2022 Southern Comfort Classic

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May 7-8
Asheville Sailing Club, Arden, NC

 After much time contemplating our escape from winter hibernation, all the planning paid off in getting this Jet 14 sailing season going.   Eight boats showed up for the 2022 Southern Comfort Classic. We had an evening out at one of the many local breweries (Hilmans) and enjoyed catching up with each other and a great selection of food and beer. Friday was warm and breezy on arrival and PJ was amazed at how large the lake was. Many of us set up boats and headed over for our evening of food and drink.

Before I go into the racing itself, let me thank Mia Dionne mother Karina who helped make a meal. Tyler Penningtons Mom Serina did Breakfast Sunday. Tyler made some great chocolate cupcakes. Don Read is a jet sailor who ran the race committee with the help of a few volunteers. Especially wish to thank those who put all these folks together like Lenny Wells, Paula Hennon and Chris Hennon in marketing and news before and after.

Saturday's weather was almost as rough as Fridays but much cooler at 63 degrees and NW winds of constant challenge blowing between 13-24 mph across lake Julian.   I would use the word gusts, but at times it was more like areas of the lake were at 20-24 mph and then at some points in the day the entire lake was covered with that. Yes, everyone geared up appropriately and the race committee set the course and was very optimistic this would be fun. They seemed to be pretty safe at anchor and must have liked the show!

Our first race, second windward rounding Chris got the inside rounding and Ernie and PJ the outside just a bit astern but in the kite raising effort in a higher angle that caught and took them down. First boat of the day to do so and PJ successfully got over the starboard rail to the centerboard but Ernie was in the drink. Damn those self inflating life jackets as it was tangled in the mainsheet triangle or traveler lines slowing our recovery. We managed to finish sixth still with some help of beaming bailing and bucketing. Tom and Paula found the day a bit much and headed in after the first race. Maybe some of the smarter people on the course and just safer.

The rest of Saturday's races were quite challenging with what some would later call a “survival” mode for many of us out there. Mia and Todd were out there on the club's jet 14 and seemed quite able until between races they took on quite a bit of water that required some attention so they could be ready for the next race. I believe they were ready and able soon after that and btw they were impressive in all this. Still it was quite competitive and Lenny & Teri challenged Chris and Caswell often. Lenny had many firsts Saturday until his four races where the two of them decided they wanted to go swimming too.   With Saturday ending with Chris in first place and Lenny and Ernie in second and third, Chris was analyzing weather hoping we would have to cancel Sunday's races for wind or rain. No such luck.

People were tired and hungry and dinner was a delicious barbecued chicken and pork meal that was complemented by many sides, drinks and desserts. Many people worked hard to get this all together and similarly some volunteers on RC shared many photos we got to review Sunday morning at the clubhouse breakfast. Yes, we too went home and felt a need to take some pain relievers for the sake of a decent night's sleep with hopes of dreaming of a better tomorrow with lighter air. I should have done the meds as I tossed and turned with much need of ranging and stretching all those mm and joints.

So I said a tail of two days, well I meant it. Sunday was so different. Maybe not in the temperature, but certainly the winds were much lighter. We layered up and got out there with intentions of three races because we cared so much to get that infamous throwout once we got to seven. Everyone was present all through these next three races and it was much different in the results as this day finished. Our first race was the lightest with the wind shifting a bit throughout and starting upwind but then ending in opposing directions we ended up finishing the same courses starting line sailing downwind with a broad reaching kite. Ernie and PJ won this race with some good decisions, but there were plenty of contenders on this one chewing on the lead and Lenny even had it for a bit till the last leg.

Stewart was on his own on Sunday and in the lighter air he made some nice gains on his efforts on Saturday. Keeping it simple with jib and main only he had his moments of focus. Bruce too put his Banana Yellow Jet through all or most of this and likely had much more ease putting the kite up on Sunday too.   Paula and Eric were shaking it up in the middle of this regatta working hard to give others both advice (Tyler and Mia) and to be the contender she is. In fact Chris fouled Paula in one of the races and had to do his 720 prior to finishing messing with that race's score. The next three races were more of a clean sweep for Ernie and PJ with very good starts and some good sailing tactics. PJ was able to help Ernie dust off last year's sailing skills and get them going for the season with many helpful suggestions. All this said the ability to drop the worst score and the tail of two different wind days managed to move several boats positions around and now you know the rest of the story.

Good people, a great event, and much hospitality - maybe next year we will see you there too!

Ernie Michaud

Photos 

Results:

 (* = junior)