2003 Cleveland Race Week

Big Big course for race #1, pretty good pin end favor at the Jet start. We're half way down the run before we can even find the committee boat let alone "the" mark (one of three)  Wind has dropped to 4-6 kts.  Stays that way the rest of the afternoon.  The Michos go alone to the left downhill and take the gun.  Ted Reshetiloff, Brown/Mallows and the Joudreys are the first to figure out 1132 has no idea where they are going and head for the finish. 

Race #2 and the fleet is hit hard by motion sickness, it is light and very lumpy.  Not a real good line by the time the Jets try and start, can not cross on port.  Big jam at the boat and you guessed it, General recall.  Go to the end of the line and start after the Fireballs, no attempt to square up the line, but we get a clean, sort of, start. Several boats are listed as over early.  Early on the McKenna's are pressing the front along sith Brown/Mallows and the Michos's.  Lochner is digging out at the top of the course.

Race # 3, more of the same wind and waves.  We get an ok start toward the Boat and take the first opportunity to try and get to the right.  Watching the boats below us now also on port, one is moving well, it's...it's.....Max Culpepper!  30 years since his last time in a Race, always seems to be positioned and moving well,  finishes plastered to the back of Brown/Mallows, and three boatlenghts behind the Michos's.  If he knocks any more rust off he is going to be very annoyng out here.  Che and his soon-to-be Hale Crew fight off severe motion sickness and battle for the lead all the way around the course.  Lochner makes another rebound at the top of the beat.

Saturday night:  Big dinner at a local Italian joint, and Max and Ginger Culpepper are going to give a presentation of past Jet high lights......Dave tells Sue to pick them up in the club parking lot and bring them with her.....Sue arrives alone......the Culpeppers appear to be missing.....not to be seen waiting in the club parking lot.   No....waiting in their car in the parking lot six feet from Sue, smiling and looking a tiny bit puzzled as she drove away. GREAT presentation and evening, enjoyed by all.  Thank you!

Sunday, no air, waiting on a thermal.......How about a one leg race while we wait?  Ok. One more and we'll call it a day.  The DeFusco's get up off the mat and drill the fleet, say something like...." we do seem to find a groove after we've taken six motion sickness pills, layered on four or five anti-motion patches and add a couple of those wriste things squeezed on like headbands"......Well, they are right, I tried it on the drive home and had a wonderful time.

Thank you to Dave and Sue for a great event and a above and beyond effort to bring an active fleet of Jets back to Cleveland.   And a sincere thank you to every one of you that came out from the east to support us.  HIghlight of the year, seeing the Culpeppers back at a Jet Regatta.  Second highlight of the year, watching Greg Koski receive his, "Best Senior Finish" award from the FJ's!?!  Next year Max will be eligible so Greg had better practice up.

                                                                                          - Marion Zaugg