The day was not as warm as expected, or as humid, but it was much windier and the gusts kept the racing very interesting.

It’s true that the wind was fairly heavy/gusty, but that kind’a glosses over the fact that there were “patches” of dead space where you would go screaming along and then just stop, with sails flapping.  Somewhat reminiscent of the Star Trek movies when the spaceships would come out of warp speed and seem to just stop.  Then you watch to see what happens to the rest of the fleet.  Sometimes everyone just stops all around you OR everyone just sails around you while you try and figure out why they have wind and you don’t.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not really complaining.  The day before some of us tried to sail at a pond where there was virtually no wind.  So, if I have to choose, I’ll take crazy wind.

Herb Dreher was able to navigate his IOM through the fickle winds to top the IOM skippers, and I was able to keep my US1M Meerkat floating well enough to keep ahead of the other US1M skippers.

One of these days I must figure out where the Meerkat is taking on water.  I’ve have tried in the past, but unsuccessfully.  It’s not on the verge of sinking, but I must drain the water out  every 4 or 5 races…annoying.

Cliff Martin, Commodore

Over/Under Regatta 5/31/26

The race day was partly cloudy, with light to moderate winds and no rain expected until evening.

Eight skippers showed up to sail, and a few even brought more than one boat.  Along with his IOM, Herb Dreher brought two Vintage 36’s, and I brought my Canterbury J, a DF95, and a Vintage 36.  Greg LaPlante brought a Soling 50 in addition to his IOM.

During open sailing time Herb and I tested some new sails on his V36’s and new member Howard Samuels got familiar with a DF95 he borrowed from me.  When regatta time came, the field included two DF95s, a Soling 1 Meter, a Vintage 36, two IOMs, and a Star 45. Since I had loaned my DF95 to Howard, I sailed my Canterbury J.

Greg chose not to race his Soling 50 so I ended up all alone in the Over 40” division.  But that’s ok, I still enjoyed sailing the Canterbury, and I still had to battle with Herb and Greg

The shifting winds at Rosemary Lake kept the racing competitive and caused the lead to change hands frequently. Unexpected light rain also passed through from time to time, despite the forecast calling for none.

It was a fun day overall, and Herb Dreher was the fastest skipper in the Under 40” division.  I won’t say the obvious about the Over 40 division.

Cliff Martin, Commodore

It’s beginning to look like we will be having more seasonally appropriate weather for a while.  The temperature is in the mid-80’s with variable breezes.

Seven skippers took advantage of the sunny weather to put their boats in the water and try to figure out which direction the wind is coming from.  We had 5 DF95’s and 2 S1M’s approach the starting line.  One of the DF95’s was skippered by David Fine, who is new to the area.  Welcome David!

By all accounts, the DF95’s ruled the day given the winds and sailing conditions.  In the end John Whalen was the top DF95 skipper and Herb Dreher was top S1M skipper.

Aside from the fleet winners, the highlight of the day, for both skippers and spectators, was a boat rescue using our rescue airboat.  It’s always something of a clown show trying to trap a speedy, circling target with a little less maneuverable airboat.  It’s more a statement about the rescue airboat skipper than the airboat.

Cliff Martin, Commodore

I checked the weather report early in the morning just as I had the previous two mornings.  It was forecast to be a little cool, a little overcast and somewhat windy, but with no rain.  I had already sent out an email saying it was going to be a good day to sail.

It started raining when I was less than a mile from my home.  Light, but unmistakably rain.  The light rain continued until about an hour before the start of racing.  When the rain stopped, we were left with fairly heavy winds and very cold temperatures.  While we debated just going home, we couldn’t get past the “…are we rugged seafaring men, or comfort loving wimps…” mindset.  So, we reluctantly decided to give it a go.

It was the first race of the season for these two classes, and the high winds quickly found whatever weakness existed in linkage or rigging.  Some skippers had to go to their back-up boat, but we were finally able get 4 boats on the water; two Stars and two US1M’s

In the end Greg LaPlante was the top US1M skipper after his Star broke, and Herb Dreher was the top Star skipper.

Cliff Martin, Commodore