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.

Nine boats competed in the fifth race of the season under grey clouds and cooler than normal temperatures in a gusting and shifting WNW wind. The start line of the W6 course was set slightly north of Long Island with the weather mark set at 320⁰.  As the fleet approached the starting area the wind suddenly increased and most of the J/24s opted for a headsail change as the RC waited for the last boat to sail across the lake. And we witnessed a sight not seen in many years: a Star headed out of the Lake George Club to compete. Welcome Iko Iko, skippered by Ed Gardner. At the start Cut Loose and Spirit had the line virtually uncontested with most boats opting for the boat end of the line but several seconds late.

The shifting winds favored Uncle Ludwig’s southerly route to the weather mark and Kyle and crew rounded first with Wild Thing popping their chute next. Ed Gardner in the Star followed, sailing deep with the mast butt cranked aft. Several boats opted to not fly their spinnakers in the gusty high winds that prevailed for most of the first four legs. At the leeward mark Uncle Ludwig had a clear lead with the Iko Iko and Wild Thing following. Spirit and Witch Way were swapping tacks and on the upwind leg the winds shifted more to the west. The RC moved the leeward mark several hundred yards to the north in an attempt to square up the course. As the evening progressed the winds started to abate, allowing some of the J/24s to swap back to their genoas. On the final leg, Uncle Ludwig had a major wrap of their chute during a gybe. Wild Thing crossed first for line honors, followed by Iko Iko. Uncle Ludwig, Witch Way and Spirit had sufficient time on the faster boats to capture the top three spots for the night.

I would like to thank Nelson Snowden for assisting on the RC boat last evening. Next week John Dickinson and the crew of Cut Loose will host the evening’s race.

Race night 4 provided warm temperatures but little in the way of a steady wind. Kyle LaVoy and the extended crew of Uncle Ludwig hosted last evening’s race. Thanks! An I5 was set in the streaky NE air which seemed to increase and disappear in seconds. A windward tetrahedron was placed directly into the prevailing air and North Canoe was used as the leeward turning mark. At the start, the ten-boat fleet spread out along the line and a haphazard fleet split followed. From my vantage point it was very difficult to tell who was actually in the lead on the way up to the first mark. Witch Way found itself in a hole while others just tens of yards away were clipping along in 4 knots of air.

Wild Thing prevailed to lead the way around the first mark with Cut Loose and Catchin’ J’s next.

The sportboats pulled to the front on the downwind leg but four of the J/24s and Catchin’ J’s were in tight pursuit. Christian and Alfie were struggling to find the same air the leaders were sailing in and every attempt at searching for better wind ended in frustration for them. Woot! and Brad Taylor’s J/80 slipped in front of Wild Thing by the next rounding but John and Sam were ahead of the J/24 pack.

What followed was a dramatic velocity drop to drifting conditions and what little air remained came out of the west. The RC left the marks untouched to at least give the boats some forward momentum. At the next rounding Brad had taken the lead with  Wild Thing pulling back ahead of woot!. And there again was the J/22 ghosting along. Spirit made its way to the top of the J/24s and the RC shortened course to the original starting line with two horns and a radio announcement to make sure everyone was in the know.  It would have been a real struggle to get everyone finished if the next mark was used. As the leaders approached the finish two boats decided enough was enough and headed in.

Brad and crew took line honors and second overall with Wild Thing in next across and third overall, but Catchin’ J’s took the night on corrected time. Well done to all competitors in the very variable conditions.

Next week’s race will lead to the first of scheduled throw outs.

A Solstice evening raft-up is planned for 22 June if the weather cooperates. All are invited to attend. More info to come!

As always the results are calculated and posted to www.lakegerogeracing.com

A W6 course with a windward tetrahedron mark lurking in the sun-glinting waters greeted the 11 boats that came out on the gorgeous evening. The very warm west winds swung from to W to WNW almost immediately after the start. Just prior to the start, there was a ruckus at the RC boat-end that is currently under review. This left a few boats uncontested midway down the start line. Unfortunately, Catching J’s got caught OCS and had to return to the start line after the rest of the fleet sped off towards the first mark.

Wild Thing was sliding along nicely and led the way around the course for the entire race. Spirit and Vaporize were also in the lead pack around the first few marks. With the big shift, the RC changed the course and used Cotton Point as the new windward mark with multiple sounds, C flag, and green flag flying, plus multiple announcements on the radio. This course change actually got the fleet tacking on the shifts, especially as they approached the Cotton Point reef.

It was great to watch the boats round the Cotton Point reef and pop spinnakers, back-lit by the low angled sun. Wild Thing held on to starboard gybe while most of the other boats gybed immediately after the reef and got back into the steadier winds away from the west shore. After the fleet rounded Cotton Point and headed back to the start pin/leeward mark on the fourth leg, the wind appeared to be dropping both to the north and south of the course, so the RC decided it would be prudent to head up to the weather mark and shorten the course.

Wild Thing held onto their lead coming down the fourth leg by a few boat-lengths. Brad Taylor tried to convince the RC that a finish was expected. even as other boats were rounding the leeward pin, and had to back-track around the mark. As this was happening the RC picked up anchor and headed up the weather leg. Once anchored and as the fleet approached the new finish, the shorten course signals were made with two sounds and S flag displayed.

Unfortunately for Dave and Nelson it appeared Vaporize fell into a hole somewhere along the last two legs, slipping out of the lead pack. Wild Thing prevailed to cross the line first followed by Spirit, Brad’s J/80, and woot! All but one boat finished the course within eight minutes of the leader. Catchin J’s, left behind at the start, used the shifts well and worked its way back into the race after the change in course … nicely done John!

Unfortunately, a protest was lodged and the results are considered tentative and under review. They will be updated upon conclusion of the protest “hearing.”  Results, as usual, posted on lakegeorgeracing.com

Side note: Once a race is started, the RC should not be hailed for clarification of the course. The RC will do everything it can to inform the fleet of changes to the original course.  Please print out the sailing instructions and grab a rule book to review “Part 3 Conduct of a Race.” This section is approximately four pages long. There you will find Rule 32 Shortening or Abandoning after the start and Rule 33 Changing the next leg of the course.

Have a great holiday weekend! Kyle and the crew of Uncle Ludwig will be hosting next week’s race.