9/7/2020 Race from Jon LaRue (with Wes the winners)
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to Peter, John, Alan, Ben, Bill, Bill, Bob, Bob, Brenda, Brett, Bruce, Chris, cbullockSR@bullocklogan.com, Dave, Des, Doug, Doug, Frank, Geoff, Georgia, Glenn, greg@wisniewskiconsultants.com, Jack, Jeff, Jeff, Jerry, Jim, Jodi, Joe, Joe, me, Judi, kingle3@gmail.com, Mary, Michael, Michael, Monra, Mike, Nancy, Peg, Ray, Richard, Rick, Rob, Scott, Tom, Walker, Wayne, Wes
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September 7, 2020 – Ladies Appreciation Race Recap
It was a big day for team LaRue. Out first win. Wow! Originally, Wes was going to take the tiller for this race. But, as we towed over (thank you, Bob Wojda) due to virtually no wind over on Mill Lake…we could see some MC’s heeled over as we looked through the channel to Green. There is hope of a race! We untied, set sail and Wes asked that I skipper and he crew as the wind continued to build. With 30 minutes to the race, we set a course from the start line to the windward mark to see what was favored. It seems like a starboard tack was the way to go. We headed back to the starting line and milled for a few minutes. The wind was still building but was spotty. We crossed the line with a pretty good start and off we went. We were the only boat on a scratch start. Free air. No worries. Starboard was paying off. Our first tack to port and boom, a gust nearly put us over. There was a lot of scrambling to the high side. I dropped the main sheet. Oops. Not a good way to begin the race. But, we recovered and we were off again. Only 3 tacks to the windward mark. And, the 3rd was a short one, in order to make the mark, due to a…”miscalculation” on my part. Wes was the chief tactician, traffic spotter and was running the boards/cunningham/vang/outhaul. A real help when it is windy.
We had made the offset and looked back to see that someone had gone over. Couldn’t see who it was but, I remember thinking “oh man, that could have been us on that first tack”. The RC boat was blowing their horn and Bill Christ was on the scene to help right them.
The runs to the offset and from the offset to the leeward mark were fast. Looked like we were planning a few times. There were discussions of waterskiing behind the MC later in the day.
By the last leg, it looked like the fleet had divided into two groups. And, the leading group was upon us. It was close at the finish line. Doug Ward was right behind us. Maybe a couple of boat lengths back. Then there was a group of four or five boats all fighting for 3rd. Looked like Peter Van Kampen won out. Or was that Ben Johnson….? They had changed boats before the race.
All-in-all, Wes and I are VERY excited with the result. It all stacked up for us. Heavy wind. Always helpful with two people in the boat. Triangle course. Less technical. Helps to cover for our “developing” skills. Needless to say, after we returned home, there was much discussion about where the trophy should be placed. The mantle above the fireplace? Wes’ room? So many choices. We have consulted with an architect and have decided to add on a trophy viewing room where there will be focused lighting, a laser show with a smoke machine every 30 minutes. You know, something tasteful. We are thinking it could be a real money maker as we charge admission and people come from miles around to see the Ladies Appreciation Trophy!
Now, what’s all this about having to start two minutes back? Oh man, we are in trouble now. Does that apply to the Harry S. Truman?!?!?!?!?
Jon and Wes
07/26/2020
Ffrom
Hope we can hear from many of you on today's race.
Thanks, peter
Windy day, I say. But it got a whole lot windier after the race. So, who comes out on the windiest race of the year? Curt, our “Senior Sailor”. And he did pretty well. Not so well as Joe, and Glenn and Bob our top three finishers. It appeared to me that Joe got a good start and lead the whole way, he’ll have to give us some details. Again, from my perspective, Bob seemed to be in second most of the race but the big guy, Glenn, who prays for wind like this, passed him somewhere and too the second. Check out the web page for the Standings. Thanks to John for keeping the Web page up to date and great shape.
Speaking of thanks, we had two tips today and Ed Hansen and Bill Crist came to the rescue to get the guys back in the race ASAP. Thanks for being there guys!!
I found that the winning formula was to stay in the middle of the course until you catch the wind coming out of Don Jean Bay. That created a port tack lift to the mark. But that lift was shifting all the while, sometimes the lift came from the right side of Goose island but either way you had to tack on those lifts. On one of those tacks I found myself to windward and starboard of Jack and Chris, since they could not tack until I did, I decided to take them to the lay line and tack to port at the last minute. It didn’t work out, Jack tacked early and went behind and when I tacked I almost tipped over when I found I was standing on the mainsheet and could not let it out more. Chris passed me, got to the mark first, rounded and tipped. Jack somehow tipped before he got to the mark. It certainly was not my intention to have them tip, only to take full advantage of the position I found myself in. I did not sail past the lay line and I never want anyone to tip but it happened, and that’s how it happened. We would like to hear from the tippers to learn what happened from their perspective.
