 CAN 226 coming downwind during the 2010 North Americans
Six races in a long narrow channel in the path of one of the world´s best lake breezes, a gathering of the country´s best Soling sailors and Larry Votary to MC! - What a deal!
Hans Fogh - Roger Cheer and Gordie Devries (CAN 230)(aspiring, he says, to perfection!) won the series by four points, once again provided a clinic for the mere mortals who he regularly left astern - but he included a few chinks in his armor - two second places! - as an encouragement for those who aspired only to beat him. He always started in clear air in the middle of the line - behind the daring few at the favored end, sailed out in an open lane, tacked below and on to the same tack as the leaders, gradually worked out on their leebow and arrived at the first mark in the top three. Thereafter he either m0ved into first from which place he was rarely caught - or hovered in second until the moment that mattered!
Stu Walker - Doug Loup and Bruce Empery (USA 839), a perennial third in the NA´s, having written, read and digested his new book The Code of Competition, led and then lost many of the early races, but switching to aggressive gear, won the final two and thereby came from behind to displace Peter Hall – Ross Findlater and Phillip Kerrgan (CAN 225) from series second. Peter, the 2009 North American Champion and usual bridesmaid, was 2-4-2-3 (and a point ahead of Stu on Sunday morning), but could only manage a 3-4 in the final races. Ken Davy – Eric Nowina and David Hymers, (CAN 210) the winner of Race #4, was only nine points behind Peter for a solid fourth.
(One of the most important determinants of sailing success - good crews - was clearly on display. The top helmsmen were blessed with crews who knew their jobs, performed them well and never distracted them from their focus on strategy and tactics. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? - practice, practice, practice - and keep doing it for 20 years or so.)
The first race was the only one that should not have been started when it was - before the lake breeze had settled in - light and flukey. However, Hans was in the lead before the first mark and followed by Peter, was in the lead before the first leg was over. Stu worked his way up to fourth behind Kevin Brown while Ken was back in 9th.
The backed oscillating lake breeze at 225´ (coming over Amherst Island) at 12-14 knots provided a beautiful second race. Stu led to the first mark, but on the second beat near the weather mark was passed by Ken (and almost caught by Hans). Stu pulled away from both on the subsequent run, and again led around the third weather mark - only to be caught by Hans - inside at the leeward mark!
On the second day the lake breeze was already veered to its classic 250´-260´ direction (straight down the North Channel) and up to its classic 15-16 knots at 11:00AM. Stu led much of the first beat, but was caught by Hans and these two led for most of the race - until Peter, who had been threatening, rounded the third windward mark ahead of Stu and could not be caught. Ken Davy was fourth and Brian White – Bruce Bugliotta and Brad Dumas (USA 780) fifth.
The fifth race was in similar conditions but was markedly altered by a back that resulted in the three leading boats, all starting at the leeward end of the line on each others hips - Stu having gained the pin, held by Peter, Peter held by Hans and Hans held by Manfred Kantor – Steve Donker and Tom Freeman (CAN 226)- setting up so as to prevent the leeward ones from tacking and resulting in all four being carried to and beyond the port layline. Halfway out Ken Davy ducked astern of the four and won the race, Hans, on the layline, bore away, ducked Manfred Kantor and was second at the mark (and at the finish). Kantor, finally relented, tacked and allowed Peter, and last of all, Stu, to tack - all overstanding by two hundred yards! Peter worked up to third, Kantor to fifth and Stu, only to sixth.
The final day (the race starting earlier at 10:00AM) the lake breeze was in its early mid-phase - 8 knots at 240´. Stu led away from the line and this time was never caught (tho Hans did close up to two boat lengths at the final weather mark (where his spi halyard separated and he had to switch to his jib halyard). Peter was third and now a point behind Stu, John Kennedy (USA 818) (who had led for awhile) was fourth and Kevin Brown fifth.
In similar conditions in the finale, Stu led Peter away from the line, but when Peter surged thru to leeward, Stu tacked away into the new backed mid-morning overland sea breeze at 225´ and with Henry Thomas, who was already on the port layline, easily led the fleet around the weather mark. These two retained their separation from Peter and the rest of the fleet until the final beat, when Henry went left and Stu, in an oscillating veer to the right, took over the lead and stayed there. Except for an unfortunate encounter between an unhappy Peter and an apologetic Henry at the final turn, that was the race and the series. (Was there a Deux ex Machina in the loss of Hans´ spinnaker halyard as he closed on Stu in Race 5 and in the arrival of the overland lake breeze as Stu went left away from Peter in Race 6 - or was it merely the triumph of virtue?)
Complete results at:
www.soling.com/results/ShowResults.asp?ID=621
Article amendments (Ashley Henderson)
CAN 230 precisely calculating what place they need to finish so not to participate in the last race.
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The up and coming mid-fleet during the day 3 of racing at the 2010 NAs in Bath, Ontario becoming the new forces to be reckoned with!
@ Ashley Morgan Henderson
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