Shakin' out the cobwebs at MBYC Winter Series #1

January 16, 2005

 

The first regatta of the year started with light wind and 5 boats rigging in the dinghy park. Team Bollocks! was joined by Taz (Team Gary), TGIF (Hamlet/Liebatt), Team Don't Pinch with Jenkins and rookie Will (an instructor from J-World), and the first and hopefully not last showing of newly refinished Team Road Kill with Mike Pollard and guest driver Ben Wood.

By the time the third boat (Pinch) joined TGIF and Bollocks at the starting area, the Laser RC had started every fleet in Mission Bay and I think a few new ones as well. Don't remember a lot of details but I believe it was a close race resulting in TGIF, Bollocks! and Pinch. During the race, Road Kill made an appearance as well. 1 pt for TGIF, 2 Pts for Bollocks!, 3 for Pinch.

RC told us to continue back to the starting area for our second race, but TGIF, after confirming with me what to do, decided he was going in anyway and Pinch followed to the dock. Road Kill (skippered by Ben) and Bollocks! spent the next 10+ minutes in the longest match race prestart ever while the RC started, aborted, postponed, restarted, unstarted, aborted and eventually GOT a start off- all for us... no one else was around! Whatever. Not doing a lot of match racing it was very good practice using leverage for position and real good mechanics practice for Team Bollocks!. We eventually separated, got a great start and took the gun (or the yell from the tower, but it will suffice). The rest of the fleet joined us mid race to make the overall numbers look better and I think got a few boats in between us and Road Kill but I don't think any actually started. 1 Pt Bollocks!, 2pts Road Kill .

We opted for the short break at the dock versus full lunch and when we realized we actually had 5 boats and 10 people all at the same place at the same time, we headed out to the best wind of the day. In a coup of a start, the majority of the fleet was early and drifting down the line with 10 seconds and again, Bollocks! had an uncharacteristically good start.

The first weather mark saw a VERY tight rounding with three boats in a two boat area and TGIF making it out clean and Bollocks! tacking onto an unsuspecting sneaking Taz inside on port at the mark. Pinch showed the tactical prowess and went left while the rest slogged in the lighter right side.

Another close rounding at 7 had (I think) Pinch, Bollocks!, Road Kill and TGIF in a very tight race and the best beat of the day with 10+ kts of wind. A glance back showed Ben instructing Mike how to inspect the bottom of his boat without using a paddlewheeler as leverage effectively breaking us free from them.

The last reach to mark T had Taz, TGIF and Bollocks in a drag race and I think Pinch in the lead. At the douse, TGIF ran over their chute, Gary ignored my cries of "no overlap" and gave tit for tat for my earlier tacking incident and barged inside, pushing us out into the struggling TGI's course and effectively scraping us off in the process. As I had not done turns earlier, we called it a wash giving the final result (I think) of 1 Pt Pinch, 2Pts Taz, 3 pts Bollocks! and I am not sure 4th and 5th.

Race 4 saw the wind die to nothing mid race and everyone bagged it and went in.

It was a good regatta and a fun time for all. If this was any indication of things to come, it is indeed going to be a competitive year with a lot of boats showing similar boatspeed and the Fleet Championship trophy clearly up for grabs! Bill said new crew Will was very good tactically, picked up the boat quickly and was a pleasure to sail with. If anyone needs crew, his contact info is on the website or talk to Bill or myself.

Cheers,

Geoff Nelson

USA 7095 Team Bollocks!