2006 Cleveland Race Week

Edgewater Yacht Club, Cleveland OH

June 17-18

We enjoyed a great regatta at Cleveland this year.  The weather was hot but the near perfect wind made it hardly noticeable.  It is amazing what sailors will put up with comfort wise as long as there is a good sailing breeze and good friendly competition.

The Jet fleet was 10 strong as were the Highlander and Ensign fleets with whom we shared our course.  We are happy to report that attendance at this regatta as well as other Ohio events is showing steady growth.  Had three or four other very active Jet owners/sailors not had immovable conflicts we would have done even better.  Hearing the enthusiasm of the newest crews after the racing both days tells the tail I think.

Everyone was treated to some very good racing.  Saturday had winds from 5 to 10 knots in an offshore weather system breeze that fought a little with a thermal(Chris is probably grinding his teeth about now) anyway for whatever reason we had some serious shifts.  In the fourth race on the first beat, Carol and I tacked in a big puff rolling in from the right and somehow ended up going backwards at 2 knots in irons.  What is so odd about Zaugg doing that you ask.....well not much I guess......but it was shifty.

The fleet was tight almost every race with three different boats winning a race.  The course was twice around windward/leeward so that each class could start almost as soon as the last boat in class finished.  I wish I had the chance to see the committee on shore to personally thank them.  They were excellent.  They set great courses, were friendly and courteous at all times and keep things moving right along.

In Race One Nate Ireland with Ben Stock as crew really led wire to wire.  Dave and Sue, and Carol and I stayed close and even stuck our noses ahead of them by inches once or twice but by the end they were just sailing away.

Race Two we little Jets discovered the need to keep track of the Highlanders and Ensigns up wind and down, they cast big a– wind shadow and three or more of them together....well literally, let’s not go there.  Young Mike Gemperline who has been working hard at his sailing with his dad John on board as crew really is getting fast and fought for a top spot all around the course. 

Race Three had the lightest air of the day. That suited some of the lighter crews and boats that were not as well set up for more air, like Joy Shipman and Abby Rowlands in a borowed boat that was, shall we say hardware and sail challenged.  But in the light air the boat was more competitive and the girls were just boatlengths back of the leaders at the finish.

In the last race on Saturday the wind freshened.  The fleet started and stayed close and at the finish we seemed to be grouped in pairs and glued to one another, unable to break free or close the gap.  It seemed the whole fleet finish overlapped with somebody.  Carol and I sailed the whole run to the finish less than one boat-length from Dave and Sue after rounding the last mark half a boat-length behind.  Mike Gemperline and John were really moving well and just squeezed by Ivan Baker and Matt Scantland who themselves just got past Nate and Ben.

That was it for the day.  On shore there were hot dogs, drinks, a band, and most important lots of enthusiasm.

Sunday’s weather forecast was cause for some concern.  A building breeze into the 30 knot range and a possibility of storms.  But that was for latter, we decided, and out we went in about 12-15 knots out of the south.  By the start it was18 and appeared to be going up. Things can get a little demanding in 18 knots and 2ft.+  waves in a Jet on a starting line and if you’re new to the boat and Class and don’t really want to hit anything or anybody, in particular a pretty wood boat and you bear away to miss one onto a plane and then the gun goes off and another boat simply appears inches in front of you.......what do you do?  Class newcomers Gary Morris and Jessica Schroeder of EWYC had just a split second to decide and oddly took two completely different courses. Gary used the time tested...”Feet don’t fail me now!” approach and jumped out or somehow ended up in the lake.  Jessica preferred the ...”I know nothing, I see nothing, I hear nothing...” and just trimmed the jib a sailed off.  A nearby Highlander summed the situation up as...” that can’t be right...”  sailed over, had a member of their crew jump into the water, board the wayward Jet and help return it to the Helmsman.  Bravo! Everyone!

Meanwhile, up the course it was nose to nose racing.  #1132 was out of the gate first but got rolled by #217 and then passed by #1134.  At the top mark we rounded that way one, two, three and set off on the run.  Carol can get excited in heavy air, so first she somehow tore the turning blocks and cleat out of my Spinnaker halyard  set up and while I contemplated  that, broke the halyard itself.   Maybe we should study this in at the dock.  Back on the race course it was a dilly. #217 led back up the second  beat just inches ahead of Nate and Ben.  The boys finally caught a little shift and squeeze by but are on the left side at the mark and have to duck.   It’s a wild run in 20+ knots to the finish.  These two boats are just inches apart.  #443 and #665 round together about 20 lenghts back.  Matt Scantland wonders out loud if there is any merit in setting the chute this far behind the leaders.....Ivan....”where’s the pole”?  Mike Gemperline sees that chute go up and up goes theirs.   Cliff Peshek and Katy Novak are just entering  their wind  zone so theirs is up, and so it goes for the entire fleet. 

There are puffs and there are puffs, some last a moment and some last longer.  Nate and Ben are all over #217 but Dave and Sue just won’t leave an opening.  The fleet is far enough back that it is total concentration on the finish.  Then, with just boat lengths to go, what is that funny sound???   It is Ivan and Matt with a bow wave that Ben described as...”Moby like” just a couple lengths back and CLOSING. #665 was right behind them and the board was vibrating so much the boat shook...nope...it is not the centerboard, it’s Mikes knees shaking!  Bridget and Joe are both sitting on #180's transom trying to keep her from submarining.  Scott Sander and Jerr Sanders in # 1147 rode their wild plane right into the deep.  What a finish!  Ivan Baker said, “ I’ve never gone that fast in a sailboat...I think I pee-peed my pants!”  Dave and Sue saved their best race for last and won the race and regatta.

The Jets did OK.  At about the same time on another course three or four Lightenings and four J22s capsized.  Everyone got back in fine and no real breakdowns.

We all had a blast.  Thanks to Dave and Sue for all their hard work building their fleet and making the weekend possible.  Thank’s to Joy for making the long trip again and introducing another terrific young person to the Class. Nothing makes a regatta ending feel better than to hear everyone and I mean everyone making plans for the next Jet-14 regatta.

Pictures

Results Posted 6/22/06

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