the 2008 Pumpkin Regatta
Fanshawe YC * London, ON * October 4-5
Race 3.02
photos by Bob Steer, Steve Currie and Paul Chesman
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Gradually getting too close for comfort to the east shore, Jens (7663) and Roger (7700) tack to starboard while Mike holds port.
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The start of the Lasers' run: Kevin wants you to know that here, he was finally first, ahead of Brad, and the camera missed him!!
(l to r) Steve, Rick, Sorin, Ben (?, beating), Jon (179167), Brad, Paddy
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Another view, seconds later - and still ...
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... the photographer misses Kevin's moment of glory!!
- click here for full-sized image
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Much of the W fleet has now ...
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... tacked to port.
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A more panoramic view of almost the entire W fleet with Al and Julia leading
and playing it very safe by staying more or less directly between their nearest pursuers and the next mark.
- click here for full-sized image
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Now the wind has finally oscillated to dramatically lift the starboard boats,
a shift that only minimally affects Al because he is directly between his opponents and the mark.
- click here for full-sized image
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Just as Al begins to ponder strategic options for the upcoming run,
e.g. with the wind in this direction, it should be stronger nearer the shore ...
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... the wind swings back to being port-favoured, something Sue (4677) is quick to put to good use. Seconds earlier, Al was sailing almost this course on starboard tack - an excellent illustration of why you never - especially on small, shifty lakes - want to put all or most of your lead out to one side or the other of the course instead of putting yourself between opponents and the next mark!!
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Al and Julia meet Brad.
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A trick Al learned from watching Chris Kofler (1980 World champion): Especially in flat water, you briefly let a gust make you heel and round you up to windward a few degrees. Provided you don't let this go on more than a few seconds after which it bleeds off your speed, you gain to windward each time you do this. If the gust is still overpowering after those few seconds, you spill wind (out of your main only except in survival conditions!) until the boat levels out to the point where any excessive weather helm is gone.
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Note again that Sue (4677) is pointing slightly higher than Jens who is nearer the shore
and thus very likely getting a wind blowing more nearly parallel to the shore.
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As Laser Steve in The Hound (note how far down the board is despite the dead run) passes on his way to the leeward mark,
a rather grim-looking John and Dolores have tacked to starboard, leaving the east shore to Dave and Kim.
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Mike and Kirk get a particularly lousy port slant here as they sail towards some running Lasers. So who has the right of way if they should meet? Yes indeed, all three Lasers are on starboard and the RRS require Mike to keep clear of them.
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Ah, the port lift returns and Mike has George Blanchard's beloved Red Top gurgling along in fine trim!!
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Like Mike, port-tack Al had to keep clear of Kieran, the starboard Laser here.
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Al and Julia meet their Oakville sort-of neighbour, Frank Harmgardt (188724).
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At last, the wind gods smile on (wink at????) John who gets a lovely starboard lift, much better than what ...
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... Andy and Len are getting!!
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Cliff-top view of "Masters", Rick and Steve (175246) going nose to nose on their run, quite possibly hoping for
a wind funnelling effect under that same cliff, one that would, of course also benefit the tacking Y.
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Victims of the shifty, gusty conditions? Jamie and Gilbert demonstrate ...
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... good self-rescue technique, aided in no small part by their trusty inversion preventer ...
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... masthead buoyancy (which appears mandatory on the Y's??)
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