the 2008 Warm Water Regatta
Race #5 pics - 3
pics by Joanne Van Kampen
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Looking to be in fine trim (if not fettle?) are Al with Ken, and Marc with Julie, who ...
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... like Al with Julia (3854) and Dwight with Pat obviously see the merits of remaining on a nicely lifted port tack. Al remains nicely placed between the upcoming mark and Dwight who has clearly established himself as the other main contender for series victory  - to the extent that, even if Dwight tacks off the very favoured port tack here, Al and Julia have already agreed that they will immediately keep Dwight company (nice euphemism for covering, isn't it?) and thus remain between him and the mark. Makes life beautifully simple - no need to worry about whether a shift is enough of a knock to warrant tacking. You just let your opponent do the thinking, and you - as I like to say - follow him from in front.
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Leo looking good going upwind
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Fast forward to the end of the run: Another advantage gained from keeping together with your main challenger (while making sure you stay off his wind!!) is that the two of you can boat speed test and thus push each other to better performance. Here it is clear that Al and Dwight have made the best of this opportunity and opened up a big lead on the others.   - click here for full-size pic
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I think it would be fair to say that here, Uncle Al misses the mainsheet assistance that Marc would always give at the leeward mark!!
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Here, you can pretty much picture an offended Julia saying: "You want me to do what?? I already have enough to do!!"
(The late Mr. Gorsky springs to mind: The day the kid next door walks on the moon, you'll get me to pull that main in!)
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I suppose it's some consolation that things don't look much spiffier aboard Eclairelle.
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Al and Ken look fine under ...
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... spinnaker but have left themselves a busy rounding that will see them having to gybe and then luff up to closehauled right after that. Doing things that way leaves little room for error and no time for its correction, as we will see shortly.
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Right about here, Al is no doubt thinking that even small as his lead was, perhaps he should have tacked twice and made sure he got between between Dwight and the mark. More likely, Al is thinking uncharitable thoughts about how mainsheet help at the mark would have let Al pinch up immediately and thus avoid this position in which a further lift will put Dwight into the lead. Of course, Al is not letting any of these thoughts affect his sailing (or pass his experience-wisened lips!!). In fact, if this is the beginning of a knock, Al is sure to tack any second now.
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Two battleships and a frigate??
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Poor Al and Ken: nothing worse than trying to untangle a stuck spinnaker while sailing closehauled into a stiff breeze!!
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Leo also leaves his gybe to the last second and predictably ends up making a ...
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... less than textbook rounding. Relief at last for Al and Ken who finally seem to be getting the last of chute stowed.
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In the distance, we can see Al and Julia (r) about to cross in first place ahead of Dwight and Pat (2nd from right).
Meanwhile Marc and Julie are about to gybe and round onto their final beat of the day.
- click here for full-size pic
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An earlier gybe leads to a nicely efficient rounding for Brian and Crystal.
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The veer that knocked port tack and saved Al's bacon against Dwight is still operational and now lifts Al N. (7380) and Leo on starboard. Al and Ken placed 3rd as expected, but our photographer must have missed some of the action here. Brian and Crystal (6082) who rounded onto this final short beat mired in 6th place, somehow beat out not only Marc and Julie who had been 50 yards ahead but also ended up ...
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... getting into 4th place at the finish - behind Al (7380) but in front of ...
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... Leo. Amazing!! And I have no idea what Julia and I were doing way over to the right after our finish. Perhaps I was lighting up!!??
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