June 16 Race #3 Summer series

Near full crew on Lickity Split.  Due to a lack of wind on the big lake, the race was to be held on Lake Macatawa, and the lighter winds meant we only had time for two legs.   

Brave Bert – We sent Bert up in the Bolson’s chair to fix the WindDex.  We used the main sail halyard, and a backup line with the genoa halyard.  He packed his pockets with tools.  Of course it required one more tool, so we sent a five gallon bucket up another halyard with allen wrenches. Once it was at the top, it posed an undesirable image: a 5 gallon bucket directly underneath Bert as he was working the mast top equipment.  Not a pretty picture.   

Our division started at 1910.  Our speed ranged from 1.5 to 3.1 knots.  We were all trying to eek out more speed, and we stayed ahead of “Drumbeat” on the first three tacks.  Each time she would have her retractible spar extended a bit, reaching out toward us, as we crossed paths in three near misses, and each time, she passed within in feet of our aft.  Put a sharp point on the front of the spar and she would have been a ramming ship. 

In the end, other boats were fortunate enough to be in a lane of breeze, while others like us, nearly stalled in calm spots.  To our unpleasent surprise with spinnakers sailing downwind, Carpicious sailed under us, as we sailed over them on a port breach, and we fully expeted to steal her wind, yet they excellerated and we stalled.  Uggg. 

Swinging SteveO – SteveO is our main spinnaker guy, reconnecting the spinnaker pole to the opposing clew on each jibe.  In heavy wind it is easy to see that the job has lots of increased risk of injury.  Last night was calm, but Lake Macatawa was crowed and narrow and required at four jibe manuevers, all performed smoothly by SteveO.

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About John Weller

Brought up sailing on Lake Macatawa (Holland, MI). Raced Sprites (12 ft main and jib) at the local yacht club as a youth. Raced on LicktySplit J35, BlackBeard S2 7.9, and Lake Effect T30 on Wednesday nights with the Bay Shore Yacht Club racing organization. Enjoy teaching, sailing, and skiing to those who want an adventure.

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