Random thoughts

Deb and I had a wonderful weekend sailing Nomad and two other boats. But other events surrounding the weekend's activities sparked some "random thoughts."

Thought 1) Powerboat drivers and sailboat drivers really are two different kinds of animals. Powerboat drivers spend huge sums of $$ on boats, trailers, and big pick-up trucks to drag the boat to the lake. They put more $$ in the fuel tanks of both boat and truck. Hours are spent getting to the lake and launching the boat. Once on the water they push the boat as fast as it will go in an absolutely straight line - directly to a shore. Once there they beach or anchor the boat and then get out; as if the whole purpose of the exercise is to spend as little time on the water as possible. Sailboat drivers, on the other hand, will take 6 or 8 hours getting to the dam and back just as an excuse to stay on the boat and out on the water. I've also noticed that sailboats tend to stay as far away from shore as they can, not so powerboats.

Thought 2) Marine diesel engines are implements of De Debbil. Friend Barry was set to leave Boulder to register for the Moonlight Regatta when his engine spat, shuddered and died. Trouble shooting, tool borrowing and general dockside hackery ensued in an attempt to make the deadline. An hour or so later the evil diesel coughed and shook itself to life as if to say "Who me?" Barry headed down the lake under power, (said diesel now purring like a kitten) but too late to make registration. Fortunately he ran across the Race Chair setting marks and was assured that he could take his place on the starting line; the paperwork could be finished up later.

The Moonlight Regatta is a staggered start, meaning the slow boats go first and placing the race is easy, first one home wins. Juno's start time was more than 1/2 hour after the first boat headed off. Hitting the "lap around the lake" course on a beam reach and just as the full moon was rising, Juno caught a straggler or two before the first mark. The second leg was a straight, down-wind run. With her sails set wing-on-wing and the jib poled out, Juno became a near silent apparition. Barely making a sound in the night waters she crept up on a boat, slipped it a place down, and then moved on. Boat after boat fell behind as the second, strobe lit mark loomed out of the night. The last leg of the race was a lake long, tight-to-the-wind run of pure speed. Tacking to weather Berry had his crew sheet the sails in tight as drums as the bow split the oncoming breeze in two. Juno threw off any pretense of stealth. Spray flying, sheets humming under the tension, she heeled over and displayed her thoroughbred status, daring the fleet to try and keep her in sight. None could. With the finish line looming, one lone boat still leaned hard against the wind, straining to keep Barry and his hard-charging Albin at bay. It was a lost cause. With 1/4 mile to go Juno slashed past this last challenger and swept across the start / finish line at full song.

Alas, at the awards breakfast the next morning Berry was denied his win. The West Access Race Committee clung to the letter of the law, declaring that Juno had not been properly registered after all.

Which sparked Thought 3) With this petty act of gamesmanship the West Access Race Committee won themselves executive status in the Kingdom of WEENIES. As penance they should haul Juno out for free and clean her hull spotless, with toothbrushes.

and Thought 4) The Captain of the second place boat who, it is reported, was more than glad to accept the trophy and then boast of "winning" the Moonlight Regatta, thus won janitor status in the Kingdom of WEENIES. His penance should be to spend the rest of the season sailing a leaking dingy with rags for sails, bailing with a rusty coffee can.