the PMG CanAm CL16 Regatta
 Hilton Beach, August 12-13, 2006
Saturday: Race 1.2
photos by Jake Cormier (commentary by Uncle Al)
2006 CanAm Photography is available to purchase! Please note image numbers, then contact jake@hiltonbeach.com to order digital versions ($20 each) or professionally printed 8x10s ($35 each, includes postage).


As I often tell Marc in unpleasant situations: "Still and all, I'd rather be here than there!"
for full size pic, click here - use Back button to return to this page
 ...

Note that we have only a slight angle of heel now that we have actual air (and boat) movement. Our weight is still well forward - where it should be in a drifter: Marc is forward of the shroud and lifting the jib clew so that cloth weight does not destroy sail shape. This is ...
...

... not a comfortable position for the crew and he is happy to abandon it the moment we get our finish beep. This shot nicely shows the room gained by aft bench removal, plus our body positioning well forward for the drifter conditions. In this nothing breeze it was truly a bonus to have such a light, easy-running (3/16") mainsheet and its small, light Harken bullet blocks. Note also how nicely vertical our rudder blade is: doesn't matter much at this speed but helm feel is vastly magnified as soon as the boat speeds up a bit if the rudder is angled even 5 or 10° aft.
...

As soon as we cleared the finish line, I flopped overboard for the refreshing dip I had much anticipated down the whole run. The water was just perfect: crystal clear and coolly refreshing without being cold.
...

While Peter Welles quickly changes from "on the water" to "in the water" interview mode for the listeners on shore, Al answers some questions while holding the two boats apart. Marc stands by in a wind that is so light he doesn't even need to be near the tiller or fend off or anything.
...

You may well wonder what the heck this picture is doing here. Well, there is a connection to the two photos immediately preceding: After my swim to cool off, I found it embarrassingly difficult to climb back into the boat and I was reminded of this neat little boarding ladder that I saw at our 2006 Wayfarer camping/cruising week in the Thousand Islands just before the CanAm. If re-entry problems are keeping you from swimming off your CL, you might wish to invest in something like this. 
...

Or this cheaper, easily stowed, nicely adjustable, alternative solution created by Wisconsin's Chuck Jordan (above).
...

Mike Codd and Kirk Iredale and their ragged, clapped out cottage sails gurgle towards an impressive 2nd.
for full size pic, click here - use Back button to return to this page
 ...

Note how their weight is also well forward, and how Kirk is taking weight off the jib leech.
...

An exuberant Becky Sylvester is about to cross in 3rd place. Note how she and Kim Wood are also sitting ...
...

... well forward and have heeled the boat to reduce wetted area.
...

A very happy team! Not to be a wet blanket or anything, but that rudder would work better with the blade down to vertical in any kind of breeze!!
...

In a very close finish, Kipp and Anne Sylvester take 4th ahead of Jim and Alice Hill, who ...
...

... in turn, just beat out Steve and Andrew Macklin.
...

7th place will go to Andrew Haill and Dave Hansman who hang on to edge out ...
...

... Jake and Jesse Dann (1143). Close astern of the Danns are ...
...

... Mac and Nick Thomas (1142) who hold on to beat Charles McLaughlin and Bill Hibbard for 9th.
...

Good trim - weight forward, slight heel - for ...
...

... Colin Junkin and Heather Wood as they cross 11th.
...

A photo finish as John and Laura Kupers (2136) just nose out Tony and Stu Cond for 12th place.
...
Bob and Jeff Tisdall are about to ...
...

... hang onto 14th by the skin of their teeth, ahead of ...
...

... Peter and Peggy Foster (1979).
...
John Hershey with Tom Godfrey (6738) follow in a close 16th. Note: Once you can wing the jib, the main should be out to the shrouds, as is very nicely demonstrated by ...
...

... Eric Kirby (who took 17th with Gary Gjos).
...

A frustrated-looking Three Gawthrop with Craig Bouck (l)  rounded out the race 1 proceedings.

next
return to CanAm 2006 index