2006 Spring Thaw

Kerr Lake, Henderson NC

April 24-25

Spring Thaw '06, in temporary exile from customary digs on Lake Norman, 
took place April 22-23 on Kerr Lake near the NC/VA line.  The host club 
was Carolina Sailing Club, in its first summer race weekend.  Jets were out 
among Thistles, Lightnings, Scots, Tanzer 16s, Isotope Cats, and a 470.

Our 8-Jet scratch sheet shrank to 4 boats, alas, in the run-up to race 
day.  It turned out to be an Ohio/Carolina event: Dave & Sue Michos in 
217, Marion & Carol Zaugg in 1132, Tom Grace and Paula Pacheco in 717, and 
Dan Albert and me in 962.

Weekend temperatures, air and water, were comfortable.  Unfortunately a 
front came through Saturday with some lightning just as we were headed 
out on the course, and we wound up canceling races for the day.  Sunday's 
weather was much nicer, with winds building toward 10 knots through 
three races.  The Zauggs won the longer first race, on a modified Olympic 
course, and the Michoses won the second two, on windward-leeward courses.  Dan 
and I were, as usual, too far back to see the leaders jockeying.  RC work 
was excellent.

Saturday afternoon, after a Club social and snacks in the "Glass 
House," Jetters reconvened under a picnic shelter on a nearby peninsula, at the 
camp area where several of us stayed Friday and Saturday nights.  We 
grilled chicken and veggies and told tales by the fire; Marion proved 
quite adept at what he later called "Ewell Gibbons" cookery.  The Michoses 
sported their spiffy SAYRA One-Design Championship jackets from 
2005.  Sunday after racing we enjoyed chile and snacks.  And all 
participants took home hardware: really nice mugs designed by Tom!

All told, this was a very nice weekend of sailing and camping.  Though 
we had some rain to cope with, there were no mosquitoes, and campers at 
least didn't have to bother with the trials of Marion and Carol's luxury 
hotel, the Cheap Scotsman (?): a mass exodus of bass fishermen at some wee 
early hour.  Nice to have Jets back again on Kerr, a lake where we have some 
history.  Though for sure, next year we look forward to returning to Lake 
Norman.

-Barry Saunders

Pictures (None yet)

Results Posted 5/1/06

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