Moonlight Race June 18, 2016

Sometimes nature (and the gods of the wind) can mock we mortals and our best laid plans.  With a forecast of calm building to 5 mph of breeze in the afternoon, some of us were not very optimistic about the first ever “moonlight race” down the lake to Caddo Bend, and back, especially so late – after the stirring rays of the summer sun had set. 

Maybe it was the super hot days (109 heat index) that preceded the called Saturday race, maybe it was just bad timing, but only three crews showed up on the docks Saturday afternoon for the race.  The Suggs and their guests (Rendezvous) , George Boger and John Bomar (Bogey) and the Zeilers, Frank and Eddie.  Eddie decided not to Launch the Catalina 22, but rather to sail Louise, his much larger and more spacious live-aboard.  And guess what, it turned into a an absolutely beautiful afternoon for sailing with steady 8-10 mph breezes blowing in from the Northeast … even if the lake was full of powerboat stink- pots running to and fro at breakneck speed. 

As the sun was setting the crews met at Keith and Barbara’s boat to learn that he was deep in her bowels looking for the cause of a stern light dysfunction.   Sadly, the problem defied correction and they had to withdraw from the competition.  So it was once again to be a match race between the Zeilers and the crew of Bogey.  By the time the course was set and both boats were on the line it was 10:00 PM.  The wind was still out of the North/Northeast and the early racing was with the boats on a starboard bean/broad reach.  Both boats had hit the line at the same time, Bogey was windward, but by the time Bogey had reached the State Park Lodge she was well ahead of Louise.  Her new secret weapon was a light weight 180% drifter that George had just started using and it proved valuable beyond description.  It would take a shape even in the light stuff and with her just-cleaned-bottom Bogey was steadily  doing a “horizon job” on poor Louise who suffered from too much weight, too heavy cloth up front and too light winds and pressure. 

Just beyond the State Park Lodge the wind shut down completely and lots of frustrated sailor talk was heard to emanate from the cockpit of Bogey.  The competitive juices in those on board had completely negated the otherwise beautiful moon-lit night on Degray and its magnificent surroundings.  When a light breeze finally did fill in, of course it was right on the nose, out of the West.  The relatively easy long-reaching-leg had now become a windward beat and as Bogey crept forward, pulling the huge 180 through tack after tack, more salty, frustrated sailor talk – at higher pitch -- could be heard across the quiet dark waters.   Fortunately no others were within earshot, except those in heaven. 

Finally reaching Caddo Bend,  Bogey  then got to play the “find the buoys game.”  Even with the moonlight, as the crew scanned to the West they were nowhere to be seen.  A call to Eddie helped little in locating the very dark pylons, hiding somewhere to the West.  As Bogey groped further toward the now setting moon, with binoculars scanning continually, the gates were finally located and the race was soon over.  She had made it up to the finish line and it was 2:30 AM. 

A call back to Eddie confirmed it was time to end all the fun and Bogey picked up the buoys and headed back, under power.  The chug of Bogey’s old Seahorse outboard was music to the crew’s ears as they navigated back to the barn.  And now, of course, the wind gods laughed with a nice 8-10 mph breeze out of the Northeast – a perfect reaching angle for the drifter -- as Bogey motored back down the lake. 

Spring Race Day #6 - May 21

Another light air drifter...

It wasn’t much, but it beat sitting on the dock.  The forecast was for calm winds building to a whole 5 mph in the afternoon.  And you guessed it, out of the East/Southeast.  With everyone prepping for the next weekend Memorial Day at the dock only two boats showed up for racing – ZCat II,  a Catalina 22 with Eddie and his dad Frank Zeiler on board and Bogey , a Hunter 22 with George Boger and John Bomar on board.  It was to be a match race of 22 footers in light, sometimes drifting conditions. 

Patience paid off as the wind finally came on after a dead calm wait and both boats hung close to the start line, not wanting to be caught very far away should the winds die out.  Bogey was windward with ZCat a little further down the line as the time clicked off.  With about 30 seconds to the start the wind veered left, knocking both boats and making it hard to make the start line.  Since she could not tack because of Bogey’s approach upwind on the line ZCat had to luff up to try and make it across.   Bogey drove down the line and tacked away with better momentum and lead off the line.  Both boats did their best to keep moving although in the lulls there was hardly enough wind to maintain sail shape.  Both boats made a couple tacks working upwind and on the last starboard tack toward the mark Bogey passed ZCat who had taken the lead.  As they neared the windward buoy the wind died completely and it was a drifting contest.  With no way on Bogey drifted into the buoy collecting a foul and ZCat rounded outside her. 

