2009 Fleet Scuttlebutt
9/6 &7: MRA Labor Day Regatta: Two beautiful days of sailing highlighted by very competitive sailing amongst all boats. Team Martini sailed nearly perfect races and ended up series champs and also secured their position as Season Champs. Congrats to Martha and David for superb sailing over a challenging season. Also notable over the 5 races that constituted this Labor Day Regatta was team Cooke. Team Cooke (David & Ted) were on fire and always very close to the ultimate winner of each race. David & Ted you made Mom (Veteran Sailor Jane Cooke) proud! Tip and Dawn on Frolic put up a gallant fight to reclaim some lost ground after day one of the regatta but ultimately Tip's choice of a older and flatter jib turned out to be the wrong choice for the lumpy conditions and ended up placing 2nd in the series and 2nd Overall for the Season. Congrats to all who made it out for the beautiful weekend as we were all winners for having the opportunity to be out and enjoy one of the seasons finest weather weekends.
8/27: Thursday Twilight Series 2: I awoke to NPR's detailed description of the "late" Ted Kennedy's funeral precession
that was to go through Boston mid to late afternoon promising to
significantly tie up traffic. I called Tip, who was involved with
running the Blind Sailing Regatta down in Newport RI, to let him know
about the traffic challenge and offer to campaign his boat, Frolic, if
he didn't think he would be able to make it. I didn't have any chance
at first place and couldn't pass up the chance to take Tip's hot rod
out for a spin. At 1630 the call came in for me to sail Frolic. Mike
and I arrived to Frolic wondering if I might be able to "pull Excalibur from the stone" and discover the true power of this winning boat or if it was "only Arthur who could wield its power".
After rigging Frolic Mike Robbins and I made our way out to the line to
see Elaine and Jim on Elusive (poor Jim almost got whiplash when he saw
me driving Frolic...hope the neck is ok Jim!), Karen and Mary Ann
Solstad on Lille Venn, Mark and Peter Maitland on Jean, Jane Cooke and
Kirsten Bosworth on Aufblitzen and finally Bart 'The Snowman" Snow and
Jonathan Tilton on Nolo. The race was "22" "21" Twice Around. Winds
were very light out of the southwest. All boats got a good start with
Nolo very quickly downshifting and driving out ahead of the pack. Team
Maitland got the pin end and rounded towards "22" on the inner track
(heading out towards Fort Sewall) that we have seen Team Maitland take
so often this season. Halfway to "22" what breeze there was died and
the "float fest" began. Nolo was around first with Jean not far
behind. Frolic (on the inside), Auf'Blitzen (in the middle of this
Townie Sandwich) and Lille Venn (on the outside) approached the mark.
Jane yelled no room to Frolic and we did everything possible to get on
Auf'Blitzen's transom to follow then around the mark. But Frolic "who does not like to follow others around a mark"
had other ideas...she continued to accelerate to pass Auf'Blitzen...I
couldn't believe it...we luffed the sails and still we accelerated! At
the last minute we decided to do a 360 degree turn and come back around
"22" to avoid hitting the mark. After passing the mark inside a Rhodes
19 we negotiated a tack onto port which would end up being a good move
in the end. Now at this point the pressure is on as I realized that I
have successfully sailed Tip's Frolic into last place after squandering
a 2nd place position. My sweat pumps were on line and pumping as I
started to channel my "inner Tip"...and then the boat started to
move...not much at first but we continued to make headway towards
"21". A few tacks later we found ourselves ahead of Nolo and behind
Jean on our way towards the shortened course finish line. We crossed
the line in 2nd place securing Tip and Bob's Series Two win and I had
to smile as for that one brief moment I knew what it was like to be Tip...and it was Good!
Ultimately it would be a long row up harbor but it was a beautiful
evening and Mike and I had accomplished what we had set out to
do...turn up the heat on Nolo and melt "The Snowman". Life was good!
Congrats to Mark and Peter Maitland for once again mastering the light
wind conditions and drive Jean to a solid victory! Next Thursday
Twilight...2010 :(
8/23: Sunday Morning Series
2: Promises of rough seas and strong winds from Hurricane Bill gave
way to 4 foot swells and light and shifty "hints" of breeze. It was a
"20" "28" Twice Around (That Wouldn't Happen - or we would still be out
there now) race. The lead changed place so many times I couldn't keep
it straight but what was significant was that after rounding "20" in
last place Team Maisey struck out on a flyer that would be one of two
flyers that would place them solidly in first place. For the better
part of a long and painful hour Frolic, Wabi Sabi and Elusive bobbed
and floated to the nerve racking sound of luffing sails as the current
drove them in towards peaches point. For every foot gained towards
"28" 15 feet seemed to be lost towards Peaches Point. Meanwhile Team
Maisey made constant headway towards and rounded 28. On their way back
they ceremoniously raised their beers (which had already come out after
rounding "28") to the rest of us as they sailed on past as we floated
"sans beer". Ultimately the breeze started to fill in and shift and we
all got moving. Wabi Sabi was 2nd around 28 with Frolic close behind
and Elusive in 4th. Wabi Sabi stayed to the outside where there
appeared to be better air and Frolic and Elusive followed Team Maisey
in towards Brown's Island. Ultimately, that appeared to be the better
decision, probably because of the current as Frolic and Elusive
narrowly edged out Wabi Sabi at the finish. Congrats to Team Maisey
for a solid 1st in this very painful race. Jean goes into the final
race of the Sunday Series 2 undefeated and the likely favorite to sweep
the series.
