Father's Day Racing on June 20th, 2010

        Six Vanguard 15's hit the starting line for the first full day of racing this season. The possible thunderstorms that cut short racing the last two weeks, never materialized, leaving us a warm sunny day of very close racing during five windward - leeward races.

        With light fluky air from the east in Race One, Jim Law and Rhea, won the start with a committee boat side start on starboard. Josh Mark was first though at the windward mark, with Lou and Mike a boat length back. Jim Law was in third after the beat, but went downwind high off the rum line with the rest of the fleet, as the boats jockeyed for position. Josh rounded the leeward mark still just ahead of Lou/Mike but continued on port on the first tack of final beat, to cover the boys in the red boat. Jim Fairman with daughter Katie, made a spectacular turn to windward. Katie: “When we almost tipped, I was trying to push the centerboard down to the green line, but I had my weight on the wrong side- Oops!” Lou and Mike immediately tacked at the mark and proceeded to one-tack to the finish line, sneaking in for the win by 1/2 a boat length.

        Race Two continued in light winds after a course adjustment to fit the persistent shift to the SE. Marc Rolfes, who is “just getting his feet wet,” (literally), in dinghy racing, and it also is “just learning the ropes,” (literally), of the Vanguard 15, showed everyone just how it's done. Marc and son Brent, had a fast boat-end start and won their first race since joining the fleet this year. His post race comment: “I guess getting a good start is really important in this fleet!

        Race three was another light air affair from the SE. The pin end of the line was was slightly favored for the first time. The start was close with Jim Law slightly in front. Tom Law with Lindsay, were tacking to the headers, and moving, making them first to the windward mark. They then led us all down towards the leeward mark. Lots of crazy stuff went on as all the boats converged to leeward mark. After the chaos, Tom rounded first, followed by Jim and then Josh, but it was Jim first across the line, edging Josh and Tom, (or did Tom really nose by Josh...quite possibly yes.)

        As we prepared for Race Four, a beautiful thing happened. The wind freshened, and the SE 7-8k breeze sparkled in the late afternoon sun. The crews soon were sitting on the rail just a bit, and sails luffed loudly as they stalled before the starting line. The line was dead even with little advantage to port and starboard. The boats popped off the line and split the course upwind with 3 on each the right and left. Josh was first around. and then to the finish, followed close by Jim Fairman, then Lou and Mike, Tom Law, Jim Law, and Marc Rolfes.

        The fifth and final race saw Jim and Josh dueling it our up wind and down. Lou commented after the finish, “staying low downwind, and sailing the hotter angle worked every time!” Indeed, this was the case today, as was sailing downwind with the sails on on the same side of the boat in the light air. Only after the wind picked up for race 4 & 5 was in possible to go wing on wing effectively.