The offset leg was fast and fun, the downwind leg had some gusts that could really make you fly. One of the times down, I thought I was catching up with Mike, then he caught a gust that just zoomed him way ahead. I guess Mike had some equipment problems later. We’ll let him tell that one.
And let’s not forget the newest sailors in our Club, Jon and Wes Larue. They finished 5th Today, their best by far. Congratulations guys that was a great bit of sailing. You were with the leading group the whole time. Nicely done.
One other thing, I have talked to two sailors who both complained of being overheated during the race. I know that on all three down winds I scooped water on my arms, down my back and front. Wearing life jackets are safe, but can lead to overheating. I’m going to put a plastic glass on board to make it easier to wet down in the future.
The forum is open, we’d like to hear from as many as possible, including the perspective of Jim and Judi, our RC for the day. Thanks guys. peter
Congratulations Joe. Keeping the trophies on Middle lake. Agree with peter on strategy but close to top I did not want get too far out on the edges due to the shifting wind. I started well down the line to stay clear of everyone and it paid off handsomely on the first leg up. I extended over the lead over the 5 minute starters on the downwind. Then almost to the leeward mark inexplicably I lost my main from the bottom and the boom pulley. Actually it explicable: crappy figure of eight  I quickly ran the bitter end through the base block and rounded the mark. I discovered that the main sheet was binding binding on the traveler and it was very tough to ease and trim. Peter passes me and was gone. On the reaching leg we didn’t have much wind so I pulled in the sail and re routed through the boom block and the floor block just in time to take on a puff. John passed me in that mess. I recovered somewhat but peter was gone. Lesson: always check your lines
Sent from my iPhone
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to Bill, Doug, Michael, Peter, Alan, Ben, Bob, Bob, Brenda, Brett, Bruce, Chris, Curt, Dave, Des, Doug, Frank, Geoff, Georgia, Glenn, Greg, Jack, Jack, Jeff, Jeff, Jerry, Jim, Jodi, Joe, Joe, me, Judi, Ken, Mary, Michael, Michelle, Nancy, Peg, Ray, Richard, Rick, Rob, Scott, Tom, Walker, Wayne
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Congrats to Joe.
I had a great start. 2-4 seconds over after the horn. Right at committee. My plan was to work left hoping for lifts as i worked back toward the mark.
The boat was out of balance all day. When heeling, the boat plowed to leeward.
Sail trim was a nightmare. I couldn’t close the leach to save my life on the upwind.
Believe it or not, I tacked into a whole twice throughout the day.
All in all, a Beautiful day for a sail.
Congratulations Joe. Keeping the trophies on Middle lake. Agree with peter on strategy but close to top I did not want get too far out on the edges due to the shifting wind. I started well down the line to stay clear of everyone and it paid off handsomely on the first leg up. I extended over the lead over the 5 minute starters on the downwind. Then almost to the leeward mark inexplicably I lost my main from the bottom and the boom pulley. Actually it explicable: crappy figure of eight I quickly ran the bitter end through the base block and rounded the mark. I discovered that the main sheet was binding binding on the traveler and it was very tough to ease and trim. Peter passes me and was gone. On the reaching leg we didn’t have much wind so I pulled in the sail and re routed through the boom block and the floor block just in time to take on a puff. John passed me in that mess. I recovered somewhat but peter was gone. Lesson: always check your lines
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to Bill, Doug, Peter, Alan, Ben, Bob, Bob, Brenda, Brett, Bruce, Chris, Curt, Dave, Des, Doug, Frank, Geoff, Georgia, Glenn, Greg, Jack, Jack, Jeff, Jeff, Jerry, Jim, Jodi, Joe, Joe, Judi, Ken, Mary, Michael, Michael, Michelle, Mike, Nancy, Peg, Ray, Richard, Rick, Rob, Scott, Tom, Walker, Wayne
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I am glad that Joe won the RoJo to keep the trophy in Mill Lake- I love that trophy and when I rehabbed my lake house, I built the fireplace mantle to fit that trophy- hate that I didn't win it.
