the 2007 Pumpkin Regatta
Fanshawe YC * Sept. 29-30
race pics: Saturday - Race 6.3
 by Carol Hansman
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The run back to #4 has just begun: (l to r) Dwight, Sue, Doug and Steve (whose spinnaker we see at last)
- for full-size pic, click here
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A more panoramic view shows Jens (l) who looks like he is giving Dwight (4606) a run for his money
after going over to the far side of the lake.    - for full-size pic, click here
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But the positions become clearer as the leaders draw abreast of the photographer on the beach under the hut: Dwight still holds the lead by a comfortable margin, while Al is holding 3rd. Doug (2nd from right) and Sue are in a close fight for 4th, comfortably ahead of  Steve (r).    - for full-size pic, click here
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A gybe for Dwight (l) who has edged a bit closer to Jens' side of the lake, just to be on the safe side. Meanwhile ...
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... Doug (2nd from left) has sailed into a nice puff, and ...   - for full-size pic, click here
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... moves past ... - for full-size pic, click here
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... Al (3854) and Jens (7663).    - for full-size pic, click here
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And off they go towards #4 The foreground here shows how the wind can funnel right along the foot of the cliff!!
- for full-size pic, click here
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(l to r) Dwight, Doug, Sue, Jens, Mike, Steve    - for full-size pic, click here
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Closing in on mark #4: Jens (7663) will be able to sail higher (and faster!) than Doug (1366) and Sue (4677), and ...
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... thus get to ...
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... #4 still ...
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... in 2nd place behind Dwight.
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Dwight has held port around the mark and has just tacked as Jens was reaching #4.
This move should leave Dwight in the nice, safe windward/ahead position we all dream of.
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Instead of tacking right around the mark, Jens (7663) ...
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... goes a bit further on port than Dwight did, before tacking.
Like Jens, Al (3854) comes up from below with lots of extra speed, and ...
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... rounds 3rd ahead of Doug and Sue.    - for full-size pic, click here
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Doug (blue hull) tacks right around the mark while Al (l) ...   - for full-size pic, click here
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... holds port until this apparent knock convinces him to ...    - for full-size pic, click here
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... tack. Doug (blue hull), meanwhile, has tacked back to port after falling into Jens' wind shadow.
- for full-size pic, click here
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Both Jens and Dwight (r) are currently lifted on starboard, and are doing far better than Al (l) who ...
- for full-size pic, click here
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... tacks back in frustration - now well behind Doug. It seems to be one of those races where all Al's decisions are wrong.
- for full-size pic, click here
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Finally! Al (2nd from left) gets a nice lift and appears to be headed into a wind streak.    - for full-size pic, click here
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Meanwhile, Harold and Len (4th and 5th from left) meet the leaders coming the other way.    - for full-size pic, click here
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Rats! Al and Dave (3854) are under-amused as they get their own little ...
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... knock that aims them straight down into Sue's dirt. By the time they decide to ...
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... tack away, the wind shifts back and now they are knocked on port tack as well! Frustrating! The trick here is to not let this frustration damage your decision-making process: Personally, I find it therapeutic to vent orally and colourfully, but manage to keep this venting separate, and more often than not, avoid actually doing anything grossly stupid.    - for full-size pic, click here
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