Lido 14 Champs Tune Up Clinic & Regatta

Hosted by Balboa Yacht Club

August 11 & 12, 2007

Saturday Report by Len Bose

A 7-9 Knot westerly with hot August temperatures produced clear skies and a bead of sweet on most competitors brows while participating in BYC Clinic & Tune up event this weekend.

Our coach for this event was John Papadopoulos and like anything John does everything was precise, accurate and on the spot.  We started Saturday with 20 people showing up for the two hour chalk talk followed three hours of on the water drills and racing.  Missing most of the chalk talk, I helped remove sea lions from a customers boat, subjects of boat tuning, tactics, and the Chairman of the Championships discussing the course location.  After lunch break we hit the water at “M” mark for a number of one minute starting drills with four or five practice races.  My crew Dina Corsi had a look of concern after each start we were over early Dina commented, “Maybe we should try to start in the middle of the line?” Me being manly, and all, thought ‘what the hell does she know?’ I will give you one guess were we started most of the time on Sunday and it worked well - the middle of the line!  Ross Nemeroff from Alamitos Bay, sailing with his son, sailed very well and showed great speed.  Tracey Kenny from the Marina del Rey fleet was out practicing drills and also showing some great speed.  It was looking like Sundays race was going to be good.

Sunday Report by Len Bose

Seventeen boats were on the starting line, in the turning basin, with their game faces on.  We had good breeze, a weather mark with an offset mark and leeward gate, just what we expect for the championships.  For most of the fleet the racing was very close.  For Anne and Kurt Wiese it looked easy although they had to work for it a little.  Five points only separated 2nd to 8th place. Good starts and cleaning sailing is what’s going to keep you at the top of your fleet, DUH!.  Some quotes from the water…Steve Mueller to me on race three at the first weather mark “Its two circles today Len not one”.  From Kim McRae to crew Judi Gorski after being over early on the first start and going back, then tacking to close to someone a doing TWO circles.“  Well I am glad we got that over with” to Tracey Kenney letting out a loud ‘HaaWhooooo!’ after finishing third in the last race.

After the racing was over everyone headed back to BYC for post race reflections, refreshments, Pu-pus and trophies.  The best quotes came from the table of Kurt Wiese and Chris Nesbit going over some rule incidents using popcorn trays for boats. “OK, I am this tray and I have to duck this tray.” Golden DUCKS were given out as trophies along with some outstanding Belgian Beer for the top finishers.  Thanks were given to Stephanie and John for the coaching and race committee work and I have to think the event was a success for everyone who participated.

Lessons leaned on my boat! Don’t get into any email banter/trash talking with another competitor before an event, keep your head up and watch were you are going while rounding the weather mark and pulling up the center board, while approaching the leeward mark in the middle of the fleet put down your center board early so its easier to avoid the leaders coming at you to weather.

Thanks again to everyone that made it out to our event and we will sea ya all soon!

 

 

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