FL District Championship - Charlotte Harbor 2013

We continue the 2012 - 2013 FL District Championship with a stop in Charlotte Harbor where the newest FL fleet continues slow, steady growth. We had a nice looking forecast that included temps in the 80's so all we needed was a little bit of wind for a perfect weekend.

With the close of registration we had 21 entries which may be a new high for this event. The crowd left the harbor in a solid ESE breeze that included some white caps in the puffs. The RC set a fairly long WL course, twice around and we were off. The sailing was nice but pretty shifty especially up near the weather mark. Big gains and losses were the norm, make a mistake and pay big time. The breeze held up all afternoon and by about 3:00pm we had three races in and were heading back to the club.

The Lintons were sitting on a nice little lead and were being chased by Zeke Horowitz who just bought a Scot a couple weeks ago. I don't have results but I'm fairly sure Jim Egan was a close third. After that there were a bunch of us giving it our best shot and enjoying a perfect day of sailing.

Saturday night included a nice dinner and and the viewing of some NFL playoff games. Can anyone believe how Denver gave that one away? Holy crap!

Sunday morning was nice again, warm and a nice Easterly. For a little while. During the first race it pretty well fizzled out to nothing at times and very little the rest of the time. Let's see, the race started at 10:30 and by about 10:35 the first beer was required, so there you go. RC shortened course to 3 legs or the time limit would have come into play. Only 8 boats finished within 20 minutes of the leader so the other time limit did come in to play. TLE's were scored 2 more than the last finisher so a mess of boats received a 10 for that race. Fortuitous for some.

We loitered a bit while the sea breeze tried to fill in from the west. With a patchy light westerly a race was started and the memories of the drift-a-thon we just had last month in Jacksonville were going strong. UGH! Similar current as well, which had us a little surprised. The course is way up the bay, fairly close to where it becomes a river but the flood current is still very strong.

Jeff and Zeke were having a good go of it and either could have won the regatta depending on the others score. Jeff pulled a little come from behind thing and took the race and regatta by four or five points, overcoming a small beer emergency. There were another bunch of TLE's who could not manage the 20 minute rule, and so it goes. Zeke ended up second and Jim Egan third, nice job to all. Also many thanks to Martin and the volunteers at the club.

Go to Lake Eustis Feb. 16 and 17 and bring your Scot.

I will add some results here when available.

Results;

Gator Bowl 2012

Friday, Nov 30...Travel day
Left home a little later than scheduled, due to more work at the hospital for Kim. We did make it on the road by 10:45, though, only to discover the book we had started on the last road trip was still at home. Crap! Tragedy strikes as we will not be able to keep up with Serge's new adventures as he blog his way through Florida in Tim Dorsey's book, Nuclear Jellyfish. Fortuately, have some backups to chose from, we read halfway through Janet Evanovich's Notorious 19.

3:30 At the Rudder Club, and it's sunny with some nice breeze but sadly, we arrived too late to join in on some tuning up. The forecast looks good for tomorrow, 10-12 mph and partly sunny.

Dec. 1, Saturday
Early morning, warm, sun breaking through the clouds, Kim enjoyed a little pre-race run and things were going smoothly as we set up the boat.

As boats were being launched, the wind and chop was increasing and a boat decided not to behave on the dock. It broke free and was headed precariously toward the bridge as the wind and current pushed it in that direction. Todd sped into action, starting a mark boat and rescuing the Scot.

The wind decreased as we approached the racing area, and ultimately died as the starting time approached. This was not at all what we expected from the predictions from all weather websites. Did I mention we were rained on several times, too? Mostly, a thick mist, but enough to make everything wet.

Dinner was fantastic and we watched the SEC Championship Game, so all was not lost.
We'll see if the weather websites are on target for tomorrow. So far, at 10:00 am, the wind is supposed to be E at 8 mph, and by 1:00, 10mph, and party sunny. Hope so!

Sunday, at least it was sunny and warm. We started a race in what might have been two knots of breeze. Not too surprising since we had been skunked on Saturday sop we make the best of it. It was a slow torturous affair and the 90 minute time limit looked to be in play. As the leaders began to close in the weather mark a powerboat raced to the scene and quickly dropped a hook and signaled shorten course, three legs. I think there were three minutes or so remaining when the Lintons crossed the line in first.

The next race, UGH!!! was started in about 5 or 6 knots which appeared quickly and disappeared as quickly. Soon it was back to 2 knots and torture. I guess it was good that the current was helping on the runs downwind. The Lintons prevailed again for a sweep of the 2 race regatta. The cream rises to the top as they say. Ryan Malmgren had 2 seconds for a fine showing as well.

Wally will be staying in Florida again this year.

The next district race will be January 12 and 13 in Port Charlotte. Out.