| 2004
AEC
Wayfarer Worlds the first day of racing - 3 photos by Bob Thayer (note: all of these photos were - in larger size - on the competitors' CD created by Bob) |
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| 167 ... |
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| When there was
wind, it was weird! Note Michael McKechnie (10377) pointing at almost
180° to the port tack boats around him. And a novel experience for
Mark Taylor (7673) who has the current ... ... |
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| ... push him to
windward and into the mark. Of course, this same current was pushing
those lucky enough to be on the run in the right direction, so that
their lead was growing with every minute! ... |
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| Guy Hacon took full
advantage of every little whiffle of wind to finally beat the current
around the marks and end up with a very nice little 5th just ahead of
... ... |
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| ... Toby Mace (r)
whom the RC missed at first in a close finish Guy Hacon but who later
got reinstated to his rightful 6th. You would think that above, Peter
Kozak (just crossing 8888, Graham Barker) has finally licked his
windward mark nemesis ... ... |
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| ... but no, Peter has
to put in at least two more tacks as he joins a bunch desperately
fighting ... ... |
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| ... to avoid going backwards. Graham Barker has
a little puff and will slide around the marks and very nicely rescue a
7th from this race. Mark Taylor (7673, presumably returning from his
360) and ... ... |
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... Peter Rahn (286,
who had been even closer to last than Uncle Al when he got his own wind
while sitting directly in Uncle Al's supposed wind shadow, sailed
through to leeward of Al, went well wide of the marks - as did Al when
he finally got leftovers) made it around the mark. Peter ultimately
placed 8th ahead of Roger Challis who somehow got through this barrage
of photos without once being captured. The Taylors took 10th.
... |
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| This time, Peter takes
no chances and leaves a good current margin before ... ... |
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... tacking and
rounding the marks in 11th place. He will end up 12th after being
passed on the run by Uncle Al. The latter has bypassed many of the
boats fighting each other and the current in the almost non-existent winds, by thoroughly overlaying both marks and is now
well off to the left of Peter's position in this picture. Once around
the mark, the SHADES team lowered their jib to help the
spinnaker get maximum nourishment from very sparse wind fare - a trick
learned from Canadian Olympian and W builder, Bill Abbott. It seemed to
help enough to enable us to pass Peter who had been several lengths
ahead and had a considerably lighter all-up weight.
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| Stewart Reed and Robin
Albert likely rounded just before Stephan and Troels Nandrup-Bus (4898)
and Roger Shepherd with Joanne Kumpf (7700), because the Reed team
ended 13th, just ahead of Stephan (14th, his best finish of the series)
and Roger (15th). ... |
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| Heider makes it around
at last, and Hans (938), John Hartley and Mike O'Malley (roll-tacking)
have hopes. ... |
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| Neil (9644), Mike O'M.
(551), Steve Carroll (sails hidden) and Peter Ayres (far right) close
in on the elusive mark, while Alan Chaplin
(10188) breathes a sigh of relief and is amazed how much the current is
setting him down to leeward. But whoa, Alan, not so fast with the
relief! That current means you'll have to ... ... |
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| ... tack at least
twice more before you get round the offset mark! As so will ... ... |
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| ... Stephan! Crew,
Troels, at least, looks pretty philosophical about the whole thing. ... |
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| Aaaaah! The fun never
ends!! Still waiting for enough wind to round are (l to r)
Andrew Gumley, Geoff Edwards, Paul Laderoute, Peter Ayres, Andrew Haill
(partially hidden), Neil Fletcher and Doug Honey. ... |
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| Meanwhile, John
Hartley and Hans Gottschling (to leeward) are finally on their way to
the offset mark. ... |
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| Ted crosses Alan
Simpkins on his way to the mark. ... |
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| Looks like Doug Honey
has an actual bit of breeze as he crosses behind starboard tackers
Peter Ayres (blue hull) and Mike Codd. Geoff Edwards (behind Mike) is
having so much fun that he's decided to tack yet again!! ... |
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| Things could be worse
for Nick Seraphinoff and Joe Blackmore - they could be where the
Gumleys are in 4610!! ... |
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| Sink the Pink
appears rather sunk here. ... |
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| And now, as a special
treat and reward for your long-suffering efforts to get round the
windward marks, you'll have a nice, exhilarating spinnaker reach! ... |
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| Chris Purtle (3664)
and Geoff Edwards start their "run" at long last, while John Dowling (8322) and Dave Platt continue their quest for the mark. ... |
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| Liz Feibusch in Ten
Grand, and Jeff Cox (661) round onto the run together with Doug
Netherton close astern. ... |
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| The hoist is complete. ... |
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| Having crossed Brian
Mills (4675) and Alan Hallwood (3568), Dave Hansman decides a tack is
in order. ... |
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| Richard is either
checking the upper part of his main or asking the Lord: "Why me??!!"
Michele, too, looks less than her usual cheery self. Doing poorly in
good sailing weather is one thing, but in this weather, I think they
really need a beer!! ... |
Other race 2 series
bests not already mentioned were recorded by:
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