Ten boats came out to race on a gorgeous Lake George evening. Shifting winds generally out of the NW posed some problems for the RC prior to the start. The original W4 with a tetrahedron had to be quickly rearranged to accommodate a huge shift to the west. As the RC boat moved up to Hogback reef with the ten-boat fleet following, Tom Selfridge made a mad dash up to the windward tetrahedron and dragged it both south and out farther into the lake to avoid the deepening wind shadow creeping onto the lake. The pin end and leeward mark was changed to the Hogback government mark and a quick look at the wind had the windward mark almost perfectly into the wind for the start. THANKS TOM!!!
Of the ten boats competing, nine heard the course information repeated via radio. Animal unfortunately was significantly over early and failed to clear the correct starting mark, otherwise they would have had a very impressive night. The rest of the boats all started well and the first leg saw many tacks up to the weather mark with the sportboats excelling. The lower velocity at the windward mark spread out the fleet.
At the second mark Brad Taylor opted for a very conservative takedown, allowing Wild Thing and Vaporize to close the distance, and woot! was not far behind. Witch Way was the top J/24 through all consecutive roundings.
As the fleet sailed towards the third mark the wind strength dropped, which spread out the fleet further. It was a night for the sportboats though, with Wild Thing, Brad Taylor’s J/80 and Vaporize crossing in that order for both line honors and points on corrected time as well — a first this year on Wed night.
Alfie and crew took fourth as the top J/24 for the evening. As the last of the J/24s completed the course Wild Thing started the process of rafting up. Cold adult beverages were soon passed around and a very boisterous raft-up followed with 7 out of the 10 boats rafting up to the committee boat. The wind picked back up to a gentle and steady northwest breeze as the sun started its slow descent behind the west shore mountains. Thanks to all who brought munchies to share!
This obviously successful social event need to be repeated! Please clear your schedules for another raft-up tentatively planned on July 13. The raft-up broke up towards 10 pm with the light dwindling in the western sky and the moon’s soft glow hinting over the eastern shore mountains.