8/21: Thursday Twilight Series 2: A
beautiful evening with a steady light breeze, calm waters (despite
threats from the weather guessers that we might have isoltated
thunderstorms) and slack water going down harbor and incoming tide on
the ride back up harbor, and 7 Townies ready to race = a perfect
twilight evening. Now just prior to the start I yelled over to Nolo,
seeing that the boys of Summer (Jonathan and Bart) were underway
heading for the line, that I "heard there will be a Bloody Mary party
at the CYC immediately after the race". Jonathan could be seen
grinning like a cheshire cat...Big Mistake on my part (as I had
uknowingly opened up a can of "whoopass on myself"...I had just teased
the tiger! Meanwhile the race committee finally settled upon one time
around # "20" archers rock. #3 Aufblitzen (skippered by "Super Mom"
Kirsten Bosworth and crewed by her two sons) was first to cross the
start followed by Nolo (Skippered by Jonathan Tilton with Bart - codename "Snowman" in
the crew tactician position), followed by Double Zero (Elaine
skippering and Jim Cooke crew/tactician), Wabi Sabi (Yours truely along
with "Gen" - sailmaker to the stars Casey - whom I narrowly stole that
evening away from Peter Maitland by calling her first knowing that
Peter (who was on the west coast and in Pacific Daylight Time) would be
behind the 8 ball. Fortunately Jen hooked Peter up with her "BFF Sue"
who was spotted fine tuning Maitland's rig who was next to start along
with Tip and Bob on Frolic. Team Solstad was out in force with
Mary Ann at the helm and Karen in crew/tactican position. There were
many changes of positions on the upwind leg but for the most part
Aufblitzen's Team Bosworth appeared to maintain a healthy lead. Frolic
and Jean went far to the right towards lighthouse point, Nolo and
Aufblitzen going far left and Wabi Sabi, Double Zero and Lille Venn
working the middle. Elaine Regis drove Double Zero to the biggest
upset of the evening where they somehow played the right shifts to come
from 4th to overtaking all and being first to round the windward mark
with Nolo in 2nd, Auf'Blitzen in 3rd and Wabi Sabi in 4th. Frolic was
5th around the windward mark with Jean close behind. On the run to the
finish Nolo downshifted and engaged their "Turbo" and pulled ahead of
Double Zero and took a healthy lead that would see them to getting the
1st place siren upon crossing the line. Wabi Sabi, meanwhile overtook
Auf'Blitzen (Kirsten was working harder than a "one legged woman in an
ass kicking contest" as she was seen rushing forward to put up/take
down the pole and then make it back to the helm which she passed to one
of her boys) and slowly slipped up on Double Zero. Wabi Sabi
aggressively dropped the whisker pole early as I noticed the wind shift
forward into a reach and Gen played the jib sheets to maximise the
shifty winds. Wabi Sabi took the 2nd place position closely followed
by Double Zero and then Auf'Blitzen and then Frolic....wait did I say
that Frolic took the 5th position...that can't be right...but it was
and Tip and Bob were heard laughing heartily as they crossed the line
in 5th place! (My opinion...they dipped into the happy sauce a little
early in the evening and then took the attitude "headed shmeaded" just
pass me another one Bob"). Jean slid into the 6th place and Team
Solstad rounded out the 7th place position. It was nice to finally see
another side of Frolic as the back of Tip's and Bob's head was getting
rather boring. One more twilight race left for the season and Frolic's
attendance is in question due to Tip's involvement in a Blind Racing
regatta next+ Thursday. Stay tuned as this heated series winds down to
its finale!
