REPORT

Five boats ventured out in the Lightning class at the Charleston regatta.  Terry Tyner posted two bullets on Saturday and made it stand up for the class victory.  Race one started in moderate breezes.  There was a real tactical duel to the first mark that saw more than one boat take the lead.  Tyner persevered around the three lap triangle for the win.  By race two, the wind was really kicking.  MC Scows were called off and sent in.  This was a speed race as we all knew the tactics were to sail up the Ashley to the layline and then hold on for the reaches.  Tyner rounded the windward mark in first and mastered the wind for first place.  Sloger yielded second by way of a broach.  Waldkirch and Wright finished 2 and 3.  On Sunday, it was famine and feast.  The wind was very light at the start and everyone worked hard to squeeze every ounce of speed heading up into the current.  Waldkirch nailed a perfect start at the committee boat and stretched it into a lead at the first mark.  While all wrestled with chutes in the light air, the sea breeze pounced with a vengeance and a shift.  Suddenly we were on a tight reach planing for all we were worth.  It was a wild finish as we found ourselves meeting other fleets on the course and at the roundings.  Richard hung on to first followed by Tyner and Sloger.  Final standings were Tyner, Waldkirch, Sloger, Wright, Barron.

Ron Wright