clear his air. If the leg weren't so short, Sue could likely hang on and sail out of Henry's backwind since the latter will point poorly, what with his traveller being way down to leeward. John (2nd from right) meanwhile, appears set to cross the fleet.  - click here for full-size pic
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Not a start to write home about for any of these boats ...
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... either! And now, Sue, too, (4677) has tacked to clear her air. John (4th from left) has tacked to go left and will now have Tony (4th from right)  and Henry (3rd from right) to contend with if he wants to tack back. Right now, Dwight (2nd from right) appears to be in the best shape, having sailed into a streak that is lifting only him. - click here for full-size pic
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About a minute or so later: Dave (282) has tacked to the lifted port tack here, with Michael following suit.
Dwight is probably hidden by the W300 mainsail and doing fine on starboard.   - click here for full-size pic
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Likewise, Andy (555), Geoff (9483) and Dave Richardson (4782) with his new North main. Note Fred Black (just off
the 9483 mainsail leech) who has a huge starboard lift - all part of the fun of sailing in the SE corner of Callander Bay!!
- click here for full-size pic

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Near the windward mark: One plus in sailing in someone's wind shadow is that you don't
have to hike so hard, as Dave and Kim (orange hull) are discovering while Andrew and Michele ...
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... have to work harder. Which lets Andrew, very wisely, keep a good look-out for approaching starboard boats.
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The starboard layline: Dave Hansman (282) leads Michael Kachkovsky (300) and Geoff Edwards. Meanwhile ...
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... much of the fleet has already begun the second leg of the two-sausage windward-leeward course. It's pretty close among
the leaders who will conveniently run right at the RC boat (and the camera) posted in mid-leg. (l to r) Fred, John, Tony
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Marc and Al (3854) have gybed right after rounding and now hope to challenge Sue and Steph (4677). Seeing no good reason not to, Marc and Al will "defend" the left side of the run, a strategy which will let them gybe whenever they feel like it and also leave them inside at the buoys-to-port rounding - a potentially huge advantage in this ...     
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... very closely grouped fleet. As the leaders pass the RC boat, Fred (l) and Dave H. (r) have played the right side of the run - the former after banging the left corner of the beat. In these oscillating winds, this could cost them if the wind backs after they gybe towards the leeward mark, since they'll then be stuck on a dead run while boats closer to the rhumb line, like Dwight (4606) and Tony (to leeward of Dwight), can usefully gybe to take advantage of such a back.
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Tony (4105) and Fred gybe to port and will now have to watch out for and keep clear of, any converging starboard boats.
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Geoff (l) has also opted for the risky right,
while Andrew (white spi) has wisely kept his options open along the rhumb line, as have ...
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... Michael (300), Dave Richardson (l) and Andy.
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So far so good for Dave and Carol who are broad-reaching in from the right.
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A battle of the white-sailors as Dave R. tries to sneak through to leeward of Henry and Bernie (3125).

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