Augusta Lightning Regatta
September 14-15, 2002
Augusta Sailing Club

Reports

Dreams really do come true. Many years ago I wished that I would have people in my life to share it with. This weekend my oldest daughter,  Meghann, went with me to her first regatta. What a moment in time. Lance Kinerk, who has crewed with me for awhile, skippered the boat which made it all that more fun. We took off driving from the house at 5:30 a.m. into the face of tropical storm Hanna. Three and a half hours later, we set up the boat and no rain. We gave Meggs a quick lesson of the fine art of the foredeck; tacking, setting, jibing and taking down the chute. Off to the course we went with maybe 6 knots of breeze. Lance got us a great start (which he did every time, something I typically don’t do for him when he crews for me). Up the course we went with Meggs tack-ing all the way. At the windward mark, we were 2nd. A great set followed by a series of nice jibes down wind and we looked like we knew what we were doing. Before long, Meggs was telling us if the boats behind us were taking us up or dropping below. We held on to sec-ond - we had exceeded our goal of not being last. Another race and we were getting better, but still we finished sixth. The next race we were off again, second around the windward mark with only Pete to catch. We were out to get Pete with our light weight and great steering from Lance. As the sky behind us darkened they shortened the course. Within yards from finishing, the sky erupted in lightning causing the cancellation of the race. Looking around we realized that it was not a good time to be next to big metal objects sticking up in the sky. As a father, you learn to worry at new levels. You also learn that your actions induce actions in your children (having children has taught me the importance of psychological warfare). So calmly we sailed back to the club joking about the time my daughter and I went deep sea fishing in seas so big the 40 ft. Bertram looked like a surfing Lightning (I thought it was going to flip a couple of times). Meggs is a real trooper and there is nothing that ice cream cannot solve. That night we sat and enjoyed dinner with many of our friends who have watched my daughters grow up. I watched her have many a conversation with people on her own. She was growing up and becoming her own person. That night was like a big slumber party for Lightning sailors – many of us slept in the club house because of the rain. Meggs and I slept in some old chairs pushed up against each other. Morning brought Danish and other things we do not normally serve at home. Hmmm -was this why she really came along? We were actually tied for third with John Pelosi going into the day. Off to the races we went trying to tell jokes. Meggs just got better and better as the day went on. I, on the other hand, started missing some of the shifts and we ended up with another 6th. The wind picked up and my daughter started out hiking which really did not do much. Around the course we went with another mid fleet finish. It really did not matter where we finished. I think just the joy of sailing with each other made each race that much fun. Well there are more races in our future and soon Anna will be sailing with us too. (Actually Anna sailed one club regatta with me that we won – her expectations are way out of line now). I can only wish the same for others who have not yet had the experience.

Ron Wright

A healthy contingent of SELD skippers and crews converged on Augusta for the seventh regatta of the 2002 traveling series.  Weather was on the minds of everyone as tropical storm Hannah beared down on the Florida panhandle and prepared to move inland through Georgia and the Carolinas.

Indeed, Saturday morning greeted us with steady rain and power was out at Augusta Sailing Club when we all arrived.  Nonetheless, by 11 AM, we all decided to rig in case clear skies showed up.  By NOON we were on the water sailing in perfect conditions of 7-10 knot breezes with temps in the low seventies.   The race committee set a windward-leeward course and we were soon well into race one.  It was great, tactical racing.  Bob Harkrider put up two aces to take the early lead over Pete Marriott who sailed a 2 and a 3.

Midway through race three, storm clouds brewed over the club.  A few flashes brightened the sky and we all turned quickly to the docks.  With Lightning streaking all around us and rain pouring down, we were fortunate that the storm did not carry very high winds.  All were able to get to the dock safely and for the next hour we all helped each other get our boats on dry land.

The rest of the evening we devoted to beer, rum, college football, and an assortment of bar-b-qued meats - not necessarily in that order.  The campers all set up in the clubhouse for the night.  Carter found out the hard way that a toe is no match for a heavy chair leg.  Bob provided the first aid!

Thinking there would be no way Hannah would let us sail Sunday, we awakened to moderate breezes and an absence of rain.  We ran two more windward-leeward courses.  It was perfect sailing conditions again with great wind and moderate temps.   Jim Harris won race three.  Bob won race four. 

Our world qualifier, Bob Harkrider with Sharon and Tom Shroeder crewing, finished in first place.  John Pelosi sailed a very consistent regatta posting results of 5-3-2-4 to secure a second place finish one point ahead of Jim Harris.   ASC hosted a great regatta with sailing conditions equal to any we have had so far this year.

Ron