Late Breeze Carries Maniac to a First

After an hour and a half postponement waiting for breeze, the thermal finally filled at 9 pm and a one lap race was on. Blew By U, Joyride and B4G all started near the RC, with Maniac tacking to starboard at the gun about two thirds of the way down the line. B4G, with a little better speed, rolled over Blew By U within a few boat lengths, and then ducked Joyride after a few minutes of sailing, to head north in what looked like stronger breeze. Meanwhile, Maniac held on port tack, favoring the south side of the bay.

At the all-important first crossing, Maniac had the fleet by four or five lengths. Apparently the breeze was not stronger on the north side! Maniac then began to sail conservatively, staying in the middle of the course and covering any threatening boats to the weather mark.

At the rounding, it was Maniac, Joyride, B4G, Blew By U, Ariana and Prost. Maniac continued to cover from ahead by holding low until it was apparent which side Joyride and B4G were going to choose. Joyride went south and B4G north. Two thirds of the way down the run, Maniac had a secure four length lead over B4G and Joyride, who were even. At the rounding, Maniac headed north, B4G was inside Joyride and got away to the south, to attempt an attack on Maniac. Maniac covered B4G the remainder of the leg. Meanwhile, Blew By U began an attack on Joyride and overtook her when Joyride failed to cover with about a third of a leg to go to the finish.

Keys to the race were reading the wind, both strength and direction, and covering when leading, or attacking when behind. It turned out that the pressure was not as evident on the surface of the water as it usually is. B4G may have tuned down their rig too much. Late filling thermals are usually rather weak, so B4G was set up at 20,15. It appeared that Maniac had better speed and height all night. Nice race Maniac!

B4G Gets a Bullet in 2nd POETS of 2008

The classic thermal arrived a bit early on Friday night, offering breeze in the 10 knot range, and flat water sailing. RC Scott had the course square and racing was on shortly after the breeze arrived. Once again the fleet wanted the boat end of the line, with Joyride arriving a bit early (causing an X flag from the RC) directly in front of Blew By U, B4G to leeward of Blew By U, and Maniac about a boat length behind. Maniac tacked right after clearing the boat, while the other three carried out on starboard. Eventually Blew By U tacked over, crossing Maniac, leaving Joyride to weather of B4G. About ten lengths from the port layline, Joyride tacked over and opened the door for B4G to tack for the mark at the layline.

B4G set and motored down the course, favoring the south side of the bay until about half way back to the start line, when they jibed back to the middle to keep in touch with the fleet. With the mark set way out in the middle of the lake, it gave some opportunity for some passing lanes, and Maniac took advantage to pass Blew By U, as well as Blew By U on the second run getting by the OCS Joyride, with a tight rounding.

Keys to the night were speed and position at the start, setting up for flat water in moderate breeze (B4G was at 24,21) and flat sails and working the boat upwind (driving a scallop course to weather) and roll tacking as much as possible. Driving downwind, the key was good communication between driver and trimmer to head up a bit in the light spots and go low in the good pressure and to steer the boat with crew weight rather than the rudder as much as possible.

After racing the party was on at Dennis Hatton's place with John Dunnigan providing the entertainment.

B4G Takes First Bullet of 2008 Del's Series

Puffy winds from the SSW greeted the J24 fleet for the first race of the 2008 Tuesday night Del's series. It appeared that the breeze was coming straight down the course, but the puffs were coming more from the north (gravel pit) so crowding at the committee boat end of the starting line was expected. Sure enough, Blew by U, Maniac and B4G all fought for the boat, with Blew by U closest, B4G just to leeward and Maniac about a boat length behind. Maniac tacked right over to head north for the puffs, and B4G tacked to cover after clearing ahead of Blew by U. In the first big gust, Joyride, which started in the middle of the line had some excitement when they rounded up in the puff and then backwinded the genoa to lay the boat over in a sort of pirouette. Most of the Joyride crew went in the water - but recovered to carry on.

Up at the weather mark, it was B4G first, Blew by U second and Maniac right on their heels. Maniac got by Blew by U when they jibed back north, while Blew by U favored the south side of the bay. Joyride lost their jib halyard up the mast due to a bad knot and called it a night. Ariana also carried south on the run.

After remembering the course, B4G rounded the correct leeward this time and covered Maniac to the finish. Keys to success this evening were starting with speed, easing sheets in the puffs to let the boat squirt forward, keeping the boat as flat as possible (pinching in the flat water , moderate breeze) and connecting the puffs downwind.

Maniac Takes First Bullet in 2008 POETS

Friday the 13th - now I know why our luck ran out on the racecourse last night. The first night of the POETS series (Piss On Everything, Tomorrow is Saturday) was held on a short, SW/NE course, with the wind in the single digits, but puffs coming from the SW as high as 20 knots.Maniac won the start, and B4G started to leeward and behind, not exactly a position of strength. Maniac covered B4G to the weather mark as B4G fought to get out of the cover, tacking toward each new puff. B4G rounded directly on Maniac's stern. Maniac cut it a bit short and hit the mark, which was the break B4G needed. B4G was finally free and ran down, trying to connect the puffs together. There was a bit of excitement when Brian and Terri on their new to them Joyride, got into a death roll and went down to leeward in one of the big puffs. They had a good recovery, but only after Brian took one on the head for the team. B4G had a good douse and headed back to weather, putting a loose cover on Blew by U and Maniac.Back at the weather mark, B4G got away with a few lengths to spare and headed back to leeward. B4G moved left to catch a puff, and be inside at the mark. Oops! B4G forgot that the start pin was the new short leeward and had to douse and sail back up to it, giving Maniac the opportunity to slip in there before them! B4G was now in the same position relative to Maniac as the start. Not exactly a position of strength! A bit of a tacking duel ensued. It's always easier to attack than defend, and B4G made gains on each move. According to the RC, Scott, B4G finished 2 inches behind Maniac. Keys to success last night were: rig tune - set up for the lulls, B4G was at 24,21, boat handling, driving in puffy conditions - keeping the boat as flat as possible and easing sheets in the puffs to let the boat squirt forward as opposed to lay over on its side and go sideways, connecting the puffs as much as possible to stay in the bigger breeze and covering as much as practicle when ahead because you never really knew where the next puff was going to come from. Good job Maniac on all the above. I hope there are no more Friday the 13th's this season!

2008 Racing Schedule

Racing is to commence June 10 with Dels and June 13 for POETS at North Flathead YC. This year we expect to have enough boats on the line to be scored one design. We will start with "B" fleet, but be scored seperately.

The Fleet 25 Championships will be part of Montana Cup, scheduled for August 1-3. Sail Montana is gifting a new half-hull perpetual trophy for the Fleet Championships.

Other events of interest in the area:

• J Fest - Seattle 6/14-15


• Canadian Nationals - Vancouver, BC 6/21-22
• Fleet 25 Championships - North Flathead YC, Somers, Montana 8/1-3


• Western Regionals - Columbia Gorge, 8/1-3


• Labor Day Regatta - Dayton, Montana 8/31 - 9/1


• North American Championships - Wayzata, MN 9/8-12


• District 19 Championships - Seattle, WA 10/4-5