1998-1999 InterClub Results - Series 1, Day 7

Fleet Captain Allan Carscaddon and crew Eleanor Bradley did the impossible - winning percentage of 100%. All Allan, all the time. This was quite a feat due to the very squirrely breeze... or was it BECAUSE of the squirrely breeze?

Weather fronts do move by here quickly in the winter... The cold front that went through Saturday night brought sinking temperatures and gusty northwest breezes on Sunday morning. Bay Cam (www.baycom.com) that looks out over the Severn showed an awsome breeze at 10 am. By the time the 8 boats were on the course, this was by the second race as some of us slackers were late leaving the dock (hey, we're pregnant, what's your excuse!), the breeze was fading. As is typical in this dying breeze, a good start didn't necessarily mean a good finish or vice versa, a 720 (your author) or an over early (Allan and Tom) at various times didn't keep people back! The pressure differences were tremendous and being in the right place at the right time when the new puffs came was key.

The breeze was all over the place; I think it ended up coming in from all points on the compass at one time or another. After the second race, it seemed like the predicted Southerly would fill and we began a sequence using the same course, but now going to the leeward (now windward) mark. Alas, that didn't hold, but it did give us some practice with a downwind start. Thankfully, Bugly called it off, much to Ross Dierdorff's and Allan's chagrin as they closed out Rhett and Tom to nail the start.

He did get the course shifted around and got in 2 more races. Eventhough it was so squirrely, surprisingly, the racing was about as fair as could be expected with no total fleet inversions. At least there was no current! Jervis had the woody IC 33 going well today, as did Ross and Scott Taylor, who finished second behind Allan.

Thanks to Matt and Cecilie (sorry I butchered it!) for maning the crash boat (you picked a good day) and for the HUGEST pot of AWESOME chili. And as always, thanks to Bugly and his staff for being there week and week out, and for keeping us honest on the starting time.

Let's all get out next week. The 505 guys will be back and the weather is supposed to be a bit milder, so let's all get out and get some fresh air. On Sundays, Football is, well, just football, but SAILING, man, Life doesn't get any better than that. Besides, you can always set your VCR if you just can't stand to miss a game... See you on the water next Sunday, Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel.

Oops..I forgot to mention that Dixon also brought viddles..a great corn/potato chowder. A great effort, particularly when he is apparently recovering from pnuemonia!!

Alex Pline