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MBYC Winter Series (Jan 5 & 12, 2003)
Mike Barry - Team Free-Bee
Day one found Roger & I paddling over to the Yacht Club in virtually no air, hoping to make it in time for breakfast. After we ate, we cruised 505 row, tangling lines on the other boats and otherwise trying to prevent them from getting on the water in a timely manner. This tactic worked great as we were the only 505on the line for the start of Race 1. A few bucks to the R/C team got the race started early also. All we had to do was run a clean race to take a first. During the race, White Trash joined in, as did Weasel and Fever. We almost didn't finish. As we rounded the last mark before the tower finish, we got stuck in a "dead air zone". The tide was actually pushing us out the Channel away from the mark. Great! We had an easy win in our pocket and we weren't going to make the time limit! Finally, the light, shifty airs returned to us, and we made the finish. Sailing back out to the start area, we checked and had a strand of kelp on the C/B. No wonder we had been foundering.The 2nd race had a clean start. With the four 5o's and 1 FD, the 1st weather mark had us in 2nd behind Weasel (not including the FD) on the 1st Spinnaker run. W/T offered beer to the Thistle fleet to screw with our air and they were able to pass us on this leg. The C/B bolt Roger loosened on Fever before the race, helped fill them with water and keep them behind us the whole day. On the next beat and run, we were able to gain some on W/T. Even though they hit the last mark and did a penalty turn, they were able to hold us off and take 2nd by 10 seconds.
Race three had only Weasel, us and Fever and the FD. As we've seen in the Louis Vuitton Cup, Anything can happen in light, shifty air. At the top mark, we were in contact with Weasel and even well ahead of the F. D and Fever. This was due to Roger using Jib and main sheets, and tiller extensions to beat me down to the bottom of the boat and forward. Weasel pulled up the B/S and was able to pull away from us slowly. We were still running the small chute for this race. We were still able to hold off the FD all the way to the lower mark where he just got overlap before the rounding. We finished the race not too far behind Weasel.
After tabulating the results we found we were in first place for the day. What a “Classic” in first place? Roger decided to defend our first place instead of flying his airplanes. Especially when we found Weasel would not be racing. We had a chance to win the whole enchilada.
Day 2 found us at the Club early, much to the surprise of the rest of the fleet. The building wind proved we were going to have an exact opposite of the previous weeks wind. I was very confused about who made the races and who finished them. Our main attention was on Fever. The first leeward mark is where Fever caused us to raise the protest flag as he was in the water kicking his feet to propel his boat around the mark before he jumped back in the boat. This was a tactic we could not overcome. He took second behind TGIF and ahead of us in third. He gained a valuable point on us.
Race 2 found a tight race between TGIF, Fever, and ourselves. On the last run to the finish, Roger and I decided to jibe after the top mark and run on a port jibe. We had the spinnaker run of our lives. As we were able to catch Fever (on starboard jibe) just before the finish line. This put us in second, just behind TGIF. We got our point back on Fever.
While we waited for the next race, we got to see what the bottom of an Aussie 18 looks like. Very Impressive!
Race 3 had TGIF, Fever, Michael Jue and ourselves aggressively attacking the start line. Some were a bit too aggressive, I think. Several lucky wind shifts got us to the top mark in second behind TGIF. We held off Fever and Michael Jue for the whole race, although Fever started making it close on the final run as he was able to put a wind shadow on us, but our evasive actions got us to the line in second again.
With all the DNS’s on the other boats we were the winners. Our “Super Classic”. We had come along way from last year’s invitationals. If you asked us how we probably couldn’t tell you why. I’m sure it’s a combination of perseverance, some new parts, some mechanical changes, racing experience and reading practically every book on sailing. We’ve also had a lot of support and encouragement from the fleet. Well I guess that’s all out the window now.
Team Free-Bee
LAME EXCUSES
Chris Shand: a) “My kids are sick “ (when are kids not sick).
b) 505 class rules do not allow two children strapped in one trapeze harness.
Chris Stomberg: “I was there, my name was on the start list”.
Dave Eberhardt: “Evil visions of jerk kids, I-14’s and Aussie 18 bowsprits messed up my mind”.
Bob Woodcock: “Roger raped my boat”.
John Billings: “I had “bigger” but not necessarily better things to do”.
LB Fleet: Afraid of being beaten by a Super Classic.
MORE LAME EXCUSES (DAY 1) - from Dan Merino
Chris Stomberg Got tongue stuck to a flag pole in DC
Chris Shand Currently trying to set the world record for most consecutive sick days by passing same cold between family members.
John Billings Practicing on CFJs, at high school regattas for upcoming 505 season
Dave Eberhardt Built new kitchen cabinets, currently removing wall to get them into the kitchen. Steve Schnelker Ok… Valid excuse…