RACE REPORT
MC Nationals
June 21-23
Torch Lake,  Michigan

Lining up with 89 of the fastest racers in the country is no easy task.  So we make no apologies for our racing. 

To put it simply, every waking moment we sailed our boats on Torch Lake was the ultimate thrill of the safari. 

If a picture tells a thousand words then these two pics say it all.

John has sailed in three large regattas.  I have sailed in two.  The 2006 MC Nationals at Lake Norman were such a disappointment because of the distractions of weather.  The same can be said of the 2007 mid-winters where high winds chased us in and John lost a mast.  Here, at Torch, for the first time for me, I could concentrate on sailing.  The wind and weather were perfect.

My immediate goal was to get some quality starts and see what happened.  I have a lot more confidence since the Jeff Annis clinic and I at least, know what to do, even if it doesn't always happen.  There were many general recalls and I didn't mind them because it gave me more chances to practice starting.

Why the fuss over starting?  In a big fleet, if you a flushed out the back in the first 100 yards, you end up behind a wall of sails.  It is near impossible to improve because the fleet just leaves you behind and when you finally get clear air, it's too late.  You are left to win small battles with the rest of the backpackers.

I sailed two notable races.  In race two, I got a dream start.  For a second I thought I would nail first place!  Problem was, I started a minute early.  Thankfully I was on an end.  I rounded the line boat and took off on port in clear air.  After one beat, I was in it!  I finished a regatta high 63.  On race five, I truly nailed a legit start.  I rounded the windward mark behind Peter Toumanoff in mid-pack.  I chased Peter around the course.  On the final beat, he went right, I went left.  A huge shift came in and I got creamed.  Peter finished 18th!  Other than those two races, I had my moments in the back, avoided the cellar, as did John, and finished 76 overall.  It didn't matter.  Nothing could diminish the great sailing on this lake.

John put it all together in race 4.  It took me a while to find him on the race course because he was so far ahead.  At the finish line, an all girl team tacked right on top of him.  By the time he recouped and they apologized, he had lost a dozen boats.  Take that away and he would have finished in the fifties.  The offending boat skipped on turns which was even more aggravating.  John was so miffed he skipped race five.  He still sailed a respectable 81.

If we had one gripe in the entire regatta, it was that many people did not take their turns when fouling.

We learned with every race.  We had respectable moments that let us know, with practice, we will move up.

To put it simply, every waking moment we sailed our boats on Torch Lake was the ultimate thrill of the safari. 

For those who want to read how the rock stars did, I have added Jamie Kimball's report here:

Jamie Kimball Wins National Championship

A grand total of 88 boats made it to Torch Lake to battle for this year's National Championship.  Regatta Chair, Alan Hickman, and his army of volunteers put on a flawless event on one of the most amazing lakes in the world.  PRO Chip Mann and his Race Committee team gave the fleet 6 great races to ultimately decide this year's national champion.  Sailors came from 12 states including Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Georgia, Ohio, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas.

With nearly 90 boats on the line the racing was tight and competitive!  Ideal sailing conditions and winds ranging from 10-18 mph permitted the RC to set long windward-leeward 2+ courses.  Torch Lake is 20 miles long and roughly 2½ miles wide with slight changes in wind direction and velocity.  With little changes in the wind, it was extremely important to have a clear lane off the start and be heading the right direction.  By having clear air, you were able to minimize your tacks upwind.  Steady winds allowed the majority of the leaders to limit tacks to around 5 times per leg. 

Due to the stiff competition, no skipper could muster up top ten finishes in each of the six races.  Five different skippers won races (#1- Andy Molesta; #2-Jamie Kimball; #3-Jeff Annis; #4-Bob Currier; #5-Jamie Kimball; and #6-Jerry Gill). 

Jon Pomerleau and his son pegged the start in race one and jumped out to an early lead.  Jon and a few others were able to extend off the line and lead out to the favored left side of the course.  With a strong push late in the race, Andy Molesta took line honors in race one.  Pomerleau ended up second sailing a great race, with Jamie Kimball following in third. 

In race two, the newly wed Eric and Sue Hood showed the fleet they still have what it takes to be a winning team.  They had a great start and won the left side up the first leg.  Hood led Jamie Kimball, Jerry Gill, and Steve Avery around most of the race.  Kimball, sailing alone, was able to make his move downwind and pass Hood to take the victory in race two. 

In race three, Jeff Annis and Todd Bosgraaf jumped out to a big lead.  Just as in races one and two, the leaders came from the left side of the course.  Annis was able to hold off Bosgraaf to take this win.  Brien Fox of Spring Lake made a strong push to finish second.  The third race was the final race of the day to cap off an awesome day of sailing!

Friday the fleet remained on shore until after lunch due to light winds.  Shortly after lunch the breeze jumped up to 10-15 mph from the northwest.  On this day the winds were more north than the first day of racing.   With the wind direction further north, it seemed to make it possible for some boats to make gains by going right.  However, Bob Currier showed the fleet how to get it done by going hard left.  Currier jumped out to a nice lead and held the fleet off to take the race win.  Great job Bob!

The wind increased for race five and a large majority of skippers put on crew Friday afternoon.  Eric Hood and Ted Keller must have learned something from Currier earlier and went hard left.  By the windward mark, they had a nice jump on the competitors behind.  Downwind Kimball was able to make some gains to close in on Keller and Hood.  Upwind these three traded tacks as they worked out to the left side.  Kimball passed Keller on the last leg to take race five and conclude the second day of racing.

Saturday the fleet sailed the sixth and final race in a dying southeast breeze.  Jerry Gill, Mike Risewick, and Rob Terry got out to an early lead on the right side of the course.  Gill was eventually able to put some distance on these two and take the final race of this year's event.  Congratulations Jerry!