8/9: Sunday Morning Series 2:
Light winds out of the Southwest and beautiful clear skies brought out
all the Sunday morning regulars for this quirky shifty race. The
course was out to "28" Twice Around. Just after the start the winds
all but died leaving boats bobbing in the center of the mouth of the
harbor. Frolic chose to go farther to windward (towards Cat Island)
and seemed to catch the breeze first as it began to fill in. After
many subtle changes in position with the rest of the group (mostly due
to who handled the boat better in drifting conditions and which side of
the boat's wake you were on) Wabi Sabi caught the first breeze as it
entered our area and for a short time enjoyed 2nd place. Jean next
picked up the freshening breeze and soon after the rest of the group
started making way out towards 28. Frolic was first to round 28
followed by Jean who had stayed low and then by Wabi Sabi then Nolo,
Auf'Blitzen (Race Note: Jane Cooke at Helm and "The" Jim Cooke in
crew/tactician role) and Lille Venn. The boats that stayed inside on
the beat back towards the pin ended up benefiting as Nolo and
Auf'Blitzen both passed up Wabi Sabi. I was almost sure that the race
would be shortened and finished upon arriving at the pin end and was
quite surprised to see boats ahead rounding the mark and heading back
out in the direction of 28. Jean, slightly behind Frolic at the pin
rounding got to windward of Frolic and got out ahead into first for the
first time in this race. When approaching the pin we noticed that a
revised course had been displayed "22" "21". So around we went and
headed out to "22". Frolic apparently didn't see the "21" on the
course change and after rounding "22" started making way back towards
the finish line but soon noticed others heading out to "21" and changed
course to round "21". Ultimately, Jean took the 1st place siren
followed by Frolic and then "The Dynamic Duo - Team Cooke" who had
slowly but surely crept into and held the 3rd place slot. Nolo
followed in 4th, Wabi Sabi in 5th and Team Solstad in 6th on Lille
Venn. Some of us questioned the port rounding of "22" and "21" ...it
just didn't look right! But I learned that once you start a race if
the course is changed you continue to pass all subsequent marks on the
same side...even if it appears to be wrong. I didn't win the race but
at least I learned something.
7/30: Thursday
Twilight Series 2: With the big guns of the fleet out of the water
making last minute adjustments to their rigs in preparation for
Nationals, 4 boats made their way out for a relaxed twilight race.
Very light winds predominated the evening but...as the skies were clear
and bright and no rain was in sight you didn't hear anyone complaining
(except those of us who had to row like olympians to get down to the
starting line in time. Wabi Sabi's Dave Anderson & Gen Casey
(sailmaker to the stars) along with Dave and Sharon Williams
represented the riverhead contingent while Jim Cooke and Elaine Regis
represented the mid harbor group and Team Solstad (Berit, Mary Anne
& Rick Stevens) represented "princess parking" group. The race was
posted as "21" twice around. As it turns out posting the tango flag
was wishful thinking as we all hoped to finish the once around course
before the yacht club canons were fired to announce sunset. Upon Gen
Casey's recomendation, Wabi Sabi sat on the start line and got a slight
lead at the start with Lille Venn & Team Solstad close behind in
2nd. The broad reach out to "21" was an exercise in patience, fine
adjustments, and being in the right place at the right time. The lead
switched back and forth between Lille Venn, to 3rd Time's A Charm to
Wabi Sabi...all the while Elaine Regis and Master Tactician Jim Cooke
were raising the hair on the back of our necks as we could all feel
them inching their way up on our transoms. It was Wabi Sabi around the
mark first followed by Lille Venn, Elusive then 3rd Time's A Charm.
Wabi Sabi and Lille Venn stayed on port tack going in towards Little
Harbor while Elusive jumped over onto starboard crossing the harbor
headed for lighthouse point. Motivated by Gen Casey's repeated "Just
Sail the boat Dave...Just Sail the Boat" I was able to stay focused on
keeping the boat going in the light air and covering the right boats to
cross the line in 1st. The real surprise of the evening was when we
looked over our shoulders after crossing the line and hearing the sweet
sound of the CYC siren anouncing our win we saw the huge grin on Elaine
Regis and Jim Cooke (Cheshire Cat Grins) as the slid into the 2nd place
position ousting Lille Venn who had appeared to have the 2nd position
all wrapped up. Third Time's A Charm finished in 4th and then we all
started the long trek back up harbor to our moorings. Lille Venn's
"princess parking" was a real asset as I am sure Team Solstad moored,
had dinner and gotten ready for bed prior to the rest of us made our
moorings. Wabi Sabi barely made the BYC before the yacht club canons
were fired. Fortunately Gen is good natured and not in a
rush...probably because when she said "Beer Me' (a common call made
upon Team Maitland's Jean) I had two Amstel Light (in a can) chilled
and ready to go. Whew!
