A forced smile from my skipper, Dan, who would much prefer an additional 10 to 15 knots of wind strength. As can be seen by the Rebels that are close-hauled in the background, the winds were still very light and rather shifty with their current direction being from the SW. - click here for full-size pic

The RC sent us off on a Course 1 to the south (buoys to starboard: S-2-3-4-S). I don't remember all that much about this race except that we buried ourselves at an attempted pin-end start and had minimal success trying to get back into contention on the first beat, 90% of which was spent on port tack in a wind that had more or less settled into the south, angling off the east shore of Greenwood Lake.

Neil and Nick paced us for a good while before they pulled away and rounded the gybe mark comfortably in front of us. The fairly close reach to mark #4 just off the east shore, proved to be tricky - especially for Neil and Nick. On the near-beat from #3 to #4, they sailed into an ever increasing knock that most of us behind them never ever did get, and they ended up losing tons of boats when they were one of the few boats that had to tack across to lay #4. By the time Dan and I reached #4, we had actually passed a fair number of boats and eventually scratched our way back into the top 10 by the finish.

The top 10 in the third race (race 5, officially): After their fine 2nd in the previous race, Paul and David Bryan outdid themselves by winning this one. Robert Krahulik edged out Dave Nickels for 2nd place as these two established themselves beyond doubt as the only real contenders for this year's National title. George Vurno and Joan Reichenbach finally got into top gear with a 4th, as did Jack and Karen Sanderson in 5th. Al and Karel Vorel (6th) relegated Jack Schuchardt and Ron Steele to another 7th. Their miracle on the final leg moved Dan Hockenberry and Uncle Al into 8th place just ahead of Daniel and Brennen Leon, while Bill Selick (suffering the regatta organizers' curse?) and Bob Buchtman finally cracked the top 10 in this one.