As it happened, not long after the rounding a good breeze filled in from the West (of all places) and Bogey was able to perform her 360 penalty turn with good speed and minimal time lost.  She and ZCat then reached off with the wind on the beam, ZCat flying her spinnaker.  Bogey managed to stay with her most of the way, only losing ground at the last of the leg as the wind eased.  ZCat got line honors but Bogey was able to correct over her with a margin of victory of only 27 seconds. 

It turned into a pretty good race after all and was fun at the end.  Both boats look forward to the last two races next week-end on Memorial Day which will determine the spring championship.

In the wise words of Eddie Z: "I believe it is getting time to be in the water not on it."

2016 Spring Race Day #5 - May 7

What a beautiful day.  We had plenty of sun with light southerly breezes between 2 and 6 knots.  Eddie Zeiler once again did a great job of setting courses with good upwind legs where neither side was obviously favored.  That makes us have to actually think about what to do in a wind shift.

Contestants were:
Rendezvous with Keith, Joe Klingbeil and Kate McKenna
ZCat with Eddie and Frank
Bogy with George and Matt
Sirocco from GFLYC with George Yerger and our own Ron Nash
Reckless, a new boat and member at IMYC, with Mark Wiley and John Bomar


Sorry for no narrative - we were all too busy chasing the wrong wind shift.  But I did get a couple of pics.

Looks like Eddie is about to push Rendezvous out of his way in race #1.

Love the look of those two chutes in race #2!   Both C22s really did well on the down wind legs.

Congratulations Sirocco for winning the day as they prepare for the C22 nationals later this year.  Good work George and Ron. 

And kudos to Mark Wiley and crew aboard Reckless.  Despite his claims otherwise, he managed to look like he knew what he was doing by beating both Bogy and Rendezvous in the first race.


The numbers:

2016 Spring Race Day #3 - April 9

2016 Spring Race Day #3  - April 9

No commentary for today, just the numbers.

2016 Spring Race Day #4 - April 23

4^th Regatta of the Spring Series

Saturday April 23, 2016

from notes by Ron Nash and John Bomar

It was a great day for an outdoor BBQ, a super day for a canoe trip down the river, perfect for a walk in the flowering woods of springtime.   But it was a really crappy day for a sailboat race.  With a large high pressure dome just to our south and nothing to move it along, the lake surface looked more like a mirror than a ruffled playground.  There were but few zephyrs in patches here and there and on average 2-3 mph of light patchy breeze. 

The skippers meeting began with a review of the rules relating to mark roundings, and restating IMYC’s policy that exonerating one’s self for a rule infraction requires a single 360 degree completed as soon as it can be done while keeping clear. 

Five boats made it to the start: Rama with Bob and Julie Rhodey; Lil’ Girl with Roxanne and Bill Tull; Z Cat II with Frank and Eddie Zeiler; Bogey with George Boger, Matt, and John Bomar aboard; and George Yerger brought Sirocco down from Greers Ferry with Ron Nash crewing.

Once again Eddie had set up a good windward leg into the forecast prevailing southeast wind forecast, with the start line set up just south of B Island and the windward mark set at I.  Most boats hung very close to the start line, not wanting to get caught out in the faint breath or whisper of wind.   Z-Cat II at the pin end and Sirocco further down the line led the charge (at about one knot) off the line with Bogey, Rama and Lil Girl not far behind.  It was all concentration on the tell-tales and wind angles as most boats headed left up the course.  Rama led the southern group tacking off to south, while Sirocco kept looking to the middle of the lake for what wind there was.   At that point it looked as if Z-Cat II had a few boat lengths on Sirocco.  Sirocco managed to catch the slight breezes and tacked on the lay line, heading south to the pin. Rama was ahead of the other group, now headed east to the pin from the area closer to Iron Mountain.

Rama had a short boat length on Sirocco coming to the pin, but had to give way to Sirocco on starboard. The Zone rule does not apply to boats coming to a mark on opposite tacks. Rama rounded the pin outside of Sirocco. Close behind came Bogey, Z-Cat II and Lil Girl.

The downwind leg was now a beat to wind. Sirocco kept her lead headed to the finish. The winds started shifting again. Rama headed off North; Sirocco kept bearing west and ended up heading off more westerly chasing the fickle breezes.  The wind finally shifted back around from the southeast.

Sirocco made a few more tacks and jibs and finished way ahead of the rest of the fleet. Rama ended up finishing next, but had trouble toward the north side with dying whispers of wind. Z-Cat II and Bogy drifted across in that order just behind Rama. Lil Girl made a great effort to catch up by hoisting the beasty spinnaker but with so little wind it was not much help, especially with the light pressure moving all over the compass in the final run. 

The course was a simple windward-leeward back to the start route.  And the short ¾ mile course took about an hour to complete. 

