Sept. 18-19
You must have often wondered what it would have beeen like in old
Russia to race a Jet 14 against Ivan the Terrible? "Terrible," you ask.
"Terrible," I answer, even if Ivan were in his dotage. But also terrifyingly
exhilarating, not to say wet, I would imagine. How terrifying, how
wet, you can envisage from these average wind and gust velocities off
Annapolis:
Time (EDT) |
WDIR |
WSPD (kt) |
GUST (kt) |
7:00 am |
S |
14 |
15 |
8:00 am |
NNW |
15 |
17 |
9:00 am |
N |
25 |
28 |
10:00 am |
N |
27 |
32 |
11:00 am |
N |
29 |
35 |
12:00 pm |
N |
26 |
31 |
1:00 pm |
N |
32 |
39 |
2:00 pm |
N |
33 |
36 |
The first gun for the Jets, Flying Scots, and Lasers was schedule for
1100. Crafty old Ivan had lulled us into overconfidence with those
gentle whispering winds whistling in the rigging in the early hours before the
race. Ivan began to snarl a bit, but it was ignored by a fleet caught
up in enjoying a sense of blissful well being. A sense so great that the
participants and the race committee agreed to enjoy it and delay the
start to around noon.
Eleven Lasers launched, including a large contingent from the Naval
Academy intent on upholding the Navy's traditional willingness to "go
in harms way." All but one Scott had wisely decided to enjoy the moment
at home, and he did not want to risk a DNF. Six Jets had answered the
morning roll call. Four answered the call to duty .... the two Kennedy
boats opted for a form of sick leave. (You see why I speak of
"imagining" conditions in the first paragraph.) The only crew with a history of
real sea duty and actually sailing in harms way, Mac and Frank eventually
decided Jet scantlings fell a little short of battleship standards, and
that their experience rated at least command of a cruiser in the
conditions, so turned around before reaching the course. Randy had
recently read the book, "Gentlemen Never Sail to Windward," and didn't
try, deciding that it was better to show a new crew how exciting it was
planing back and forth in front of the club house with spray flying up to the
spreaders rather than have him experience the traumatic satisfaction of
recovering from a turtled position at the jibe mark.
That left Parramore and Reshetiloff to do battle against each other and
Ivan. I don't really know the origins of Ted's family name, but from
reading "War and Peace," it sounds Russian to me. He is a sensible
fellow, so perhaps his inclination towards violence grows out of a desire to
revenge some ancient atrocity Czar Ivan committed against the
Reshetiloff's, perhaps the dastardly pillaging of the family vodka
stock. How he convinced Pete Appell to participate in this vendetta, I
don't know. As for Michael, all I can figure that guided him was a
desire to try out new transom bailers and to demonstrate by Laurie's agile
competence how critical crew work is to survival in heavy air.
From this point on I could only from time to time when the mist parted
a lot of Lasers popping up and down in the gusts. So I turn you over to
our one-race regatta winner, Michael for the battle particulars:
==========
While Mr. Kennedy's assumptions were well spirited regarding dodging
another hurricane this year for the Konigsberg, (last year, this
regatta got cancelled due to Isabel) I dare say that Ivan was very much with us
when Saturday morning dawned to 30 plus knots out of the north and
rain.
Not to be deterred by said distractions, 6 boats showed up to
race with 4 heading out to the course. by the start of the first race, Gobi,
a wood boat with bags (NOT TANKS) flipped and managed to right and start
(with the help of the largest holes caved in the transom allowed by the
class) while guessing at the time the flag would come down with Ted
Reshetiloff and Pete Appell in #1149. While #1149 was going quite
lovely on starboard on the left side of the course , "Gobi" obviously not
having enough of the pressure continued out to the right for more of it. This
resulted in both boats showing up at the windward mark at the same time
with "Sam Mcgee" inside. Sam successfully held off "Gobi" until the
leeward mark when both boats got hit by a Oh,.. 27 knot gust at which
both boats looked at the mark and were reminded that it was time to GYBE.
"Sam" did so and turtled, #544 did so and did not. Laurie, as usual, was the
one most responsible for keeping Gobi upright. Both boats completed the
race, at which time "Gobi" asked "Sam" if they would like another. They
replied "yes," but after getting hit by another 27 knotter,"Sam" retracted
their statement, at which time both boats retired and had a wonderful ride
back to the dock.
At which time "Sam" Keeping with tradition started by DK at
the Annual, capsized the boat again "to get the mud off the main." All
crews adjourned to the clubhouse in which we partook of bourbon soaked beef
and beverages and hung the new Irey half model on the wall.
Along about 7:30 pm, Mr Schwenk called to inquire as to
whether any Jets sailed and was quite surprised to find out we had, to inform
us that he had the hottie crew of his law partner's at nationals, and to
find out how many points he would need to defend the cup on Sunday. I
inquired about his pre-regatta announcement that he was re-christening his ride
but was rebuffed for now.
[Editor's note: Dirk's wisdom in staying home was based on sound
weather forecasting and expectations (however much flying in the face of
reality) that Jet sailors might tend toward the rational. I probably encouraged
him in that misconception by calling him before the regatta to get the
exact wording of Jet guidelines for starting races in high winds. His
reply: "The Race Committee will not start a race if there are
sustained winds or repetitive gusts of 20 knots or above. Determination of wind
speed shall be at the discretion of the Race Committee. Safety
first!." What better advice could you hope for from a marine ambulance
chaser? But the enthusiasm of the moment and an unfounded expectation
and hope for moderating conditions prevailed until ordered thought
processes took command.]
Sunday did dawn with more of the same, [But with the addition of
small-craft warnings, although winds dropped to near 10 in the late
afternoon. Ed.] Max Reshetiloff was sick so "Sammy" was out. That left
MacMurray and Gobi, and then along rolls Mentesana... we all agreed to
cancel.
So, MacMurray got third for showing up both days and Bruns got the
president's trophy for making it out the course the first day but
because he did not show the second day, He now has been demoted to President 's
division and will receive the trophies to honor such demotion.
Regretfully,.. "Gobi" has also had to renew his membership in the
FNBRMB* as a result of this regatta... I do not believe Ivan's name is going on
this trophy...
Many thanks to Dick Kennedy for putting on the event..
Michael
*Founding Members of the Noble Brotherhood of Recovering Mast Benders
Pictures (None yet)
|
Race |
Capsizes |
|
|||
Place |
Sail |
Skipper |
Crew |
1 |
|
Total |
1 |
544 |
M. Parramore |
L. Parramore |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1149 |
T. Reshetiloff |
P. Appell |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Results Posted 9/29/04
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