the 2008 Pumpkin Regatta
Fanshawe YC * London, ON * October 4-5
Race 2.09
photos by Bob Steer, Steve Currie and Paul Chesman
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Near mark #4: Steve cruises along towards #2 in his Laser, followed by Jens and Dwight who now lie 1-2 in W's.
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Fine running form among the Lasers where Rick (38585) is challenging Brad for the Laser lead
with Jacob (170654) still very much in the mix.
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A model of concentration is Brad.
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The older guys find it more comfortable to hold onto the board in this position.
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One more time: the close battle as Brad and Rick pass near the Race Hut beach on which photographer, Bob Steer, is positioned.
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Brad has the valuable left side here ...
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... inside at the upcoming mark and the option of gybing to starboard if necessary.
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Jacob is already on starboard and will have right of way if he begins to overtake Brad and Rick, both of whom are on port at this time (previous photos). Of course, Brad and Rick can defend themselves from such a starboard boat overtaking, by gybing to the same tack as Jacob is on, at which time, "overtaking boat keep clear" immediately kicks in.
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Race leaders, Jens and Sharon, deal with the shifts near the Race Hut.
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Al and Julia do their best to eat into the perhaps 50-yard edge carried onto the run by Jens and Dwight.
Strategically, Al wants to sail the shortest distance, yet go down with the puffs (above) and ...
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... up in the lulls. The best wind strength, given this direction, tends to be right near the Race Hut cliff where the wind funnels.
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And as you can see above, cutting that corner kills two birds with one stone:
more pressure near the cliff and less distance to sail to get to #2.
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Perfect trim for Dwight and Pat as they ...
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... continue in pursuit of ...
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... Jens and Sharon who are wisely about to react to a shift and move their pole forward
in order to get their spi foot off the forestay and pointing more perpendicular to the water.
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There!! Now, doesn't that look much better??!!
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A nice puff for Eclairelle as Dwight and Pat pass the Race Hut.
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The wind has veered and put us onto a reach. Al has made some inroads on Dwight and Jens.
Further off shore, the two North Bay boats battle: Sue (spi) and Dave.
- click here for full-sized image
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In this puff, Al has to temper his desire to run down with the puff since ...
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... it is blowing virtually right at the cliff which will cause the wind to lift up before reaching the high land, creating a dead area.
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A nice gust for Mike (r) which (l to r) Dave, Sue and Sue Goldt have yet to get.
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Passing the Race Hut: Dwight (r) is wisely heading straight for #2 while Al (red spi) and Jens (especially) are sailing well high of the rhumb line. Here, there is a consolation to being behind. Al was able to learn from what horrors the wind visited upon both Jens and Dwight in the heart of the the moorings shifty area. 
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Enjoying a nice puff as they near the Race Hut are Jamie Alexander and Gilbert Gelineau (2667).
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Note how much more wind the boats near shore are getting as opposed to Dave and Kim, and Sue and Steph (4677) further out.
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And I think even Mike and Kirk (r) are helping their heel artificially.
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