7/13:
MRA Series 2: Winds over 18 gusting well into the 20's was enough for
recently embattled Wabi Sabi to send her and her "gunshy" crew back
into port retiring from races for the day. While as much as I loved my
time up with Peter Maitland...I just couldn't bring myself to risk
another event that would put me back would end up so soon back at
Maitland Boat Werks. The CYC got off two races with Team Martini and
Team Frolic trading 1st and 2nd places in each race. Jim Cooke and
Connie Blake ended up retiring after the first race to head in as the
wind continued to build. It was great to see Gen Casey back out
lending her skills as crew to Peter Maitland. The two worked real hard
and got really wet to keep Jean on her lines as the wind and seas
built. The day also saw a "Dave Reunion" as old "shields" partners
'Dave & Dave" sailed Auf'Blitzen and stayed in the middle of the
pack on both races. Congrats to all that were able to keep the right
side up and the bottom side down!
7/10: Thursday
Twilight Series 1 (Final Race of Series): For those who don't believe
in Karma...you should have seen Jean and Team Maitland pull ahead of
the fleet and fly around the course on what could only be described as
a wispy breeze evening. Peter Maitland spent the better part of the
previous week helping to refurbish Wabi Sabi and make repairs to get
her back into the water thereby building up copius amounts of good
karma which came into play last evening as they took 1st place in the
race and secured a second place in Series 1. Coming off the Sunday
Blow Out (Quite Literally) where Team Maitland took the top award
during the "Brass Balls Race" they showed that they had the moxy to
take care of business in light air as well as small craft advisory
winds. The race course was "21" "19" Twice Around (which was
ultimately shortened due to the light winds). At the start Lille Venn
got the inside start at the pin (preferred) end with Wabi Sabi over 2nd
and Team Maitland driving Jean a little higher on the line was over
third along with Nolo (Jonathan Tilton skippering and Mike Schaeffer
crewing). Tip & Bob were late to the start but you just knew
Frolic was back there slowly creeping up on you (does that make me
paranoid?). Jean rounded the first mark in relative bliss while the
next grouping (Nolo, Lille Venn & Wabi Sabi) converged and got
tangled. Wabi Sabi and Nolo were overlapped entering the 3 length zone
when Lille Venn squeezed in between them and then claimed neither Wabi
Sabi (who was inside on the overlap of all three) or Nolo (overlapped
all 3 on the outside) had any rights to mark room. Even though Wabi
Sabi and Nolo did not agree with Lille Venn's aggressive call and
instead of arguing the point Nolo rounded wide to avoid Lille Venn and
Wabi Sabi did a 360 to avoid hitting the mark and rounded the mark
behind Nolo. The leg out to 19 was painful and many positions were
changed. Wabi Sabi was overtaken by Frolic, Nolo and Third Time's A
Charm - Go Team Williams!!!! Auf'Blitzen tacked over onto port early
from back of the pack hoping to get an advantage by going towards the
middle early. The majority of the fleet had to go through the Sonar
fleet to make it to round 19. After rounding 19 those who stayed close
to lighthouse point saw a definite advantage. Jean flew across the
line first beating some of the Rhodes 19's! Lille Venn crossed 2nd
with Frolic in 3rd and Team Williams Third Time's taking 4th. As Jane
put it best..."It was a beautiful evening...just not a beautiful
evening to race" (Unless of course you are Team Maitland!)
7/5: Sunday Series 1: "The Brass Balls Race"...A
beautiful sunny day that was blowing like hell! With Wabi Sabi still
out of the water for repairs, Tracy and I headed down to the CYC race
booth for a bike ride and to see what crazy sailors were going to go
out in the 20 to 27 kt steady winds with gusts to over 30. I arrived
to join Bryn Evans, Jane & Jim Cooke, Berit and Mary Ann Solstad
with 30 seconds to go start. Now...I would be lying if I said that I
was shocked to see the Maitland Boys out on Jean...I figure Peter can
fix anything that breaks and Mark is well seasoned to adrenaline
sailing but when I saw Dave and Kent Williams out on Third Time's A
Charm I had to wonder whether Dave's time in places like Afghanistan
and other popular middle east tourist traps had given Dave a false
sense of invinsibility. With the sound of the siren and the winds
whipping the flags at the CYC yardarm at a deafening level the "Brass
Balls Race" was off with Team Maitland getting a brilliant start
towards a "22" "20" Twice around course. Bryn and I went out to Light
House Point to keep an eye of the boats just in case either ran into
trouble. From the point it was clear that the winds out on the water
were blowin' like stink. I could swear I could see
Jean's hull glowing red as she rocketed through the water like a space
shuttle re-entering the atmosphere. We all held our collective breaths
on each tack that Jean and Third Time made. Ultimately Jean crossed
the shortened course line to win the race and Dave and Kent abandoned
the race after submarining Third Time's bow while trying to enter the
harbor. The day ended well as we assisted getting Team Williams towed
over to the Russell's vacant mooring. While I question their sanity I
have to say my hat is off to Team Maitland and Team Williams for having
"The Stones" to go out and brave the elements where most 30 to 40 foot
boats would be seeking refuge in a quiet harbor. No damage was
done...and Team Maitland moves into first place for Sunday Series 1
ahead of Wabi Sabi. Stay tuned for the final race of Sunday Series 1
promises to be a good one with Jean and Wabi Sabi 1 point apart!
