CABB’s annual Black Ledge Distance Race was held Sunday, August 7, 2005. Well, a race was held, but we didn’t go to Black Ledge. Let’s just say the wind velocity wasn’t sufficient to complete a 20 mile journey in the allotted time. We had one of those rare sailing opportunities that you don’t get too often in Miami. That opportunity was to sail in light winds. We are usually blessed by the consistent wind out of the southeast at 10 to 15 knots. What we had last Sunday was 5 knots or less out of every which way. So, we dealt with the situation. We shortened the course so that we would not be out there until after dark.

Five boats showed up for the race. Now these folks are the diehards. They knew the forecast winds were going to be light and they came anyway. They love to sail no matter what. A slow sail on the bay beats mowing the grass cleaning out the garage any day. We postponed the start for half an hour hoping the wind would pick up. Kenny Pierce wanted to get started. He said he would rather be lounging around on his Stiletto than hanging around the beach. So we got started in light air. The course was set as a large triangle defined by the swim buoy off the beach, marker one of Dinner Key Channel, and the “Danger Shoals” marker near the flats off West Point. This made a shorter course which would allow us greater flexibility in the event the winds did not fill in. We would not have made it to Black Ledge and back this day.

The light fluky winds made for some very challenging sailing. It took finesse, patients, and a keen eye on the telltales and wind indicators to keep the boats moving. Weight distribution on the boats was critical. The wind gods were very fickle and favored different boats at different times during the race. Leandro and Ernesto shot ahead just after the start when they caught the only wind at their end of the start line. The rest of us just sat and watched them sail away. Next Fred and I caught some wind. Then it was Carla’s turn. And that’s the way it went all day. There were huge wind direction shifts and holes to contend with. One minute you were sailing downwind and the next you were going upwind. It was essential to know when to change gears. As it turned out, despite sailing a triangular course, we sailed upwind most of the day. After beating all the way to the West Point mark, we were all ready for some downwind work. But it did not happen. The moment we turned at West Point the winds shifted 60 degrees to the left. We were still sailing upwind. This was very frustrating for the spinnaker equipped boats. The spinnakers just wouldn’t work.

Carla Schiefer and Timmy Zenderman, on the super light Marstrom 20, took line honors in the race and first place on handicap. But Fred Moffat and I took second place, on corrected time, on my Hobie 20. The other three boats threw in the towel. Enough is enough they said. This is too frustrating. Kenny fired up the iron wind and headed for home. When he first did that we thought he was catching some incredible wind line we weren’t getting and we wondered how he could be going so fast in the light air. Then we saw the wake and knew.

All in all it wasn’t a bad day. The sailing was challenging. There was an overcast sky and it did not get too hot. There was no rain or thunderstorms. I will take that over mowing the grass any day.

The intrepid sailors and results are as follows:

Crew--------------- ----Boat--------------Rating-------Elapsed time-----Corrected


Carla Schiefer---------Marstrom 20----56.0---------2:24:00-----------132.8
Timmy Zenderman

John McKnight-------Hobie 20---------65.0---------2:30:22-----------138.8
Fred Moffat

Kenny Pierce----------Stiletto 23-------62.4----------DNF
Leslie del Moral-------spin.
Spencer del Moral

Mike Powers-----------Stiletto 23-------60.53--------DNF
Leo del Moral----------2 up, spin.

Leandro Spina-----------Tornado--------59.0---------DNF
Ernesto Rodriquez

2. I saw on the Miami Yacht Club website that the annual Conch Cup race is going to be held on August 20. Check out the Miami Yacht Club website at miamiyachtclub.net for the details and entry form. There is an entry price break if you enter before August 14.

John McKnight