wipe-out Friday

the 2006 Wayfarer Midwinters East
Lake Eustis SC, Tavares, FL * Feb. 3-5
wipe-out Friday
photos by Uncle Al and Marc Bennett

In all my 50+ years of sailing, I have never seen a day like this day. It had rained overnight but by the time we reached the club the rain had stopped. The sky was clearing to the west and there was a nice westerly blowing. A great day for racing except for the thunder and lightning - nothing severe or too close, but enough to require a postponement as we enjoyed more of the free coffee. Just before noon, the clear patch to the west had still come no closer but the lightning activity had faded and we went out for race 1 in a nice 10 to 15-knot westerly. But before the RC could even set our course, more thunder and lightning rolled in from the east, and we ran for shore. A further postponement ensued and the day's racing was cancelled about an hour later since the forecast was for no change until evening.