6/28: MRA Series 1: "Bad MRA Day"...The
day did not go as planned. The weather forcasts were calling for 3 to
5 kts with a chance of afternoon isolated thunderstorms. Concerned
about making the start line on the other side of Cat Island by 1230
race time we headed out early trying to avoid having to bring out the
dreaded paddle. The last observed wind speed prior to leaving the
house showed 1.6 kts. However, winds were begining to come up as we
passed MH1 and there was a thick fog bank on the south side of
Marblehead Neck. Frolic, Auf'Blitzen, Double Zero & Wabi Sabi all
made it out to the EYC Race Committee boat for what was planned as a
"C" course. By the time of the laser start the winds had come up to
over 15 kts steady with gusts over 20 kts. Seas were building
rapidly. Despite a growing feeling of concern I looked over at Jane
Cooke (who had just launched that morning and was present along with
David Cooke for their first race of the season) to see if she was
lining up for a start or planning to head back in. All boats started
maneuvering for the start but with obvious concern about increasing
wind and waves. I recall saying to my crew, Sail Maker to the Stars
Gen Casey" that "if Jane can do this we have to at least give it a try"
and decided we would attempt the windward leg. It was Tip over the
line first in Frolic, followed closely by Wabi Sabi, then Auf'Blitzen
and then Double Zero. The windward leg was wet and challenging having
to luff the forward half of the main to keep the boat relatively flat.
Wabi Sabi had her first challenge while preparing to tack I lost grip
of the tiller and had a few long seconds of panic as the boat rounded
up into the wind and shook like a sky scraper in a 7.0 earthquake.
Thanks to Gen's quick reaction we were back underway quickly and
rounded the windward mark in a distant 2nd place. The run downwind was
more like slalom skiing as the boat flew (we didn't put up the whisker
pole but ran on a broad reach - as we didn't want or need any more sail
area). Meanwhile, Jim & Connie on Double Zero "wisely" made the
decision to abandon the race and head back into port. Wabi Sabi's run
was headed strait for the Brimbles rocks. We had made the decision on
Wabi Sabi to head back to the Race Committee and retire and head in but
had to change tack to avoid the Brimbles and make a course back towards
port. By this time the waves had grown to 6 to 8 feet and as our bow
passed through the wind a large wave caught our bow and broached the
boat. As Gen and I jumped to the high side of the boat I slipped and
hit my head on the coaming and my left hand carrying the uncleated main
sheet dropped down to the bench seat...which was low enough to cause
the main sheet to partially cleat. Broadside to the wind and waves
with the main cleated...bam...we got wet as the boat went over. Having
been through this once before we jumped on the centerboard but the boat
filled quickly and we had all we could do to prevent the boat from
turtling. Numerous attempts to get the main and jib down failed. I
was able to swim under and uncleat the main and also grab our tow
line. We were sure glad to see the EYC RC Chase Boat (manned by David Soule and Bob Cushman).
Gen made several attempts to swim the towline to their boat. Once
finally hooked up they tried several times to bring the boat into the
wind so that we could get the mast upright. Each attempt was
counteracted by a tall wave that ultimiately won over. The Beverly
Police boat had arrived on the scene and picked up Gen out of the 58
degree water and then ordered "yours truly" aboard. After being
hauled on board I attemtped to coordinate the rescue/salvage of Wabi
Sabi but the police said that there were other boats in trouble and
they had to get us ashore asap. The last thing I saw of my boat was
just the mast - above the spreaders" above water. At that point I had
very little hope that I would ever see Wabi Sabi again. After being
checked out ashore by local EMT's we got ride home to a hot shower from
the Marblehead Police. Ultimately, after warming up and changing
clothes Gen drove me over to the EYC to get a post mortem on the boat.
Man was I shocked to see a wooden townie mast alongside the EYC pier.
When we arrived on the dock Bob Cushman was arranging all of the gear
that had turned to flotsam and was floating around the boat after the
capsize and David Soule pumping the boat out. Although damage was done
Wabi Sabi was still intact and floating (although barely as she was
towed back in mostly submerged). The EYC guys towed me back to the
Mooring and that ended up a very bad day for Wabi Sabi. Meanwhile
while Gen and I were working on our swimming skills Auf'Blitzen lost
her mainsheet and had to limp back to port under jib power alone. Well
done Jane & David. Jim and Connie made it safely to their mooring
as well. The only one to finish the race was Frolic's own Tip O'Neill
and seasoned crew Dawn Crowe. Kudos to them.
