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Rock Hall 2004
Friday - 2
photos by Bill Bagwill and Uncle Al

The 11 a.m. start time draws near on a warm morning of slight overcast and even slighter winds.
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The (light) tide has turned an hour ago and will now help us as we head downriver and downwind.
Of course, this means we must take care not to let the current push us over the start line early.
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The fleet today includes a gaggle of Sunfish and Lasers.
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Evidence that the green Highlander finally ...
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... did get launched.
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Julie, who hasn't sailed in years, gets the quickie refresher course from her dad, Nick.
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Likewise for Frank ...
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...and Sarah
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The Lasers and Sunfish dawdle around near the port end of the long start line, which ...
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... has its other end and the RC on the CRYCC dock.
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Just after the start, Uncle Al gets out the camera as ...
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... the fleet begins to pass SHADES.
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A quick course for Bill in how to set and fly the spinnaker while a couple of the Highlanders go by.
#929 (Redmond) on the right is moving very nicely and will end up 2nd on corrected time.
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A bit of a wind coming up from astern brings more of the fleet into camera range. Note the high angle that the International 14 (r) is having to sail just to keep his asymmetrical chute drawing.
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It's close among the top three W's as Nick (864) and Frank (4270) draw even with the photography boat, SHADES. To windward of Nick, we have the Hobie 18 and one of the A Cats.
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Still not too much wind here, a few minutes after the start
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Moments later, the wind backs, giving us almost a beam reach. To stay away from the windward shore, Uncle Al ...
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... will try to pass Highlander 531 (Team Rule) ...
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... to leeward - a wise move that ...
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... permits SHADES to pull past much of the fleet.
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The faster-rated Highlander (610, Macpherson) beats Al at his own game by sailing through to leeward before ...
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... Al returns the favour.
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We had a good race with this Highlander until he (she?) sailed into a hole.
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A trio of well sailed Lasers (l to r) Nick Place, Faye Flam and Jon Wasserman give us a good race here.
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The big bend is coming up where we will begin to beat towards the mouth of the Chester River.
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With the help of the zoom lens, we get our last view of the three leaders as they near the river bend. The A Cat (Tony Arends) (r) will pull away to win on straight time but fall to 3rd on corrected time behind the 14 (John Macielag, yellow and red spi) and Highlander 929 who continues to sail very well, keeping right up with these two speed merchants at this time. 929 ended up 5th on straight time, with Al and Bill in SHADES placing 6th (4th on corrected time).
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As we reached the mouth of the Chester River, we were to turn right towards the finish line off the Rock Hall YC. Bill's binoculars came in very handy in confirming just where that line was.
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The Rock Hall
2004 River Race & Regatta

River Race results
Regatta results
report

pictures
:

Thursday
Friday - 1
Friday - 2
Friday - 3
Saturday - 1
Saturday - 2
Sunday