I was one of the sailors that felt over-heated. I have a new cap with a plastic liner (Bump Cap). I love the cap as it has saved a couple of knocks from the boom already this year. However, I don't think it breathes well and I heated up today even with water and splashing on. I am susceptible to this issue anyway but I think I will look into Mike's helmet or a bike helmet. I am pretty convinced that protecting our head with these boats is important! I felt really good the first two and 1/2 laps before I got overheated. I felt like you didn't want to get too far left on the upwind tack but you could get some lifts there as you approached Greg's Island. Downwind gate was an interesting choice. I liked left to get more to the right of the course on the upwind, but the right mark seemed closer. I let Peter go left once just in front of me and I went left just to see him gain significantly. Then I tried left and Mike Jaeger went right and I lost to him. Go figure--maybe it says something about the quality of the sailor. I will be gone next week meeting my new grandson Thomas William Hamilton- he is one month old today but came 4 weeks early---doing very well though. See you all in two weeks.
07/13/2020
7/12/20
Races 6 & 7
Well we did it again, thanks to the planning of Glenn and Ben, two successful races in one day, so we are one up for the year incase we have another no wind or too much wind day. And a beautiful day it was, not to hot, enough wind, (most of the time in most places), and plenty of spectators along the shore. I have received more comments from shore people than ever, maybe because I know more people on this lake. But they sure did appreciate the spectacle. And we had fewer boats and big waves. Kinda nice.
Jim and I had a great first race, within two laps we had created a distance between us and the fleet. We exchanged leads a few times and then Jim and I tacked about the same time, he caught the header and I caught a great lift, made all the difference and finished before him. The rest of the fleet was pretty much in a group. The wind favored the port tack the whole way up. Used the starboard only short distances as needed. There were some terrific lifts on port. I took one tack to get from Jim’s house to withing 100 yds of the finish line, that was great fun. Chris and Mike, who started 3 min after Jim and I finished 3rd and 4th and not coincidentally they are in first and second place for the season. See the Sailing Club web page for all the results year to date. www.lauderdalesailingclub.com
There were some strange winds out there, one of those gusts caught Bill unawares and he ended up in the lake but unharmed. Mike Fuller, currently in 3rd place for the Season, stopped to make sure all was okay before continuing the race and finished 11th. But he’s still in 3rd. Thanks Mike, says a lot about our Club.
Race 7: Talk about learning from your mistakes: Brett finished 14th in race Six, turned around and Won (handily) in race 7. I hope he’ll share some words with us this week and tell his story. We actually discussed cancelling the race because the wind was acting like it was going to die. We shortened it but it still caused problems for some of us. After we decided to go ahead with the race, I said to Jim, “ there are going to be parts of this race we are not going to like.” No truer word. Second time up, Jim got caught in the wind shadow of the shoreline just above the weather mark (also called the top mark, up upwind mark etc.) He was 20 yards upwind from us just sitting and watched everyone, everyone go by. When it filled him he as in last place by half the lake. I on the other hand was having a decent race, about 4 or 5 approaching the downwind mark and the wind died. I just sat there and waited then heard commotion behind and realized that all the boats I passed in the last 30 minutes had caught the wind and were coming fast. By the time the wind filled for me 6 boats passed me and I ended up 10th, my worst race this year. Jack had a good race even though he tipped over. It was fluke I guess. He was coming down wind I was going up the first leg. He remembered this same situation some years back when we got our mast and stays tangled up. To avoid this happening again he leaned back, (he was on the low side) and the boat came with him. I too leaned to flatten but being on the high side, no problem. Jack was up and back in the race in minutes and finished Second. That’s great racing. Jack gives credit to a practice that he and John have been doing that YOU may want to consider. They tie their painter to the base of the mast and heave themselves up on the Front of the boat, not the side. I haven’t tried it but I think I’ll get a longer painter and start doing that.
Let’s hear from anyone with something to say. Especially the leaders, Chris, Mike, and Mike Lynch. And you too Brett
Thanks, peter
From Brett
Trust everyone is having a good start to the week –
My race one – I had a decent start along w/ first upwind & downwind leg. My second upwind leg things started to unwind bit for me. I went right thinking the breeze was fuller followed by several out of sync tacks into dying breeze and/or headers (which also is typical w/ lighter air). By the time I had reached the 2nd upwind mark, I had lost ground to a number of boats (something like 5-8 boats). My third upwind leg seemed to go better until the finish and the final moments of the race. I had maintained my position in the upper lower third group of boats thinking all I need to do is finish (w/ a comfortable margin btw me and the others behind me) as I was approaching the committee boat when everything stopped. I had hit an unforgiving hole at the worst possible time. And, I could swim and pull my MC to the finish as the others came rolling through just 10-15 yards from me on my port side. Arghhh
My second race – at the start, the pin end was extremely favorable, so I started the race on port tack skimming next to the pin of the line (w/ few remaining boats starting in scratch position, I took the opportunity). I also thought the middle third of the lake was most consistent w/ breeze and as I wanted to avoid the right side of the course, this too made the pin end much more favorable - this seemed to turn out to be the case. I remember thinking the second upwind leg how the constant lift w/ fresh breeze was nice, then another, and, yet another came along to what seemed to be largely a port tack fetch (lift), w/ few hitches (starboard tacks) back to center, up to the finish. Notable too were the downwind legs w/ the swirling air from running to beam and close reaching at times. Racing often is explained in terms of one-thirds: tactics, boat handling/speed and luck. I think yesterday (especially the second race) was more like two-thirds luck on when/where you are vs tactics and boat handling/speed. Always great fun and great day on the water yesterday!~
Enjoy your week – I am out the next few weeks and look forward to seeing everyone again in August!
