Spring Series #6 Results

05/13/2001

Submitted by Ben Forman

Sunday was a great day to watch races from the committee boat (that is, before it started to sink). The wind was coming in from the north at 18 to 25 knots so from the Robalo, boats not only appeared be moving, but moving fast. Five lightnings sailed all 3 races - 3 Hamptons and an interlake retired after the first race. The left side of the course was favored, but a number of times upwind skippers choose to head for greater pressure on the right.

The most important thing to report here is the courage displayed by a number of lightning skippers who, despite strong winds, did not hesitate to raise their spinnakers in times of need. Boats last around the windward mark invariably raised their chutes, often in the middle of the strongest gusts, forcing those in front to do the same. We in the committee boat enjoyed watching boats teeter on the verge of a wreck and were grateful, at the same time, that all were narrowly avoided.

I noted earlier that the committee boat started to sink (for reasons that are still unknown). While this event prevented us from starting a fourth race, it lead to what in my opinion was the afternoon's most heroic act - the efforts by Ben Good (and his cousin), Tony Vernon, Joe Anderson, and Dave Pyle to save the Robalo. I am proud to report that at day's end the boat was back in its birth, and except for a few wet flags, all was well.

Lightning Class Series summary

Hampton Class Series Summary

Interlake Class Series Summary