Beer Can Regatta

Saturday Oct. 16 puts the beer back in....“Beer Can Regatta”

There was a special twist in the sailing series race on Saturday, October 16th. In addition to negotiating the 5 mile course along beautiful Ky Lake, sailors had the opportunity to race for “prizes” listed on yellow painted plastic bottles anchored at the turning marks and the finish line. All they had to do was grab the bottle and get the prize. Thanks goto John Hafner for this great idea. Watch this column for the results of the race. Also, Fall Series Trophies are sponsored by John D. Hafner, Attorney at Law, PLLC . Thanks John.

Now to the October 2 race.

What to Do.

Column written by Harry Reed, CYC Race Chairman

Posted by Butch Jones, Communications

Oct. 2 Kentucky Lake.

Lots of Boats, No Wind, then Lots of Wind!

This was a day of irony. It was ironic to have so many boats out for the Oct.2 CYC Sailing Series while the

water was absolutely glassy. It was ironic to have winds forecast to gust to 37 and have absolutely no indication of any wind whatsoever. I have seldom seen a race begin with so little wind to end in so much.

At the start, my anometer showed 1 to 2 knot winds but I couldn’t see it at all. Alan Julian motored by on Mischief with a boat load of students and in obvious view of no wind asked, “Are we going to race?” I looked at the Hunter 23, Psychotic Squirrel, and the Flying Scott, Blue Moon, as they were approaching the start line. Knowing several of the boats with students would be out here anyway, I thought we might as well be racing. I said “Yes, if you are having fun.”

The CYC series is sort of like a pickup basketball game. You can quit and go home if you are not having fun and you never know who will show up or what their “game” is. This occasion was no exception. The first boats we knew, Tim Crowell on Psychotic Squirrel crossed the start on port out to the west. Next were Dave Casey and his cousin on Blue Moon who crossed and soon tacked back to the east on starboard. Past winners Steve Smith on Hey Jude and John Philippe on No Worries also tacked back to the left, as did, Jason Merrick on

Shellback. There were other boats at the start that we still couldn't identify.

Despite the glassy lake, soon most of the boats were scattered across on various tacks, slowly inching their way to Sledd Creek. All, that is, except the ocean cruiser, Sea Swept, helmed by student James Fidler. That

boat was unable to move in the hard to detect breeze. After half an hour they were hardly 100 yards from the start. Seeing Wind Dancer a half mile to the left in an apparent slight breeze they retired from the race and motored over to follow along. Soon we heard that Relentless had also retired. The “big Hunter” we mistakenly identified as “Good as it Gets” was also stymied over on the left side of the course, unable to turn.

Up the course, we received a report from Psychotic Squirrel with a good deal more hope for the race. Hey Jude was first to make the Sledd Creek Mark followed by the J40 Southern Cross, Blue Moon, and Psychotic Squirrel in fourth. Southern Cross passed into first but the fickle wind played its tricks and Hey Jude returned into the lead.

Back on the first leg, we could see Shellback, Sails Call II, Mischief, Sea Breeze and Wind Dancer approaching from various angles toward the Sledd Creek mark. The first leg had taken its toll as three boats, Sea Swept, Relentless and “Big Hunter” were already casualties, out of the race. Some ripples appeared on the water and I was astounded to see on the wind meter a register of 20 knots.

Looking up to the north, the wind was filling in nicely, but I still couldn’t believe 20 knots. More was yet to come. The wind hit just as Blue Moon, the 800 lb Flying Scott dingy rounded the last turning mark toward home. Dave had his cousin, who had never been on a sailboat before at the helm while he attended the trim. With the sudden strong wind, the little boat swung wildly to the right and then to the left, back to the right and finally back to the left before Dave was able to help her get it under control without broaching. I later asked Dave why he went so far out to that side of the lake on that tack? He said.” By the time we got the boat under control, that’s where we were headed.”

Out of sight of the mass of boats on the east side, his course later provided a surprise at the finish line. Shellback waved as they also took the western tack on the last leg. As we sailed down the second leg, we could see a procession of boats rounding the final turning mark on to the last leg. First was Hey Jude, followed by Southern Cross, and with a bit of a gap back the Catalina 27, No Worries, and the Hunter 30, Mischief. Later, Ken Bald on Sails Call II and Rob Turpin on Sea Breeze along with Shell Back and Wind Dancer passed on starboard. Psychotic Squirrel had tacked back to port and appeared to be greatly overpowered.

Our wind instrument had winds at 24 to 26 knots with a couple of gusts to 30. The lake was white capping and the smaller boats were struggling up against the blowing north wind. The final irony is the stark difference between the conditions over the morning. The waves and roaring wind made us completely forget the sedate beginning. Hey Jude was again first across the finish with Southern Cross second. Blue Moon came out of nowhere, out from the west, to sneak in third just ahead of No Worries. Mischief followed in fifth. For the single

handers, Gus Titus was first on Wind Dancer and Tim Crowell was second on Psychotic Squirrel. Results are
attached.

Send any corrections to Harry Reed 270-227-3727

10.2.2010 - Results.pdf

10.2.2010 - Cumulative Results.pdf