Lauderdale Lakes Sailing Club

MICHAEL ENGEL WINS THE 2022 HARRY S TRUMAN
MIKE AND CATHY JAEGER WIN THE 2 PERSON HARRY S TRUMAN FOR 2022

Thanks to John for posting results and photos so promptly on the website.

Having canceled the week before for rain, and after 24 hours of hand wringing about the flippant forecasts, it turns out it was perfect.  Warm, sunny, with plenty of wind to go around.  That said, as always in this race on these lakes, there are a few holes to watch out for...Thus the wind forecast I last posted before the race:  1 to 12, your choice...

Along with 3 other boats this year, I chose to run with crew .  My lovely wife graciously accepted conscription.

A Down-wind start, that I botched not paying sufficient attention, brought us to the edge of the bluff at the rounding toward the channel to Middle Lake.  This was the black hole to avoid:

The reward came in the form of the classic channel congestion.  Tacking back and forth, within inches of each other, the wind gusting fiercely in the venturi zone, it was a real nail-biter (for the crew).  The channel had hot spots and dead spots resulting in boats moving at high speeds right next to those sitting idle - difficult.

Eventually we caught the Middle Lake flow that launched us across toward the newly coiffed Flag Island and the channel to Mill - Another potential dead zone.  This channel is wide enough to permit a choice of sides, the left/East being the power zone this time.

Mill Lake's perfect breeze was then revealed - strong and steady.  We saw half the boats head to the right around Goose Island while half ran left.  It didn't seem to make much difference so we held on a strong port tack for an eventual port rounding.  We cut it close, pulling up the board a bit to avoid disaster.

Then it was a run back to the Mill channel with frequent westward wind shifts providing for some nice reaching.  Holding again to the east half of the channel, we couldn't avoid some lulls but they were short lived.  Then again into the Middle Lake flow to tear across to the other channel and into Green Lake.

Rounding the bluff (wide) it was now a traditional upwind finish.  We parlayed with Jim Johnson for a few tacks to try and best him but he covered and crossed the line just in front.  Next year she's the captain.

A great day of sailing to end the season.  Thanks to Mary Van Kampen and Family Engel for RC.

Thanks to all of you for another great sailing season.

I'm very glad it all worked out.

Next Race:  June 2023

Ben