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by Rob Knowles
July 18, 2006: Sometimes sailboat racing resembles watching grass grow. The third race of the Lake Region Physical Therapy Tuesday Night Series was one of those grass- watching races. Winds dropped to 1-2 knots (at best) as the race started. Boats drifted next to each other barely perceptively moving. Keeping still and fine-tuning was the order of the day.
The boats first across, Dave Thompson's, Richard Hughes', and Dave Stuart's Sunfish were followed by John Andrew's Harpoon 4.6. They gave up their lead as the wind they sought failed and they were trapped in the middle of the lake. It seemed everyone else just went over together and some found zephyrs and worked their way through the fleet.
David Eddy's Thistle seemed to glide along without any wind and he rounded A mark first. Walter Read's Laser moved slowly but steadily and rounded second. Tom Smith in his Hunter 23.5 and Gerry Guyot in his Catalina 25 and Rob Knowles' Capri 22 bunched up to round next. The remainder of the fleet was dispersed over the A-B leg going nowhere.
Through out the "race" Eddy was uncatchable as was Read. Knowles, Guyot and Smith swapped positions on every leg never more that yards apart. Pat Klofas, who had some technical difficulty, prior to the start, chose to retire as did Richard Hughes and Rich Wolhenberg in his Victoria 18. John Cavanaugh in his Hunter 23 semi retired from the race and chose to go for a swim, make a nice meal, have a drink or two and put on some Jimmy Buffett and drift. It was a very casual night.
The wind did pick up as boats came on to the B-C leg and close racing marked the race finish. Rob Knowles edged out both Tom Smith and Gerry Guyot by inches and Art Falk held off Mark Cotton by several feet. Mike Caron finished in his Flying Scot unusually back in the fleet due to sailing into some airless holes. Bob Doran, in his Ranger 23, finished a very respectable 6th considering he arrived at the start line twenty minutes late. Generally speaking, it was still a good night. The races finished in strong clean air and there was some very close finishes.
Throughout the race, Ray Turner, now official starter/scorer, waited patiently on the Committee Boat for the fleet. He was rewarded for his patience with some great finishes and the gratitude of all the sailors who endured the lack of wind.
There are four more Tuesday Night Races this month and people are encouraged to try it. Races start off the Lakeside Campground Beach at 5:30PM. Lake Region Sailing Club will host the Naples Marina Cup Match series in North Bridgton on August 12th at 1:00PM. Skipper meeting will be at 12:30 at the gazebo next to the Village Tie Up in Harrison. If you wish to race 1 on 1, please come and get matched up. Paul Follensbee and Walter Read are the contacts. Call 655-2525 for more information.
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