Post Mortem Epilogue: Wabi Sabi was hauled out with the help of Jonathan Tilton, Peter Maitland and Bob Maitland. Wabi Sabi was shuttled up to Maitland Boat Werks up on Maitland Mountain where Peter performed masterful reconstructive surgery on Wabi Sabi to get her ship shape again. The
sign over Peter's Barn should read "Where the Magic Happens" or "The
Impossible Right Away...Miracles Take Slightly Longer!" After a week and a half of TLC Wabi Sabi is ready to go back in the water and join the rest of the season. I want to extend my deepest thanks to Gen Casey (who has helped me through two capsizes - will she ever sail with me again???? - stay tuned!), Peter Maitland for taking a big chunk of his week to help me make repairs, Tip O'Neill for following up with me and providing me a badly needed wire cheek block for the boom outhaul, Raymond Bates: skipper of the Laurence H. Constantine, who rescued my prized "Maitland Model" tiller
from the waters off of Cat Island and finally EYC's ace veteran Race
Committee members, David Soule & Bob Cushman who's dedication,
professionalism and knowledge of seamanship saved Wabi Sabi from a
watery grave off the Brimbles. I learned later that Jane Cooke had earned the title of the "Queen of Capsize" for some of her wild days in years past. Well I believe that our Queen has a new King.
6/25: Thursday Twilight Series:
After what seemed like 40 days & 40 nights of rain we were all able
to climb aboard our "arks" and get out for a race. A beautiful night
and a bright breeze and a course of "19" "22" Twice Around. At the
start of the start all were out with the exception of Frolic. With two
minutes to the Townie Start and the background music to Jaws
playing in the background Frolic was sighted making a beeline for the
starting line with paddle out. At the sound of the starting siren it
was Mark Maitland and Kristen Starke on Jean out ahead and first across
the line. Wabi Sabi over in 2nd and Nolo's Bart Snow/Jonathan Tilton
(Snow Skippering) in a close 3rd position. A reach to 19 where Bart
snow dropped Nolo down in 2nd gear and powered past Wabi Sabi for the
2nd position. Rounding 19 it was a run out to 22 with a beat back to
the starting pin. On the beat back across the harbor Bart Snow makes
up the considerable distance upon Jean and overtakes Maitland/Starke to
take the lead for the 2nd circuit. All the while Wabi Sabi was trying
to hold her position in 3rd against the loud swooshing sound of Townie
bow wake coming off of Elusive close behind. About the time we were
all rounding 22 for the last beat to the finish Bart & Jonathan
were calling for a launch (having crossed the line in first place) for
a pickup at the mooring to take them ashore to the Bloody Mary's that
waited for the victors at the CYC bar. Maitland/Starke held a
solid 2nd place with the the battle of the night for 3rd and 4th
place between Elusive, Wabi Sabi and Frolic. Elusive stayed high in
the harbor (towards lighthouse point) while Wabi Sabi and Frolic stayed
towards the right side (Fort Sewall). Wabi Sabi ends up getting "Janed"
(defined: the zen and art of choosing the right tack and playing the
right side of the harbor to overtake boats well ahead) by Elaine and
her "harbor savy tactician" Jim Cooke by narrowly crossing ahead of
Wabi Sabi to take the 3rd place with Wabi Sabi having to do 2 extra
tacks to get around moored boats. Meanwhile, the stealthy crew of
Frolic had made up for their poor start and nearly caught Wabi Sabi.
Wabi Sabi was able to squeeze out Frolic taking the 4th position with
Frolic in 5th and Third Time's A Charm in 6th. It was nice to see the
Williams brothers out working out the kinks on 3rd Times A Charm in
their first showing of the season. All in all a beautiful night to be
on the water...especially if you were the crew of Nolo which appears to
be unstoppable in its quest to for a sweep of the Twilight Series 1.
6/21: Sunday Morning Series: Wet & Yucky! No race! Reports say that Jim Cooke had to fight to put up the "November" flag canceling the day's race.
