2008 Fleet 86 Racing Blog
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Anatomy of a Sailing Safari

On July 18, Ron Wright will hit the highway as one of two MC Racers residing below the Mason-Dixon line to head north for the 2008 MC Scow National Championships.  Follow Ron's exploits by clicking the Sailing Safari 2008 on the Fleet 86 homepage or just click this link.  2008 SAILING SAFARI

Spring Series Wrap-up

With an insurmountable lead, Tom Martin didn't even have to sail on the final day of the Spring series. The fleet was greeted with wonderful conditions and sailed five great races.  Jim Higgins dominated 4 of 5 with the fifth going to Bill Schiffli.   The wins allowed Jim to hold on to second place.  Ron took third.  A complete series wrap-up is linked below.

Spring Series Results

Springboard Regatta
March 29, 2008
Guest Blog by Mack Cook

Seven boats sailed in the second race of the MC/SAYRA Championship and the MC's inaugural participation in the Springboard Regatta hosted by the Western Carolina Sailing Cub on Hartwell Lake.  After a 2 hour delay Saturday morning caused by a passing thunderstorm, the fleet sailed three of the four scheduled races in strong winds.  Racing was tight with the winner in each race dependent upon how well he cleared the final leeward mark and found a clear lane. At the end of the day the fleet sailed in wet, cold and happy and spent the evening hours in front of the Club's large fireplace enjoying a fine dinner and good company.

The combination of high winds (gust at +25)  and cold temperatures caused the cancellation of races on Sunday.

The boat and the caliber of the racing impressed several of the Club's members who have never seen an MC sailed and the Class was invited to participate in their annual Hospice Regatta in October.

Results

1.  (Tie Breaker) Barry Klein, Privateer YC and home of the Scowabunga
Regatta on May 17-18
2.  Justin Annis
3   Mike Neidig
4.  Ron Wright
5.  Mack Cook
6.  Dennis Fisher
7.  Peter Hans who was forced to retire after the first race due to boat
problem.

The MC/SAYRA championship stays inland for the next two regattas at

Rebel Rouser                April 26-27
Keowee Cub                 May 3-4

before returning to the the South Carolina coast at

James Island Open            June 14-15
Beaufort YS's Low country  June 21-22


Mack

Changes
Spring Series - March 30

Tom Martin and Ron Wright challenged the elements today and it paid off.  Tom posted three bullets in heavy air sailing, while Ron's three deuces moved him into first place in the series.  With white cap winds and rain forecasted, only four boats braved the elements.  The were rewarded with three outstanding races.  The rain never came.  Tom, Ron, John Holmes, and Richard Johnson all started race one.    OD Tom Guerrant set a great square course.   Tom led race 1 start to finish.  John and Richard retired so Ron and Tom match raced the second event.  Ron won the windward leg, but Tom passed downwind for the win.   Richard returned for race three with Cole Mills as crew.   Tom led start to finish while Ron hit the starting mark and played catch-up for another deuce.  Ron's three deuces moved him into first place in the series.  Tom surged from eighth to second as he threw out a DSQ 10 from race 2.  Likewise, John Holmes showed that participation counts as by sailing one race, he threw out a DSQ 10 from race 2 and moved into a tie for second.

The Spring Series takes a break until April 27 for the Club Championships on April 12 and the Pursuit Regatta on April 20. 

2008 Midwinter Championships
Lake Eustis Sailing Club,  Florida

Jim Higgins, John Holmes, Tom Martin, and Ron Wright traveled to Eustis, Florida to participate in the 2008 MC Scow Midwinter Championships.

The sailing was spectacular and covered a wide range of conditions.  Day one featured one race in light air.  Day two gave us two races in moderate winds and day three had us sailing in heavy air for two races.

Tom Martin sailed the highest finish for CYC with a 29 in the light air of race one.   Ron had the best overall finish but that was only because Tom and Jim headed home early.

2008 Spring Series
March 9

The 2008 Spring Series got underway today at Catawba Yacht Club.  Fleet 86 put 100% membership on the line.  Guest sailor Warren Nye joined us for seven MC Scows.  Add in Richard and Michelle Johnson in the Wayfarer and Frank Hart in his Laser and the dinghy fleet put a whopping nine boats on the starting line.

Warren sailed a very consistent 3-2-2 day in very light air to take first place and the early lead in the series.  Ron Wright and Jim Higgins were right on his heals with 9 points each. 

The wind was light and fluky.  OD Tom Smiley did a great job getting in three races. 

Kudos to Len Little who finished 7th in his first scow race ever in race 1. 

The fleet is traveling to Florida this weekend, but MCs are welcome to race in with the cruisers for fun only on March 16.

Winter Sailing
Deja Vu

It was January 5 all over again today.  Blue skies, breezes a little lighter at 5-8, and temps at 60.  I was peeling off the jacket before the day was done.  David Davis set a PERFECT LONG, windward-leeward course with a square starting line.  Ron was the only MC out, but Frank Hart joined in his laser and added great competition.  The dinghies windward hiked all day.  Tom Martin flew the chute and ran the jib for Tom Smiley and the J22 won the first two races on course.  There was a lot of strategy at play as multiple tacks were required sailing upwind and downwind it was a choice of sail the rhumb line to the mark or play the up-down game for speed.  Place changes occurred throughout the day in all races.  The two dinghies finished 2-3 behind the J in race 1and 2.  In race 1-2, Ron caught the Laser downwind both times and held on upwind to finish second on course.  In a shortened race 3, Frank and Ron led start to finish as the J turned in early.

Winter Sailing
Jan 5, 2008

Ron Wright and Per Sorensen joined the cruiser fleet for winter sailing today.  Ali Kishpaugh served as OD and set a triangle course for the day.  Her starting line was square.  A great course coupled with picture perfect conditions of 6-9 mph winds out of the south and temps above 50 made for the best sailing Lake Wylie has to offer.  The MCs dominated on course racing as Ron won the first two races and Per, with his young son as crew, won the final race.  The trick today was to get a good start and be up front around the first mark - then get windward of the fleet for the reach legs.   That's where the MCs were all day.   There won't be enough MC friendly winter race days to compete for the series title,  but it was great to get in a practice day in great conditions.

Winter sailing tips:

• A one piece bib/overalls combination will keep the water out of your pants when hiking.  I wore bibs over long underwear and was perfectly warm.  Per also wore his bibs and stayed dry.
• A sweatshirt/hoodie will keep your ears warm without worry of flying off in the wind.
• West Marine on Steele Creek has PWC gloves on sail cheap.  These are neoprene gloves that cover your entire hand.  They have non-slip modifications in the palm and finger tips.  My hands stayed warm and dry.  I never felt I was wearing gloves at all!

Ron

And then there were 6!!
Jan 3, 2008

Leonard Little became the newest member of fleet 86 on January 2 as he purchased MC 851.  Welcome Len.