Race Committee Chair Eddie Z. queried the fleet if everyone had had enough of no wind racing, and all but Sirocco conceded. The buoys were pulled and all headed to the docks for beer.

It was still fun, in spite of the fickle and lack luster wind.

Congratulation go out to George and Ron though, they worked hard to coax the most speed out of the little Catalina.   In such conditions, all sailors know they deserve respect for their effort and the win.    

2016 Spring Race day 2 March 19

Spring series 2016  - Second Regatta

Boy, what a day for racing sailboats.  The second race series of the 2016 spring season was truly one to remember, a complete reversal of the light-to-no wind first regatta.  There was a large high pressure dome to our north in Illinois bumping into a low pressure trough to the east and the resulting compression and clockwise rotation of the high gave us a forecast of north winds at 10 mph in the bright, sunny afternoon with a high temperature in the mid 50’s.  As it played out the temperature forecast was on the button, but the wind forecast missed the reality on the water by about half: row upon row of white caped waves interlaced with dark, mean looking patches of knock-down-wind greeted the fleet of five sail powered boats as they motored out around noon. 

Eddie Zeiler and wife Wendy had gone out in their small (wet) fishing boat to set the course and it was a good one, with the starting line running east and west off the 7 South peninsula and the first mark to a windward buoy near the north shore.  The leeward mark was set all the way back near the island/shallow out from the marina.  It was going to be racing that included legs through “the slot” going out to the main channel, further adding to the challenge of the afternoon’s competition. 

Rendezvous, the 40’ sleek and quick Catalina was the largest in the pack with Barbara driving and husband Keith Sugg running the lines.  Rama, the veteran Newport 33 was second in water-line-length with John Bomar driving and sailmaker Dave Sample crewing.  The always quick and well sailed No Lizard, a Hunter 26’ was next in potential hull speed with “Captain Ron” Nash bravely single handing.  Bogey, a Hunter 22 and ZCat a Catalina 22 rounded out the fleet with commodore George Boger single handing and Eddie Zeiler, race committee chairman, having the help of his dad Frank on board.

The first race was a windward-leeward- windward back to the start line course.  Rendezvous and Rama fought for the pin end as the clock ticked down with ZCat and No Lizard down the line from them and Bogey starting slightly back.  There was a call from Rama for leeward rights and Rendezvous did acknowledge a bit of a barge to make it inside the pin, with an obligation for a penalty 360 turn.  The slog to the first mark was a balancing act as everyone tried to avoid getting knocked on their ear in the puffs, working to windward.  Rama rounded the mark first with Rendezvous close on her heels.  Then it was No Lizard and ZCat rounding, with Bogey further behind.  Downwind everyone was broad reaching on a real sleigh ride, probably going as fast as they ever had in a very long while.  Through the slot only sped up the wind and it was like getting shot through the neck of a bottle.  Rama again rounded first at the leeward mark, Rendezvous not far behind rounded second and took her penalty turn, then No Lizard, ZCat and Bogey rounded.   The last windward beat to the finish line saw Rama get some favorable shifts and she pulled away from Rendezvous to finish first for line honors.  The fleet finished in order of the last rounding:  Rama – Rendezvous – No Lizard – ZCat – Bogey.  And most important, everyone had finished without mishap or mayhem on board. 

The second race included two windward-back to the start line leeward legs which offered a leeward gate for port or starboard roundings, then downwind again to the island mark, then again through the slot upwind to the finish line.  Everyone was bunched at the line at the start, on starboard, with Rama getting the upwind position and slightly ahead at the start.  Then it happened --  ZCat’s rudder snapped in half under the load, rounding up violently and throwing Eddie and Frank around in the cockpit.  Their day of racing was over.   As they struggled to get the sails down and back in control the fleet once again marched off to windward; same conditions – average winds 15-17 mph with some gusts above 20.  After dukeing it out with Rendezvous in the upwind leg, Rama managed to again round first, then it was Rendezvous, No Lizard, and Bogey.  This order stayed the same rounding the start-line gates and back to the windward mark, as the wind and waves continued unabated.  The downwind run again saw some boats at or near hull speed and the line order stayed the same.  Rama hung on to the lead to round first at the leeward mark.  In the last windward beat she shortened sail on the roller furling and did not struggle as much through the slot, grabbing line honors for the second time.  Then it was Rendezvous, No Lizard, and Bogey. 

In between the second and third race the heavens heard a somewhat uncommon prayer from a few lake sailors on the water, “maybe a little less wind, Lord?” 

