the 2007 Pumpkin Regatta
Fanshawe YC * Sept. 29-30
race pics: Saturday - Race 3.4
by Mary Abel
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Uncle Al thinks he spies a shortened course signal at the race hut. But alas, it's already too late for ...
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... most of our fleet: Sue's spinnaker hangs limp as only ...
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... Doug (1366) who played the middle more still has even a breath of breeze and will ...
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... round 4th, just behind Dwight. Dave meanwhile, is probably kicking himself for not having tacked underneath Dwight a couple of minutes earlier, because in this wind direction he would have laid the mark from there!!
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Right near the start/finish line, the wind deserts Al and Dave, and ...
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... the spinny sags despite their most concentrated efforts. At this point, with no sign of breeze anywhere near by, you're best off without the spinnaker, so that you can easily and quickly adjust to whatever direction any new wind might come from. And besides, a sagging spinny looks ugly.
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So, down comes the chute as Al ...
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... peers past the bow of a cruiser who has lucked into a smidgen of breeze, to confirm the shortened course signal.
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A sigh of relief aboard SHADES where ...
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... Al allows himself to assume that this first is in the bag. Here, he congratulates Dave on doing another great job as crew.
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Still with a modicum of breeze are Steve and Tiffany as they, too, near the finish.
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Things look grim around the windward mark, though.    - for full-size pic, click here
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And elsewhere!! Sue (r), Doug (blue hull) and Dwight (6th from right) appear to be sitting 3-4-5 among Wayfarers here.
- for full-size pic, click here
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Robert Montgomery and Jim Mackenzie are about to have to take down their whisker pole,
as the wind will give one last SE gasp, and propel Robert and Jim ...
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... across the line in fine form and in Y-Flyer first place - always assuming that cruiser #384 (who ran Dave and me down in race 2 just as we were about to start with our gun) doesn't run them down first.
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No! Robert and Jim make it across, but don't give up, 438, you can always try for Steve and Tiffany (5625).
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And already that last wind gasp is dying as the Graffs ghost across in 2nd place among the Wayfarers.
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An admirable show of effort as (r to l) Doug, Dwight and Mike all try to fly their chutes in no wind.
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This picture shows why I don't like flying the spinnaker in no wind: Here that little SE puff that just carried Steve across the finish line has reached Sue and Steph, and instead of them just sheeting in and going instantly like the Laser is doing, the puff will try to blow them backwards, and in these conditions, will very likely be gone before Sue and Steph can douse their chute.
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Notice, too, how Jens and Sharon (7663) have their two sails looking much better than
Mike (CAN90) and Len (6732) who are wasting time fiddling with their no-hope chutes.
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Doug (1366) and Dwight (4606) have seen the light as their hot, if snail-like, battle for ...
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... Wayfarer 4th continues.
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Jens and Sharon look pretty darn good, considering how little air they have to work with!
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