The
final Sunday of the Vanguard racing season couldn't have been more
perfect: bright sun, clear blue sky, nice air and water temps and most
important of all excellent breeze. Turnout was a little thin with most
of our College sailors back at school, but we did have some good
end-of-season jockeying for position with Phil Myerson making a trip
back from Connecticut College to try to solidify his series lead. I
sailed with my regular Thursday-night crew Dona who was off her usual
gig with Storm Snaith who was traveling this week.
The committee work was
flawlessly executed by Gianni Cuccio who squeezed in seven races
including a two lapper that saw all the boats finish virtually
overlapped! But most all of the races were close, I had a tough battle
with Charles Stanley in almost every race! The first race Charles led
up the beat and for most of the run but let me cross his stern on port
to get the inside overlap at the mark. Second race was much the same,
Charles did his usual full speed at the gun while we were struggling to
accelerate and were happy to round close behind at the top. Good speed
on the run and not having to fight for clear air got us ahead by the
bottom mark and then it was a straightforward defense to the line. But
then it got a little more complicated...I think we had the speed early
in the day but as things wore on the others got moving at the same
speed we were, so every little mistake turned into a position change.
Serge and Philip both had their moments as Charles and I had enough
recovering to do. Serge came on strong with a solid win in the finale
and Kemp Lewis was in the battle in every race too...it is REALLY
IMPRESSIVE how this fleet has tightened up and so many of the sailors
are now good enough to be in the top of any given race!
At the end Dona and I
eeked out the win over Charles and Venetia (with Sunday's seven races,
Charles has qualified for the season and with his scores already ahead
of Philip Myerson and Storm Snaith, has won the Season,
Congratulations!!) with Serge Karpow and Marion Trumbull in third for
the day.
As well as saying how
much fun I've had in my racing (mostly Thursdays for me) this summer,
let me also pass along to you the bad news (for us) that we will be
losing Matt and Jo Fairless, Vanguard 1656, to a better offer in
Hyderabad, India, where Matt will be taking up a new position with his
current employer in just four weeks time. Word is that despit Hyderabad
being the host to the recent Laser Indian National Championship, the
water is so polluted that you would need to wear a drysuit to protect
you from it, so just maybe they'll think back on their time at CPYC all
the more fondly! Dona and I will have their contact info for anyone who
would like to drop them a line. - Chris J #744
744 C Johannessen 1/1/1/4/2/1/3 = total 9 (1)
774 C Stanley 2/2/2/1/1/4/1 = total 10 (2)
976 S Karpow 4/4/3/3/3/3/1 = total 17 (3)
1495 P Myerson 3/3/5/2/4/2/4 = total 18 (4)
1097 K Lewis 5/5/4/5/5/5/5 = total 29 (5)
