A2

Today's sailing adventure started off with everyone dreading a repeat of last weeks floatathon. Winds were very light out of the North. The RC posted a course of SCAXCAF and sounded the 5 minute warning. The line looked like a strong pin end favored set, but would anyone be brave enough to try a port tack approach? The Santanas were off first approaching on starboard with John S quickly showing the fleet what a perfect pin end start looks like. Fleet one starts also on Starboard spread out evenly across the line. Working our way upwind the fleet splits with half sticking to shore and the other half driving out further into the middle of the lake. Most boats round the C mark and bear away continuing on Starboard towards the bluff. Winds were quite variable throughout the race ranging from near dead calm to a high of about 8 knots. On today's race course it was noted that Chao's skipper Tom seemed to be  missing all his crew members.  A lesser sailor might have been content racing alone with only the white sails, but not Tom.  Crew or no crew, Tom was sailing in the fleet he signed up for, with his kite.  The race had its challenges for a one man crew.   Spring run off hadn't yet begun, the lake levels were low.  Low enough to ground Chaos near the lighthouse.  But not to worry, that is what spinnaker poles are for, to help push ourselves free.  Having now freed himself and putting the spinnaker pole back in its place, its was time to catch up.  Tom made good time and rounds the C mark, now its time for the one man Spinnaker team to fly.  From afar it looks like a wind line behind Chaos, the spinnaker is flying free, its not looking good.  After a bit of time, Tom has the sails back under control, with a bit of free advise: "always lock the down haul after using your spinnaker pole to free yourself from a sandbar".  What a day!  Kudos Tom - it paid off, you crossed the finish line 4th. It was nice to stretch our legs today with a slightly longer course and the wind gods didn't let us totally down. Once again a job well done for Woo Hoo who got line honors as well as 1st place overall in fleet one. You guys are starting to really make a name for yourselves.