the 2008 North Bay Wayfarer Weekend
Canadian Nats: race 5.3
photos by Julia Schonborn, Andy Douma, Cathy Jessup & Harry Budden
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Interesting sky as the Taylors motor away in ...
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... great form.
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With his inexperienced crew, Al (3854) has decided to spare Michele the spinnaker "ordeal". Doesn't look so bad here, does it? But at the time, it felt like a wise precaution. Al Nichols (7380) and John (7351) seem in no hurry to hoist, either! Anyway, Alastair and Andrew (10137) are about to be rewarded for their intrepid hoist, as they begin to pass Al and Michele - as soon as they've run over the fisherman.
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It took a while, but Alastair and Andrew have moved past Uncle Al into 2nd place.
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A nice gust that will let Alastair plane and increase his edge.
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The leaders continue to roll right along, looking totally at ease.
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Spinnaker set for Mystic is duly admired by ...
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... Nathaniel and Krista.
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The North Bay YC and the Terrace Suites (where Julia and Al are ensconced for the weekend) above it,
have a great view of the gybe mark, and ...
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... all the action coming right up.
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Luckily for the spinnaker boats, the wind is in its backed phase here, so that Mark and Paul have gybed onto a broad reach.
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Alastair and Andrew gybe but no one has pulled the chute around to its new intended side, and it ...
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... fills inside the forestay. Just the kind of thing that Uncle Al (3854) had been afraid of for SHADES.
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Andrew (r) continues to wrestle with the chute, while Al and Michele - relieved and relaxed - make up distance.
The only other spinnakering boat is Mystic, where ...
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... Sue and Steph (2nd from left) have wisely chosen to douse before they gybe.
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The trouble with these spinnaker fiascoes is that even if you don't end up swimming, you put so much effort into survival
that you end up too busy to put great gusts like this one to proper use!
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Mark and Paul, meanwhile, have it all under control.
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Still busy with their clean-up, Alastair and Andrew, let John and Dolores ...
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... slip past.
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Dave and Kim bring a puff from astern and ...
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... glide past Ross and John.
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Even the usually intrepid Dwight and Pat have decided to forego the chute, as have Dave and Carol (282).
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Near the leeward mark: Al and Michele lead a cautious group - the Taylors are long gone, of course.
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