The racing was GREAT!

Winds were blowing as a front was moving thru for the weekend. THE Chuck, Tom, Pete and I were due to sail uni. With the winds forecasted to blow near 20, Tom and I hooked up and sailed sloop. THE Chuck sailed with Matt (Saturday only) ... something about Gina and Nancy ooohhhing and aaahhhing over this new "baby" skipper (Seth and Nancy's son). Leaving only Pete as a uni F16 skipper on Saturday.

Saturday had 5 F16 starting.

The course was set for windward/leward with gates. The wind direction forced the RC to set the marks on a pretty short course due to land constraints and shallow waters.

The first race Tom and I overstood the layline for the first windward leg (you just get settled in and you needed to tack). We had the boat moving pretty fast and were double trapezed and saying to each other that we're glad we weren't sailing solo). We finished the race 2nd just behind Matt and THE Chuck. Seth and Stefan 3rd with Robi and Mary 4th. Pete de-masted as his shackle for the standing rigging came loose...ouch. No injuries or boat damage.

The second race started just 4 F16's. Everyone had good starts (in fact every race seemed to have good competitive starts). Tom and I were more aware of the windward layline and a good layline to the windward mark. On the following leg to windward the wind had picked up and so too the chop ( a shallow bay made for a hard bumpy ride). Tom lost footing a couple of times and had a tough time with the crew trap lines. We lost some time as we were making repairs on the water. In the meantime, Robi and Mary helped an A-Cat skipper who was separated from his boat and Seth and Stephan had capsized.

We were heading down to the leward gate and could see Matt and THE Chuck finishing...we thought they'd only gone around twice and as Seth/Stephan were *making* the gate we also went thru the gate and headed back to weather. We got edged for 3rd place as an A-Cat was parked on the finish line and we had to delay our jibe ...Seth/Stephan beat us by a half boat length.

It turns out, discussing over many beers by the campfire, that Seth/Stephan were watching us on whether we'd finish or round the gate...just as we were watching them. Both of us sailed an extra "lap"!!

The 3rd race Tom and I got bounced around on the trap and had a nice high impact pitch pole going to weather. We both got catupulted so far forward that we were both separated from the boat past the spin block on the mast. Tom quickly swam for the mast and I swam and grabbed his foot. Once righted we'd found that we snapped the bungee cord for both traps and had lots of trapeeze "spagetti" hanging around. We figured it was easier to beach it and make the repairs. DNF for this race.

In the final race similar results. Tom was a little cold and both of us were getting cramps and tired. Lack of focus caused another capsize. We righted the boat and both agreed that we could use a beer on the beach.

Sunday saw Matt with his regular crew. THE Chuck, and I were uni with Seth/Stephan and Robi/Mary for the other two boats.

Tom packed up early for a long drive back to Birmingham...too bad as the ealy winds were sufficient to have a sloop rig. Tom and I usually sail uni, so it took us a bit of time to work as a team. I really do need to find a regular crew....Gina, you should seriously consider dumping your regular skipper!

3 Races Sunday and Robi/Mary were really fast today as were Seth/Stephan. I'll let the others fill in the rest as I'm weary and ready for some shut eye.