Race 1.01 (pre-race)
photos by Sharon Nowak, Barb Smith, Janice Ryder, Mike Sharkey, John Hopson
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As the 1 PM race time drew nearer ...
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... a little mini-breeze had ...
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... filled in. Here, you can really see how far out from the launch ramp ...
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... the water remains shallow as John Kolstoe finally has his CL16 off its trailer with help from (l to r) Bob Puckey, Neil Robb and Robert Mosher! At Clark Lake, it's best to use the hoist or have a tilt-bed trailer like the no-longer-available Pamco which lets us launch W3854 into these same waters with the trailer tires just touching the edge of the water as the boat rolls smoothly off (the back of) its trailer.
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Sails begin to be raised in preparation for a run down to a start at the east end of the lake.
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Mike and Ryan prepare to set sail and join the ...
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... parade towards the start area.
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This has to be the best launch area on our circuit for a guy like me that sails in bare feet: you can stand there in clean, warm water on clean, soft sand to finish getting the sails up and ship the (flip-up!) rudder.
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Then it's a short walk out to waist-deep water where you hop in and off you go!
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I think that this is Bob Bradley getting set to head out.
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Waiting in complete comfort for Mike Sharkey who has the CWA camera (among others!) this afternoon, Dave Huyssen checks out the weather forecast aboard the safety/photography/marklaying boat. To quote our Regatta Chair when I asked him to provide an ID for this shot by Mike Sharkey:

Ya gotta love this one!  This is Dave Huyssen. Dave is just a great guy who is always at the club helping someone or picking up the slack in any way he can. He is a big reason our club is what it is.   Mike Smith
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All set to cast off: (l to r) Stephanie Hirsch, Jim and Bryan Bradley
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Looks like a lovely day in the making. Of course appearances, as they say, can be deceiving!
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Steve Aspery (r) and Mike McClinchie meet Craig Spear (l) and Joe Schardt on the way out to the course.
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Mark Quiniff sends his fellow Chicagoans, John Washburn (l) and Phil Faulkner,
two Rebel helms, off to the races in Phil's Winsome.
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Clark Lake is again the boys' weekend on the Rebel for Phil and John, and this year, it's John's turn to helm (he scored a fine 6th, beating Phil's 7th achieved last year). And the ladies, Irene and Judi got to come along this year as well! (click here to see how they enjoyed the Clark Lake experience - about 2/3 down that page)
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The Uncle Al grin seems a bit forced here - and this was before the race!
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Joe DeBrincat and Brian Johnson (r) take a little spinnaker refresher course on the way out.
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The fleet heads off towards the NE corner of the lake where ...
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... Bruce is setting up a start line near mark #3.
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Ready to sail their first Wayfarer race ever are ...
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... Gary and Stephanie Hirsch.
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Jay Topping and his wife, Pat, are here for the first time from Lake Fenton SC,
and are playing it cautious, waiting until they are well clear of the docks before they hoist.
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No big rush for the Sunfish who will be the final fleet to start.
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Wow! Look at that!! The Sunfish have reached the line already.
This may be a good spot to apologize for any pics that may be in the wrong sequence.
- click here for full-size image
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I did my best but with half dozen cameras recording the action and the changeable winds
(e.g. the final beat was a run for a while), things were a bit confusing at times.
- click here for full-size image
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Following locals, Woody Woodruff and Bill Locke towards the start area are ...
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... Stephanie and Gary.
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Tim Marriott will be sailing with his oldest son, Brent, this year.
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A quiet pre-race moment for Bob and Betsy Bradley aboard Interlake 1332.
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Bryan and Jim ...
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... Bradley get set to try a little upwind work.
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As required by the SI's, Craig and Joe check in with the RC before the race.

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