06/29/2020
Rob Paddor wins the Des Cup in a fault free race. Rob was in the leading group for the entire race and finished First, And Des and Joan and daughter Rita were there to see it. Bill Ingle, sailing in his second race of the season also in that lead group from start to finish comes in Third, well done Bill! Chris Zenger, who has been tearing up the place all season took the second and guess who started 5 minutes back and finished 4th that would be Doug.
The wind was great, not too hot, plenty of waves but wind power to get through them is a summary of the elements. When Ben and I set the course we realized that the wind, coming from Bruce’s place E/SE is a narrower part of Green Lake. Once it opened in the main lake it took too distinct paths, one straight down to the marks, (right side going up) and the other heading more W/NW (left side going up). At times these winds were mingled and at other there was separation with a light wind in between them. To make a point on it, when the first two groups started, most went left where the better wind was. Reviewing RaceQ, the 5 minute guys went right on a huge lift and were approaching the weather mark just as the group was leaving it. They have made up the full three minutes in one leg. Coming downwind the straight path was the correct one and most stayed in the stream. But again there was a choice at the bottom, left or right of center. Again RaceQ shows most went left, but not as far left as before. Coming into the weather mark could be tricky, stronger winds on the left and then tacking right only after you were in the safe area before the winds split and created the lull in the center.
I felt I sailed well, didn’t make too many mistakes, but still finished 8, you guys are just getting too good.
I was very pleased to see that there were no stragglers, once the boats began finishing, the horn was checking them in at a steady pace. Well done everyone.
We had a very good Zoom meeting at 5 on Sunday, again about 8-9 participants. We reviewed RaceQ and shared our experiences out there. Good fun. Join us next week at 5. If you need help getting on Zoom or setting up RaceQ, ask Bob, he’s very helpful. Thanks, peter
Here is Bob's email if you need it. wojda@wsmediaworks.com
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Jun 21, 2020, 8:04 PM (21 hours ago)
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to Alan, Ben, Bill, Bob, Bob, Brenda, Brett, Bruce, Chris, Chris, Curt, Dave, Des, Doug, Doug, Frank, Geoff, Georgia, Glenn, Greg, Jack, Jack, Jeff, Jeff, Jerry, Jim, Jodi, Joe, Joe, me, Judi, Ken, Mary, Michael, Michael, Michelle, Mike, Nancy, Peg, Ray, Richard, Rick, Rob, Scott, Tom, Walker, Wayne
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Please add your comments, lots of stories out there.
We had a nice Zoom meet today at 5, very relaxed, went over the RaceQ, answered some questions. It was nice. Get the RaceQ app on your phone, preset it for 10 AM and you're ready to go. Zoom is very easy to sign up with. Literally just minutes. Give it a try. We plan another Zoom meet next week again at 5:00.
6/21/20
Beautiful day, nice gentle breeze, great day to be on the lake, UNLESS YOU ARE RACING A SAILBOAT!!!!!.
That was not fun, that was brutal. That took as long as two races last week and I’m just as tired. Doug Ward sailed one of his best races ever. He started 5 minutes back, all alone and after 2.5 laps he is in first place only to find out he missed a mark. He went home, but he knows he kicked butt today and is pretty happy about it. The record books don’t tell the whole story. Congrats Doug you were spectacular today. The rest of us struggled to keep the boat pointed in a direction the moved the boat forward. It was so confusing people thought they were at the gate when they were at the weather mark and offset. Too often luck plays too big a role in these raced. I was with Jack and Joe and we were not close to the leaders and I suggested we all go to Doug’s shore because it looked like wind. I went and passed a bunch of boats. Jack and Joe didn’t go and lady luck took me up wth the leaders of the pack. Wind began to die and third time us was a touhh, but third time down I got some good wind in the middle and caught up with Mike. So now I’m in second place, Bob is behind me and Dave behind him. We go right, lots of wind there. We can’t catch Fuller but it should turn out okay. Then it died altogether. And we waited and waited and waited and Lady Luck decided to send some wind from the far end of the lake to catch Mike and Chris and Michael and Jim and take them to the finish. Bob and Dave and I watched. Brutal. But lets not forget the wined of today’s race, Mike Fuller in the oldest boat in the fleet #665. He was in this race all the way. He was always at the front. He was the last one to be passed by Doug and after Doug left he was always a good ¼ mile ahead of all of us. Well done Mike. Great Race !!!
