John Sawyer wins Catawba One-Design Regatta 

Catawba Yacht Club , Lake Wylie, SC.   Home of Fleet 365

 On April 27-28, the Catawba Yacht Club kicked off the Southeastern Lightning District traveling series with their annual one-design regatta.  Several of us arrived Friday afternoon and camped on the grounds.  This was a first for Becky and me but I think we will do some more of the circuit that way, it sure is inexpensive.  Bill Sloger was very complementary of our color coordinated camping ensemble.  Bill we got it all from Target in case you want to upgrade. 

 The RC set-up windward leeward or modified Olympic courses and ran a Vanguard 15 class on a shorter course inside the Lightning class course.  Saturday saw light wind, extremely unpredictable.  Rounding the final leeward mark in first and covering to the finish did not always work, because the boat in 6^th, AKA Bill Sloger’s “Wasabi”, might find a breeze on the left lay line, and you know the rest.  After 4 races Pete Marriott, Sloger and Sawyer were tied at 10 points.

 While we were on the lake, a big deal was brewing at the club.  When we arrived Friday another traveler arrived in a pick-up truck full of firewood, with pig cookers in tow.  We quickly ascertained with our sharp racers perception that he was not dress appropriately for sailing with that big floppy hat and all.  Well it turns out that the guy worked the fire all night, played some great banjo riffs and cooked two pigs all day Saturday for the clubs opening day celebration.    The Friday night banjo was a tune–up for the ten-man bluegrass band that played Saturday night. It was as real as it gets.   Fiddle, steel guitar, banjo, bass - the whole nine yards - the best I’ve seen in 51 years.  We slept much better Saturday night, listening to good music and drinking lots of beer is better preparation for sleeping on the ground than driving 4 hours.

 Sunday started early with a 9 am start and great wind with lifts and headers that were not all weird.  We got off with a good clear air start and sailed our best race taking 1^st.  The RC opted for another race, which would let Marriott drop a 4 so we had to do it again. We blew the start and bailed out to the right side and gradually got back into contention rounding the weather mark in 3^rd.  Our set was very quick and we pulled even with Marriott and Sloger.  At the bottom of the run the three of us were overlapped but we were inside.  After some unpleasantness at the mark brought on by Pete not liking his position on the outside we had a very verbal mark rounding, resulting in Bill doing turns and Pete throwing the race going up the beat. We like to win, but not that way. The wind was continuing to build as a third race was started.  We had returned to the dock and got back to start about 30 sec. late.   We sailed conservatively, our strategy was to stay upright, the leeward leg was perfectly set and the puffs could come in by the lee, we all know that sick feeling when the boat is flying along and rocking!  2 lightnings capsized, one was Pete.  Bill Sloger handled the conditions without a hitch and won the last race with us in second.   We had sailed 7 races in all kinds of wind, had been a little more consistent, and that’s what seems to work.

 Thanks to Ron Wright, his able race committee, and to all of the Catawba Yacht Club members for letting us race at your club and join in your opening celebration.     

 John Sawyer   14318