Racine Recap 2011

Disclaimer: A beginner sailor wrote this regatta recap. If you read something that makes you kind of shake your head and wonder what I’m talking about, its probably because I’m not quite sure what I am talking about, either.

The Lighthouse Regatta was a fun event, and even though we all wished for more races on the big water, it was a success thanks to the CRAW officers, the Racine Yacht Club, and our volunteers on race committee. The weekend began with Robbie Daniel’s clinic. We did starting drills, and it was great that people challenged themselves by practicing parking at the committee boat and pin for the start. On Saturday, we were plagued by storms and lightning all morning and afternoon. Our first and only race started around 4 PM. There was enough wind at the start, but it died and the pace went to a pitiful float. The water was so flat and the air was so dead that you could hear people talking across the course. The breeze really got weird after our first rounding at the leeward gate… all I know is that we hoisted our spinnakers when we were supposed to be going upwind. Congratulations to Robbie and Karl for taking first, Dale and Jenna for finishing second, and Howard for placing third. Light air sailing can be frustrating, and it was a big accomplishment to just finish. I know I was tempted to stick my hands in the water and paddle.

Fierce winds were forecasted for Sunday, so on Saturday we danced the night away like there was no tomorrow. It was a little embarrassing for us younger people to see our loser-y parents bopping around, but Wes and Sean Delany actually had some real legit dance moves. And Penny and Kurt dancing together were so cute. And the funniest thing I ever saw was my dad playing the cowbell and shaking the tambourine. During the festivities the weather had changed, the waves were coming in hard and some of the boats were in danger. The Boat Saving was a heroic effort. If people hadn’t been there sooner, Randy’s boat would’ve been on its way to Michigan. It was also fun for the guys to do some macho boat carrying and boat tying down in the intense wind and moonlit waves. Its a good thing I went out there to help because those guys needed a sober person to do the heavy duty work.

As forecasted, the wind blew hard on Sunday. There was no racing, but the weather was excellent for body surfing. Awards were presented before people went home. Frankie Hearn won CRAW’s youth sailing award, congratulations! It was generous of the Racine Yacht Club to donate the intriguing bottles of alcohol for awards to eighth place. Banana tequila, anyone? And Robbie and Karl each won half a chair for first place! At the awards ceremony, there was an exchanging of thanks between CRAW members and the Racine Yacht Club race directors. Us multihull sailors may be cut from a different sailcloth, but by forming good relationships with our local yacht clubs we may foresee smooth sailing in the future. Although we did not have a full weekend of racing, and the weather left much to be desired, there was good camaraderie in Racine as at other regattas. There are only a couple left before summer racing concludes with the F18 and F16 North Americans. Good luck everybody; sailing with you guys this summer has been an absolute blast. Enthusiasm for the sport makes for a great learning environment, thank you CRAW members for being patient, helpful, and encouraging to new and younger sailors.

Brianna Chu