Fowey Light, Not!

The Fowey Light Distance Race did not happen on October 16, as planned. We did race, but we did not go out to Fowey. I felt that the winds were a bit too much for the average cat sailor. The winds at the lighthouse were reported at 22 to 26 knots, and there were small craft advisories posted. A cold front had come through on Saturday, and the winds were still out of the north on Sunday. Those conditions are not conducive for a safe race out into the ocean. So, instead we had a wonderful breezy race in the bay. The winds in the bay were probably a good 15 with some higher gusts. It was perfect day for a beach cat race. We were powered up, but not over powered. Going upwind, we were doubled trapped, squeezing on a little downhaul, and dropping the main traveler a few inches. These adjustments helped make the boat totally controllable. Going downwind was a hoot! I would steer the boat to flow the telltales and the boat would leap forward. Staying in that groove was a challenge. The winds were always changing direction and velocity. You had to keep on top of it to stay fully powered. We were bouncing through the waves like a motocross racer bounding over the dirt bumps on a track. It required total concentration to stay in the groove. The whole day was the kind of sailing you dream about all year. It was el primo!

The substitute race course started with a downwind run to the Cutler Power Plant channel marker, green #3. The second leg was a beat out to marker #21 at Biscayne Flats. The third leg was also a beat back to the beach. We had a good turnout for the race. There were eleven boats signed up for the race. There were a few more crews who showed up to sail in the windy conditions but not race. Howard Rieman was out with his Hobie Getaway and Rafael Corral was out with his Prindle 19.

The race participants were as follows:

Crew-------------------------Boat------------Rating----ET---------Corrected

1. Carla Schiefer------------M-20------------56.0-----1:52:01----120.01
Steve Lohmayer

2. Kenny Pierce-------------S-23-------------60.5-----2:12:10----131.00
Jeff Parks--------------------spi., 2 up

3. John McKnight----------H-20------------65.0-----2:22:45-----131.76
Oriol Cruzeta

4. Jared Sonnenklar--------I-20-------------59.3-----2:11:55-----133.47
Jamie Livingston

5. Jay Sonnenklar-----------I-20--------------59.3----2:14:00-----135.58
Terry Greene

6. Ivan Loya-----------------Tornado---------59.0----2:14:00-----137.11
John Esquivel

7. Geoff Livingstone-------N-5.2-------------72.1----2:55:00-----145.63
Dino Hrzic

Fermin de la Camera-------P-19-------------66.4
Ramon Alonso

Rafael Quesada-------------H-20-------------65.0
Oscar Garcia Coni

Lawrence Cooper----------- G-6.0------------?
Sam Feldman


James Barrows--------------F-24-------------?
Chris Lones


With all the wind, we had some issues. Jared and Jamie flipped their Inter 20 as they approached the first mark. They were doing a jibe and went over in slow motion when the sail flopped across the boat. Jay and Terry hung out until Jared got it righted. Jay did not take the time credit for the rescue wait; otherwise he would have probably finished higher. The two Inter 20s also killed some time while they were hull flying for some photos from a helicopter. A friend of theirs was taking the pictures from the copter.

Fermin blew out the main traveler car on his Prindle 19. The end cap of the traveler car came off, and the bearings were all over the tramp. They were able to jury rig it to continue sailing. But this hurt their downwind performance because the traveler was tied in the center of the rear crossbar. Coop had the starboard rudder on his G-Cat break. The rudder broke through the upper mounting bolt. It had been repaired previously and the fiberglass repair gave way under the extreme pressures. Coop and Sam did an outstanding job just getting the boat back to the beach with the rudder flopping along behind them. It was particularly important for them to keep the boat flat on port tacks; otherwise they would loose steerage if they flew a hull and the port rudder came out of the water.

I had invited Jim Barrows to come out and join us with his new F-24. He was sailing with Chris Lones. (Jim, Chris, and I also sail radio controlled sailboat most Sundays at Baptist Hospital Lake.) Jim said they enjoyed the downwind run during the race. Going back up wind, they doubled reefed their main, but they were still getting beat up. So, they took down the sails and motored in.

Ivan Loya and John Esquivel have been steadily improving on Ivan’s Tornado. During the race, they were near the head of the pack.

Congratulation to Carla Schiefer and Steve Lohmayer on winning the race by a considerable margin. They really had the Marstrom 20 cooking down the bay. It was ideal conditions for this carbon rocket ship.

Even though we did not get to go out to Fowey Light, we all had a great day. The conditions were challenging and rewarding. We will attempt to do the Fowey Light course in November, if the weather cooperates. So, if you missed this race, make plans to get out in November.

John