Sail Column June 18, 2002
WET, RAW AND HOWLING
By Dan Muss
Yes, that’s the way it was on Saturday, spitting rain, cold and the wind about 10 to 15 knots with gusts coming from every which way up to 25.
Flying Scot C Fleet decided quickly not to go and there weren’t many that did decide to race. Those that went out had a tough time but they
reported that they had a good time.
In the second race Meredith Dodd, in second place in the Flying Scot A Fleet, was less than a boat length away from the finish line with her sister
Ashley as her middle crew and George Davison as her forward crew. Ashley, who was hiked out hard suddenly lost her grip and fell out of the boat.
Thinking quickly, Meredith jibed around, came back upwind while George plucked Ashley from the water. Dodd hardened up and crossed the
finish line just ahead of John Frank to hold second. That was an impressive display of seamanship. The amazing thing about the day’s racing was
that only one Flying Scot capsized.
When our son James was about 7 years old he was crewing for me in a race. Going downwind with a spinnaker up something got fowled up
forward and I sent him up to untangle it. He did; but as he was coming back he fell off the boat, fortunately to windward. As he came by I reached
out and picked him up by his lifejacket. He only weighed about 50 pounds then.
Dave Bertsch and crew Ronn Downey were waiting to start when their mainsheet came completely out of the mainsheet cleat, the mid-boom
turning block and the block at the end of the boom. He sailing into the shelter of Poland Run on his jib and was able to rethread the sheet but he
failed to get it through the mid-boom block. He started two minutes late but, with the mainsheet coming directly from the end of the boom to the
mainsheet cleat on the centerboard trunk, every time he tacked in this heavy air the mainsheet threatened to take his head off.
Let me remind you sailors that, while we let out the mainsail first when sailing close-hauled in heavy air in order to avoid heavy weather helm,
there comes a time when that will produce a strong leeward helm and that is dangerous. At the point you start to feel a leeward helm have your
crew let out on the jib a little, pull the main in a little and bear off somewhat. That will keep you going and avoid a capsize.
Sunday was not as raw as Saturday but the wind was even stronger. The Race Commander, Gary Schubert, measured just under 30
mph at the end of the Deerhaven dock. It was even stronger out in the slot. Gary wisely decided to cancel.
Race Results
Saturday, Race 1
Laser A Fleet:
First Place, Keith Spinnenweber
Second Place, James Muss
Laser B Fleet
First Place, Lucy Kammer
Flying Scots A Fleet
First Place, John Meredith with crews Jeanette Dodd and Sally Moore
Second Place, Meredith Dodd and crews Ashley Dodd and George Davison
Third Place, Dave Mahan and crew Jane Mahan.
Flying Scots B Fleet
First Place, Frank Vandall with crews Ann Wiley and Al Riebel
Second Place, Larry Anderson and crew Debbie Anderson
Third Place, Dave Bertsch with crew Ronn Downey
Saturday, Race 2
Laser A Fleet
First Place, Chris Drury
Second Place, Keith Spinnenweber
Third Place, James Muss
Flying Scots A Fleet
First Place, John Meredith with crews Jeanette Dodd and Sally Moore
Second Place, Meredith Dodd and crews Ashley Dodd and George Davison
Third Place, John Frank with crews David Frank and Tyler Nolan
Flying Scots B Fleet
First Place, Frank Vandall with crews Ann Wiley and Al Riebel
Second Place, Larry Anderson and crew Debbie Anderson
Third Place, Dave Bertsch with crew Ronn Downey
Sunday
Races canceled
