NORTH SAILS
TWILIGHT SERIES
RACE #1
Wednesday May 16 Race Results
Big dilemma for NOYC race committee this past
Wednesday night! The breeze was blowing
12-15 knots out the southwest, J mark was missing in action and Baby
J was reported off station 10 feet from the seawall and approaching UNO
quickly. Rumor has it that they were
vandalized or run over by a member of the very prestigious ROYAL BUCKTOWN
YACHT CLUB established 1848 or maybe just a drunk shrimper headed in route
to seabrook bridge. With both of the
normal marks missing, Principle Race Officer John Wolf opted for a
course of XUH once around. He also
reversed the starting orders for classes A, B & C so that course changes
could be made or shortened (most of the little boats really like this as it
lets them get a chance at first to finish and get to the bar at a reasonable
hour).
In Class C, they had two guest “A” boats that opted for a practice start,
as they obviously did not read the race instructions or BOARDS on NOYC 1. Beast and Turkey Wings both got
in the way and spoiled the start for the C boats (shame, shame, shame!). The new Bravura 29 out finessed the
old Cal25’s, Luder 16’s and barnacle ridden cruising boats to win the start of
the wrong class. Kiwi 35 Turkey
Wings attempted a port tack start in the wrong class and was nearly cut in
half by a starboard tack cruising boat that was nice enough to avoid
collision (I hope they at least bought
them a beer after that little maneuver).
Lessons to be learned here, put
away the vegetable & cheese tray, get out to the start early and
always READ THE BOARDS on NOYC 1, READ THE BOARDS, READ THE BOARDS. Series sponsor Al Gooch racing Cal 25
Scampi found all the marks and placed first. Computer guru, Bill Cahill finished a close second on
reaching machine Gallivant. Nat
Beloni’s Breezin placed third.
In Class B,
Zephyr, sailed by Dave Erwin & Dale Steinkamp (who left
the racing mark charts in the dock box) followed Al Gooch to the proper
marks, which allowed them to place first. Placing second, was Throwdown, driven by John
Maclauglin. Throwdowns crew
included J-22 stalwarts Ryan Bancroft and Gilbert Maclauglin. Ryan & Gilberts wives left the
usual message with NOYC bartender during the race… COME HOME NOW! Rorie Junious, sailing J-30 Halfaglass
w/crew (WE ARE FAMILY ALL MY SISTERS BROTHERS AND ME) won the start at the pin
end on port tack but dropped back to third after overlaying the first mark.
In Class A, Tim Murray’s Keep Moving showed
their normal winning ways by correcting out first (some things just don’t change even when they change classes!).
Bob Maher’s J-130 Java whose
crew included tactician magician Jeff Hampton out finessed its deep
drafted sister ship to finish second. John
Lee’s J-130 Lesson #1 (Was this boat once owned by Bob Sieger? Must have a really
nice stereo) placed a close third using their roller furled cruising jib (maybe
they are sand bagging).
Spinnaker Class D, was won by recent 2001 GORC
champions Danny & Holly Cassanova on J-30 JACKPOT. Finishing second was George Tillman
(the best sailor from the West Bank of New Orleans) on his S2 7.9 Getaway. LPRC red jacket winner Dr. Alan Robson
took a third on J-35 Footloose.
The racing was great this past Wednesday and participation
was way over 50 boats. Not going to J
mark for a change was a real treat.
Don’t forget to patronize our sponsors North Sails and thank our race
committee on NOYC 1. See you next
week.
