the 2007 North Bay Wayfarer Weekend
Mon 2 July: Don Rumble Memorial Series
Race 3.2
photos by Julia Schonborn
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Still hoping for a finish as high as 2nd, Marc and Al (l) try to nibble away at the lead enjoyed by John (7351) and Tony.
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Wisdom having come with age, Marc and Al will try nothing outlandish to try to catch Dave and Carol (above)
who are moving beautifully and, barring an act of God, cannot be caught.
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The right side does not appear to have paid off for John (r) who gybes back towards the middle and, going past the RC boat, finds himself still a few lengths back of 2nd-place Tony and Mary.
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With Dwight safely far astern after his unsuccessful trip to the left corner in the previous beat, Marc and Al (r) put all their efforts into catching John and Tony (l). Note how Marc stands in the boat and is thus easily able to move to heel the boat in order to remove every vestige of helm that might slow us down. Realistically, we have to catch anyone we're going to catch by the time we reach the leeward mark, since the final beat to the finish will be quite short. Having again defended the left, we are strategically well placed for buoy room and before that, right of way, should we meet either Tony or John.  
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Looks like it's time to gybe in this little shift. We could, of course, luff up a bit and confront John,
but that would give away the left side, at least to Tony, so ...
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... instead, we will ...
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... gybe to port and onto a nice broad reach towards the mark. The spinnakerless Tony is still well within reach,
but as you can see, Dave and Carol Hansman (l) are well and truly out of reach.
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Meanwhile, the battle for 5th is an interesting on as well. Strategically well placed on the left side and sailing a more direct course towards the leeward mark are Andrew and Michele, who will indeed go on to take an excellent 5th in this race. Without their spinnaker, Michael and Pat are ...   - click here for full-size pic
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... in a precarious position as (l to r) Dwight, Fred and Sue breathe down their necks,   - click here for full-size pic
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In the end, even  ...
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... Jason and Lori, currently ...
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... lying 10th (r) will pass ...
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... Michael (2nd from right). This picture shows how well positioned Andrew (white spi) is to fight off any challenges from the boats he has kept to the "outside". Marc (far left) has indeed caught Tony enough to get buoy room, and the ...
- click here for full-size pic
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... all-important edge at the start of the final short beat. Being almost able to lay the finish line, Marc (far left) is getting eager to tack, especially since John (hidden by Andrew, 3rd from left) who rounded a very close 4th has tacked already. As soon as he pinches out above Tony (2nd from left), Marc will be free to tack and will do so. Andrew, meanwhile, remains well placed to lead his group around the mark.   - click here for full-size pic
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A wide angle view of most of our fleet shows Dave and Carol Hansman (l) just tacking for the finish line. With their huge lead, they could probably afford this approach, but it was unsound: If nothing else, their holding port around the mark until the proverbial cows came home, rekindled a spark of first-place hope in Marc and Al. Imagine, as Marc and Al did, a 30° port lift at this point - something that has happened more than once today! The whole Hansman lead would evaporate! The virtually 100% safe approach is to put half your lead into each tack, i.e. end up between your nearest opponent and the finish line as the latter rounds the mark. That way, the leader achieves a position that is pretty well immune to shifts. Of course, that port lift wasn't very likely to happen - but why take the chance?!  - click here for full-size pic
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Not to take anything away from Dave and Carol who here complete their horizon job, having moved Banshee superbly, and thoroughly earned their victory!! Well done, Carol and Dave!!!

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