After retiring Sonar 418 on a winning note (just kidding, see you out there next Sunday), we asked TK to write up his thoughts on last Sunday's racing, with 11 boats on-the-line. Here they are...
Sunday August 25 turned out to be a lovely day for a bit of yachting. Southwest breeze at 8-9kts to start on a flood tide.
The Race Committee for the day, USA-733 (Kevin Sheehan, Palmer Sparkman and friends) teed up D1 for race 1.
On 506 (owner Colin Gordon making a guest appearance, Commodore Carolyn Wilson, Wynne Shapiro, and yours truly) we liked the left side of the first beat and the slightly favored pin end made the decision on where to start somewhat easy. Colin nailed the pin end start which jumped us out to a 5-6 boat length lead right off the starting line.
Fast Forward (Galloway, Steinborn, and others) had good wheels up the beat and chopped the 506 lead down to about three boat lengths by the weather mark. 506’s small lead quickly went to zero when 506 up-chucked a huge fur ball on the set. By the time 506’s old bow guy (yours truly) managed to clear the mess, Fast Forward drew even just to leeward. At this point 506 turned Commodore Wilson loose with the spinnaker and managed to get just enough room to jibe to port and cross Fast Forward. An amusing rules discussion ensued with rules cited that were eliminated years ago. At least no one hailed ‘mast to beam’!
506 rounded the leeward mark with a small lead over Fast Forward. Not trusting our upwind speed on an old mainsail design that we are still trying to sort out, 506 covered hard to sneak out the first. In the processed 454 (Sweeney and company) got a bit right on the final beat and grabbed second just in front of Fast Forward.
Second race (D1 again) was similar to the first. Launch off the pin, get ground down upwind in what is now a dying SW ester by Fast Forward and 619 (Lee Morrison, Susan Morrison, Commodore Peter Wilson, and Don Vasta). Fast Forward rounded the top mark first five lengths clear of 619 with 506 another four lengths back.
Again 506 turned Commodore C. Wilson loose with the spinnaker. And as Colin put it, ‘Commodore C. Wilson vs Commodore P. Wilson in the spinnaker flying caged death match to the finish’. Or at least to the leeward mark.
Fortunately for 506, Commodore C. Wilson crushed the run and 506 rounded the bottom mark with a 6 boat length lead and hung on to the finish. 619 came in second, Fast Forward third and 454 fourth to take second for the day on a tie breaker with Fast Forward.
From there the only race of the day that counts. To the hoist!
 |
| "Gather 'round laddies for seafaring tales of courage and survival!" |
2013 SONAR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS:
The World Championships are just three weeks away. Registrations are growing with 26 boats currently committed from four countries. Among those are seven Noroton boats. Anyone else?
A late fee of $150 kicks in next Monday, September 2.
There are crew opportunities available as well.
Find out more HERE
If you have not already done so, please register online here: http://www.sonar.org/
THE KIRBY CUP
The Kirby Cup, hosted annually by Noroton, is the Sonar Class Association team race championship. This year the race is scheduled for September 7-8. We have six teams participating: Noroton, Seawanhaka, NYYC, Vineyard Haven, Texas Corinthian and reigning champion Boston Yacht Club.
Please keep in mind there will be no fleet racing on September 7.
Wallace C. Ross
Wallace C. Ross, former Noroton member, prominent yachtsman, pioneer sail maker, businessman and author, passed away on August 23, 2013 in Vero Beach, Florida. He was 90.
Wally created Ross Marine, Inc. which built the original mold and financed the Sonar class in the late 1980’s.
Click HERE for an obituary written by his step son and Noroton member, Doug Bora.
CALENDAR:
Labor Day Series: Sun-Mon, Sep 1-2
Kirby Cup: Noroton YC, Sat-Sun, Sep 7-8
2013 World Championships: Rochester YC, September 18-22
Last day of fleet racing: Sunday, October 13
Last day of fleet racing: Sunday, October 13
No comments:
Post a Comment