the 2008 Pumpkin Regatta
Fanshawe YC * London, ON * October 4-5
Race 3.08
photos
by Bob Steer, Steve Currie and Paul Chesman

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As the wind continues to pick up, Julia and Al nail down their ...
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... second Wayfarer win of the day, meeting Ben Harrison (179220) on the finish line.
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Blocking out the sun with his arm, Al ...
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... confirms that we are done for the day (see inset of the signal given by the Hut).
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It's neck and neck between Dwight and ...
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... Sue (4677) who will have to watch out for Paddy (113123) on starboard. The latter is on her way to Radial 2nd behind ...
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... Sue Goldt who completes a fine race in great form.
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Dwight and Pat edge out ...
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... Sue and Steph for Wayfarer 2nd.
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Congratulations are exchanged as the teams relax after great duel.
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Another exciting finish as Jens and Mike have met near the finish. Both will need to tack once more to reach the line.
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This time, it's Jens (7663) who crosses Mike on starboard. But now the problem for Jens is that he needs to tack so that he can cross the line on port since the line has just become virtually uncrossable on starboard. However, in order to avoid fouling Mike, Jens has to completely cross him before tacking towards the line.
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Jens does so briskly, and beats Red Top by a couple of feet.
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(l to r) Mike, Dwight and Sue relax after a tough but satisfying race.
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Zeroing in on the finish, Matt Dietrich crosses John de Boer. Not much for John and Dolores - entrenched in 6th here - to fight for.
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But wait, is that a roll tack I see before me??!! John is in the right position!
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Jeff Eames (r) is in good shape to grab a 7th here - his best finish of the day. But Roger (black hull) has him trapped
since Jeff can't tack here without fouling Roger. So Jeff does the perfect thing: he pinches way up, hoping thus ...
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... to make Roger tack away.
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Success for Jeff. Perfect tacks for both teams and now the only question that remains is ...
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... how deceptive was the camera angle in a photo taken by Bob Steer from the far side of the finish line, as ...
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... can be deduced from the way the marks do not line up here.
Beep! Jeff and Vera did indeed edge out Roger and Rae!! Well sailed, both teams!!!
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A sigh of relief and it's off to a well earned rest!!
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Some fine spinnaker work near the end of the second run moved Len and Andy into a lead that they held to the finish over ...
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... Dave and Kim.
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But not by much!!
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Dave could stand to put his weight a bit further forward - front knee against the thwart to keep the transom from dragging.
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With a crew as nice-looking as Dave's, that shouldn't be a hard adjustment for Dave to make???
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Unlike the rest of us, the Navy is staying out there a while longer.
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