It was good enough to put him in a 3 way tie for first place, (after applying one drop for everyone) with 15 points, others are Chris and John. Glenn has the 4th with 17. What a year.
peter
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7:38 AM (9 hours ago)
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I started 2 minutes back yesterday. I think I was first over the starting line. The whole time I am thinking stay away from other boats, the wind is fluky alrea
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to Bill, Doug, Mike, Peter, Alan, Ben, Bob, Bob, Brenda, Brett, Bruce, Chris, Chris, Curt, Dave, Des, Doug, Frank, Geoff, Georgia, Glenn, Greg, Jack, Jack, Jeff, Jeff, Jerry, Jim, Jodi, Joe, Joe, me, Judi, Ken, Mary, Michael, Michelle, Nancy, Peg, Ray, Richard, Rick, Rob, Scott, Tom, Walker, Wayne
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Congratulations Mike. Well done. Whenever I thought I was getting closer you put the pedal to the metal. Well I guess if that means going from 0 to 2.4 knots. I crossed the starting line about 30 seconds late but didn’t hurt me too much because I intended to go right anyway where I saw the dark water. In fact that was my plan all day: hunt the wind whether it meant sailing away from the mark. Secondly I avoided waves like covid19. The new sail kept some shape which made a big difference compared with my old bag. On the last leg up I went left about midway as boats over there made great progress. In fact, Chris who is sailing extremely well passed me. He got jammed by some big waves. I flipped to starboard and reached In the waves trough away from mark behind him to get to the dark water hoping it was a lift. It was and carried me to second.
Sent from my iPhone
Sorry I missed the zoom. Post race i Set up a flying Scot and played golf. Just got home. I’m exhausted.
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to Michael, Mike, Peter, Alan, Ben, Bill, Bob, Bob, Brenda, Brett, Bruce, Chris, Chris, Curt, Dave, Des, Doug, Doug, Frank, Geoff, Georgia, Glenn, Greg, Jack, Jack, Jeff, Jeff, Jerry, Jim, Jodi, Joe, Joe, Judi, Ken, Mary, Michael, Michelle, Nancy, Peg, Ray, Richard, Rick, Rob, Scott, Tom, Walker, Wayne
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What a strange day.
First of all for clarification as I have been wondering about start time. In the past the first horn was 9:55 with the start at 10 I think. the instructions on the new horn (WHICH DOES WORK BEAUTIFULLY) has the horn start at 10 - SO the race actually begins at 10:05 with late starters at 10:07 and 10:00.
For those on the committee boat- don't panic- just follow the instructions. The horn starts about 10 seconds after you start the sequence (not right away)
Now for some confusion (and future Mutiny by Michelle)
We were having a wonderful beautiful day and the first boat made the weather mark and offset in about 15 min and first lap in about 25 minutes. So we thought 3 1/2 even with the light wind (3-4). The course seemed short enough. We were then told that Doug Ward had gone through the buoys (like a gate) at the windward mark twice rather than around as an offset. We picked up anchor early and went to try to hail Doug about the problem- that caused confusion that we were ending the race ---although we purposely went to the opposite side of the bouys. About that time as Mike and Doug passed, the wind really quit. So I WISH we had cut the race shorter. THEN we were being bobbed around at the finish by the same boat waves throwing you guys around.
Well we got it done-----
Thoughts:
1. I think there was confusion because the course was essentially the opposite direction from the previous weeks---thus the confusion on gate or offset--we will just have to learn and remember the windward marks are the offset and downwind the gate
2. We should come up with a guidance about shortening the race to 2 1/2 perhaps if the wind is under 5?? or first boat doesn't make 1 and 1/2 laps by 30 minutes.
I apologize for the torture-- it really did seem fine until that third lap. ugh
Congrats to Mike Fuller- sailing old Devil boat minus one ( 665) really well.
See you back in the boat next Sunday
John H
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