The last race saw Rama jump out to a huge lead as the other three boats got caught back downwind, especially Rendezvous who started more than two minutes behind the leader.  This course was a classic windward-off wind - windward triangle course with two reaching legs, the small island toward the state park lodge being the off wind mark.  Rama, getting such a lead at the start, again rounded the windward mark first but No Lizard and Rendezvous had eaten up some of her lead rounding second and third in that order, Bogey followed.  The reaching leg proved advantageous for Rendezvous and with great sailing skill and speed Barbara and Keith overtook No Lizard in the second leg and were nipping at the heels of Rama as they rounded the island.  About a quarter of the way toward the leeward  mark on a beam/broad reach Rendezvous passed to windward of Rama, overtaking, and leaving her in their dirty wind dust.  The leeward mark saw that order maintained:  Rendezvous, Rama, No Lizard and Bogey, with the big boat stretching out a bit and No Lizard making ground on Rama.  This time in the last windward beat it was Rendezvous who got the favorable shifts and cashed in on them and she enjoyed  the very well deserved line honors, especially considering her very disadvantaged start.  Sure enough,  No Lizard came on to challenge Rama in the heavy-air windward last beat, with one “too close” crossing lead for No Lizard who had starboard rights.  Rama dipped her stern at the last second and came back to take the lead again and finish across second with No Lizard very close behind.  Bogey followed. 

Everyone felt relieved and a bit beat up and tired after this day’s racing.  Surely also, it was a race day to remember.

As a side note:   The “too-close” crossing was due to lack of visibility (and proper look out) that can happen on sailboats with large fore-triangle  sails, and illustrates the need to regularly keep a good eye to leeward when close-hauled or reaching.  It also demonstrated the wisdom of hailing your position and claim to right-of-way when approaching another vessel.  “When in doubt, shout it out!” is a good axiom to keep in mind and avoid collision while on the water.


The clear winner of today's regatta was Rama.  They had her dialed in for eth conditions and worked hard for every boat length.  Good work John and Dave! 

2016 Spring Race Day 1

First Spring Race Day

March 4, 2016

The day began with Rama, Bogey and Little Girl getting their bottoms brushed clean with Bill’s handy home-made shop broom contraption and because of no wind the racing was delayed about two hours. 

It was a beautiful early spring day – with very little wind on a largely becalmed Degray lake.  Five boats in all were on the line: Little Girl with skipper Bill and wife Roxanne driving, Rama with Bob Rhody skipper and John Bomar driving, Bogey with George Boger driving and Matt as crew, No Lizard with Ron Nash single handing, and ZCat with father Frank and son Eddie Zeiler driving.  The wind was from a general south/southwest direction and our new race committee chairman Eddie set a good course with a starting line near the middle of the main channel of the lake, one mark to windward toward Iron Mountain and one mark to leeward of the starting line toward the state park visitor center. 

On a running timed start with everyone (but Eddie with a bad watch) relying on their atomic clocks for the exact start time, Rama and No Lizard led the pack off the line, both on starboard, headed west.  Little Girl and Bogey followed about 15 boat lengths back, getting caught too far from the line in the very light wind, and ZCat, unsure of the exact starting time due to her faulty clock, trailed the pack.  It was a steady but very light wind at @ 4 mph to the first mark and ZCat, always amazingly slick and fast in such conditions caught up to Rama on the first leg and rounded just ahead at the first mark.  No Lizard rounded third and a bit behind.  Going back there was hardly enough wind to keep a foresail shape and Rama resorted to flying a wing on wing using a whisker pole to at least take advantage of the sail area.   By the end of the two leg race Rama had regained the lead and was first to cross the finish line with ZCat close behind followed by No Lizard, Bogey and Little Girl. 

On the second race, same course because of the very light wind, George and Matt on Bogey got a great jump on the field leaving the left side of the line with good angle and speed.  Near the windward mark everyone bunched up and stalled and the wind got really squirrelly.  Still on the left however, Bogey got a break and rounded the mark first.  On the downwind Bogey and No Lizard in second split and George got another break with fresh wind and went on to be first across the finish line.  Before the race Bogey’s crewman Matt had made a joke about always filming the racing from behind but on this day he spent much of the second race in the cabin filming George as “leader of the pack.”  The rest of the group finished pretty bunched up.    

Later, as Ron on No Lizard was leaving the dock he was heard to comment “guess that dirty bottom got me today.”  It was a painful admission for someone used to being up front  in the fleet.  The recent class on racing given by Dave Sample had emphasized the importance of a low drag, clean bottom if you want to be competitive and win on the water.  The moral of the story?  “A clean bottom washes away many sins in sailboat racing and gets you ahead in working toward the mark.”

The numbers:

What a light air duel between Zcat and Bogey!  They split the two races finishing 1, 2 and 2, 1 – which made them tied for first place, each with 3.5 points.  With point ties being settled by lowest corrected time, the winner of Race Day #1 is Zcat with 3,145 seconds vs Bogey’s 3,250.  Congrats Eddie.