6/20:MRA:
With some trepidation about the weather and the forecast for potential
rain and light wind 4 boats determined to take advantage of the break
in the weather head out to the Brimbles Line. Making their debut
appearance at this year's MRA was Frolic (Tip O'Neill & Dawn Crowe)
and Double Zero (Connie Blake and Veteran Sail Engineer & Tactician
Jim Cooke). The first race started out a C course but was shortened to
an A course presumably for shifting wind. With the Pin End grossly
favored the Patience started off in 1st and ended the same. Double
Zero's Connie Blake took the right tacks and took a solid 2nd while
Wabi Sabi and Frolic battled for a tight finish with Frolic narrowly
edging out Wabi Sabi for 3rd. Actually, the only reason I knew the
course had been shortened was Tip asking for room to finish since we
were headed for the pin end that I was preparing to round with inside
overlap thinking that I was in good stead...I should have known "if you
think you're in good stead when battling Tip you should think
again...look around and see what has changed. The 2nd race shook
things up a bit with Tip & Dawn taking the top spot with Wabi Sabi
narrowly edging out Team Martini on Patience for 2nd and Team Double
Zero sliding back into 4th place. The last race of the day saw Team
Martini taking the top spot followed by Frolic in 2nd. After a
grueling tacking battle, Connie Blake and ace tactician Jim Cooke
managed to best Wabi Sabi and took 3rd place. All in all a nice day of
racing and many thanks to the BYC Race Committee for well run races
with excellent communications.
6/18:Thursday Twilight Series:Rain, small craft advisory and cool temps keep the Townies ashore with
no race. (Actually we all decided...if Jane's not racing then we're
not racing without her!)
6/13: MRA: A beautiful day for the 1st MRA race of 2009 for the Town Class
sailors. Unfortunately conflicts, injured backs and boats not yet in
the water resulted in only two boats coming out to race: #558
Patience (Team Martini) and #2091 Wabi Sabi (Anderson/Casey). Light
but steady winds predominated the day. Race 1. Patience hits the
starting line just ahead of Wabi Sabi and maintains a lead throughout
the "C" course to win. Race 2. An aggressive Team Martini is over the
line early on the start giving Wabi Sabi a head start. You know it is
not your day when a boat has to go back and restart and then still
beats you to the windward mark and holds the lead on the "A" course to
win. Congrats to Team Martini on their two wins. Many thanks to Gen
for doing a great job in crewing on Wabi Sabi for the day and making my
day with the hilarious "Rex Antrim Story"...6 inches...ha ha :)! Tip,
get out here and give the Martini's some competition!
6/11: Thursday Twilight Series: "Marblehead Reporter Headlines...Tilton Tops Tip!" On a wet, dreary, Seattle looking night 5 boats gathered for a "21" "22"
twice around race. After a confusing start by the race committee (the
Warning Siren went off a minute early followed by miscellaneou siren
sounds that presumably meant "Ooops we didn't mean it") Frolic (Tip and
Bob) - in their first race showing for the season - crossed the start
line 1st followed by Nolo (Jonathan @ the helm & Bart crew), Wabi
Sabi (Me and Mike Robbins), Jean & Team Maitland (Peter & Mark
Maitland - sporting racing stripes on their new sails - looking very
fast), and Lille Venn (Rolf & Mary Ann Solstad). The breeze was
steady but light. The route from "21" to "22" turned out to be a reach
and Nolo - with Jonathan Tilton at the helm manuevered in for what was
undoubtedly the "Tactical Play of the Night" by getting a
better rounding at "22" slipping inside of Frolic and taking the lead.
Positions continued to hold on the broad reach (no whisker poles flew
this race!) back to the starting pin. Meanwhile Team Maitland made
notable progress on several legs inching up on Wabi Sabi enough to put
the fear of Maitland into Wabi's crew. One screw up and Team Maitland
would have easily taken 3rd place. The race finished with positions
holding true to the starting sequence with the exception that Jonathan
skippered Nolo to its second 1 st place of the Twilight Series. Nolo
is fast and the Tilton/Snow team seems unstoppable...but then again
this was Tip's first night racing. It was great to see Rolf out there
jumping in feet first to get some race experience. The Twilight Season
is off to a great start with lots of drama ahead for sure as everyone
settles into the groove and gets used to their new sails, settings and
crew!6/7: Sunday Morning Series: "Call the police someone got robbed"!
Three boats made it out for the first Sunday Morning Race of 2009:
Jean (Peter Maitland & Gen Casey) Lille Venn (Karen & Mary Ann
Solstad) and Wabi Sabi (Dave & Tracy Anderson). The course was
"28" "W" Twice Around. The breeze was light and shifty. At the start
it was Jean over the line first followed by Wabi Sabi and then Lille
Venn. All rumors about Jean being "one fast boat" proved to be true as
Peter downshifted and pulled away leaving Wabi Sabi and Lille Venn in
her dust. Positions held steady thru the first circuit. The course
was shortened to "21" "18". On the way out to 21 Karen and Mary Ann
slowly but surely inched up on Wabi Sabi and made "yours truely" a
little nervous. On the downwind leg out to 18 Lille Venn stood in
perfect striking position in taking Wabi Sabi's air and nearly road
over Wabi Sabi. Rounding 18 (still in the same boat order as we
started) things got interesting. Team Maitland approaching Marblehead
Rock tacked over onto Port while Wabi Sabi stayed on Starboard almost
all the way to light house point. Somehow after seemingly hitting
every possible power boat wake head on Wabi Sabi had gained on Jean and
after tacking crossed Jean's stern. A few more tacks by both sides
left Wabi Sabi ahead of Jean and resulted in an unexpected win by Team
Anderson on Wabi Sabi. I think Wabi Sabi got a dose of Jane Cooke's
good fortune to pick the right place to be at the right time. Bottom
line...Jean was robbed...they were faster, sailed better, and even looked better.
