The Carlisle regatta was a very good experience. Both days were
blustery though winds were a touch milder on sunday. Still breezy and
shifty with plenty of capsizes, 180 degrees wind shifts, groundings,
etc.
We had Dan Fontaine, Craig Carlson, Colin Browning, Joel with the Sea
Scout’s ship and me.
Craig sailed a great first day as the results appended show. He could
not sail on sunday. Dan was great as well. Colin came in third and he
also sailed very well though I know that the winds were very trying
for him and his light crew. Winds were trying for me as well and we
were not a light crew at all.
Joel and I had a capsize competition and I think I beat him on that
department so the honors for shrimping should go to Lady Lane.
There was some carnage as well...Joel broke a spreader. I lost my one
week old wind indicator...this capsizing business has to end, enough
already. I also busted the boom close to the goose neck area...when I
got the boat, there was a crack in it already...the stress of the
capsizes plus the vang tension made that area buckle and if not for
Colin's great repair job on saturday night, I could not have raced on
sunday. Thanks a lot Colin!! Now my boom has that Frankenstein look
that intimidates the fleet so much ha ha ha. Dan’s boat also suffered
from the collage of parts that had been exchanged from his boat into
the Sea Scout’s boat and the efforts of Dan to slowly put his boat
back together, he could have been even more competitive had his boat
remained “whole” as he used to have her…but, it was a labor of love
and dedication on Dan’s part.
We all had fun and for Colin, Joel and myself it certainly was a
learning experience. Camaraderie was built.
We need to get Super Dave Ellis a boat.
More items of notice are the fact that the Windmill Fleet was well
represented and competitive. The Sea Scout’s Ship skippered by Joel
was fast and it showed how much the Sea Scouts worked to get it ship
shape. The Sea Scout boat restoration was just completed the week of
the regatta so they had only taken the boat out a couple of times
beforehand. But somehow they were amazingly often close to the front
and/or leading in when disaster would strike, and then over they
went. Thanks to Joel, Dan and the sponsoring kindness of the Boca
Ciega YC, the Sea Scouts have a Windmill named Dingbat and a home to
sail her from. These kids learn so many valuable lessons being
exposed to the Sea Scouts principles and to mentors such as Dan and
Joel. The Windmill Class is having a positive effect in the
community…one boat at a time. And the WIndmill racing is designed to
help them to learn the hard work, dedication and determination it
takes to be successful. That competitiveness is an important virtue
as long as one behaves in a fair and sportsmanlike manner.
Here are the results.......be well.......Antolin on Lady Lane hull
4922
Clearwater Community Sailing Center
Carlisle Classic Windmill
November 14-15, 2008
Windmill Class Series Summary, Preliminary
Pl Sail Crew From 1 2 3 4 5 6 T
1 4400 Daniel Fontaine & Selina Fontaine BCYC (6\DNC) 2 2 1 1 2 8
2 4481 Colin Browning & Janell Browning Windmills 2 (5) 3 2 3 1 11
3 5000 Craig Carlson & Jason Browning Windmill Class Assoc 1 1 1
(6\DNC) 6\DNC 6\DNC 15
4 2933 Antolin Rivera & Nicki Velentini DIYC 3 (4) 4 3 2 3 15
5 4886 Joel Heyne & Krista Chapen BCYC (6\DNF) 3 5 4 4 6\DNF 22
