Flying Scot Midwinters Day 4 - The End

The wind graph pretty much tells the racing story, but actually, it shows a bit more breeze than I recall us experiencing. Maybe the sensor is high atop the Pier and there was better pressure up high, or they McLubed it, who knows.



For the second day in a row, I arrived to find Chuck Tanner (Sarasota Fleet Captain)diligently preparing lunch for Jeff Penfield (FS 5318) and himself out of the back of the truck. He seemed to carefully observe the growing mob of squirrels and birds who were eyeing the chow. Better to fight them off than the homeless population in the park!



The day officially started off with the last Top Gun Class for the week. The morning breeze was ESE and light and most locals were doubting we would be able to get races in before it fizzled. It looked like we would get a postponement but the AP flag was lowered at 9:55 and there was a bit of a scramble to get boats launched and underway. The warning signal was sounded promptly at 11:00 am with some boats struggling to arrive on time, or not.

The first race was underway and it was slow going, due to the light wind and apposing current. As some of us were getting near the weather mark the RC abandoned the race, the wind was fading out. Ten minutes or so after the abandonement and we were all pretty well becalmed. It sounds silly, but for us it was a good race, Pig Pen came back to life with the return to the loose rig. Not sure what, or why, but the feel was back and we were moving well again and up with the leaders for the first time this week. A big relief.

With the abandonement of the first race it was time to sit a while and wait for the sea breeze. The breeze never arrived so at about 1:30 racing was abandoned for the day and the regatta was history. Marc and Marcus Eagan earned a well deserved victory in the Champiohship Division while Greg and Diane Kampf prevailed over the 29 boat Challenger Division. Congradulations and well done!



Now, that is a serious tow boat!


Even the Photoboat.com inflatable boat pitches in to help with the group tow. That is some fine service on top of taking a million awesome pictures. Go to photoboat.com to have a look.


Our own tow operation as we approach the last Scot (not pictured) to add to the port side group.

We are off to Sarasota for their one design midwinter regatta. With this one we will have 8 race days in the last 9 days. Ouch!