Call the police! As for Wabi Sabi...Get out the WD40 'cause I felt
rusty. Hopefully I can work the kinks out, brush the rust off and be
ready for our next pairing with Team Maitland...cause' Jean is one fast
boat this year! My hats off to Karen and Mary Ann for sailing a great
race and putting a lot of pressure on us.
6/4The First Twilight Race: As
I mentioned before Vegas odds were favoring Team Maitland until it was
known that "The" Bart Snow was planning on skippering Nolo. With Bart
entering the picture it was anybodies guess as to who would take home
the first cup. At the start of the 22-19 Twice Around race
it was Jean & Nolo across the line first on a broad reach that
ultimately turned into a run towards 22. Lille Venn skippered by Berit
Solstad and crewed by the birthday girl, Mary Ann Solstad crossed third
and Wabi Sabi crossed 4th. I (Wabi Sabi) was honored to be joined by
Berit's friend Rick who is an ace Ethchells sailor out of Vermont.
Nolo was first to mark 22 closely followed by Team Maitland (who
included Genevieve Casey - Doyle Sailmaker and crew to the stars).
Lille Venn tacked onto port early followed by Nolo and Jean to go
towards the right and Wabi Sabi remained on starboard as we were
pointing high wanted to minimize the number of tacks. It appeared that
going to the right side worked because we ultimately got set by the
current and didn't make up much room for not having taken a tack to the
right side. Jean slipped out ahead of Nolo on the next circuit and
maintained a healthy lead approching 22 for the 2nd rounding. However,
Bart expertly played the funky winds and two extra tacks by Jean
allowed Nolo to edge her out for the lead at the final rounding of 19
and crossing the line in first followed by Jean, then Lille Venn and
Wabi Sabi. Sorry Rick...I would have like to have done better for our
first sail together but the competition was fierce, I was rather rusty
and it is just plain hard to make up from a bad start. Congrats to all
who were able to make the first race. I guess all is not lost as I did
beat Tip...but that is only because Tip wasn't in the water! After the
long solo sail up the harbor with my inflatible in tow I was happy to
see there were pendants on my mooring float (Jonathan couldn't make the
same claim) and was also pleased to gently glide in on my first attempt
at picking up the mooring solo. After putting Wabi to bed and covering
her up (now well after sunset) I rowed ashore to the commercial street
dock to be greeted by Gen Casey and Peter Maitland who kindly waited
after coming ashore earlier to help me get by inflatible on the car.
What a great group we have. Thanks guys! A final note of best wishes
goes out to Berit who leaves early tomorrow morning for an Alaska
trip. Bon Voyage Berit!
6/4: Happy Birthday Mary Ann Solstad!
Mary Ann celebrated her 82nd (or 83rd ...who's counting?) birthday by
supervising the launching of 3 Townies at the CYC and then by sailing
the first Twilight Race. The day's events started earlier in the
afternoon where good team work and coordination amongst the various
crews led to a flawless launch of Nolo, Lille Venn and Wabi Sabi at the
CYC. Many thanks to Jonathan for sponsoring the launch and Peter
Maitland for the use of his trailer to help launch Lille Venn. After
the succesful launch followed the rigging in preparation for the first
race just hours away.
5/31: Boats in the water as of May 31st: All
Townies have been rolled and then rolled back with the exception of
Jane' Cooke's Aufblitzen which was awaiting a special "teflon coated"
bottom paint to come in from Switzerland's team Alinghi surplus. She
should be rolled and launched later this week. We were all heartbroken
to hear the "sickening crack followed by a crunch" while rolling Tip's
Frolic back over. His starboard coaming gave way and will need some
fiberglass repairs before launch. Boats in the water: Patience
& Jean (just launched today!). Nolo, Third Time's A Charm and Wabi
Sabi are expected in by Thursday morning (June 4) prior to the first
Twilight Race. Vegas odds are 2 to 1 in favor of Team Maitland on
pulling off the first win of the season! That of course depends upon
whether "The" Bart Snow is onboard Nolo for her maiden race and if Tip
is able to pull off the Fiberglass repair of the century and have
Frolic in the water by race time! Stay tuned...lots of drama is
building around this first Twilight race!