This is a new challenge as my old DELL computer developed a terrible virus and I am trying to create this blog on a new APPLE MacBook Pro. It is different and quite a challenge. So far I am impressed with APPLE. Time will tell if the Spyware/Malware follows me in this happy journey away from Bill Gates.
We ran the TINKERS Line Saturday where two late arriving Vipers joined four others for a total fleet of thirty boats. Six Sonars, six J-24s, ten Rhodes 19s and two Lasers raced in individual fleet starts under PRO Rick Myers' leadership and Rebecca Bennett's cannon blasts. Assistant PRO was Alex Myers, Rick and Tracey's 11 year old Opti racer son. Mom did check-in, recording and helped with finishes. Niece Elizabeth Myers(age 10) and Alex's 9 year old sister Anne Myers kept Brad Marvin, Jim Ayer and me on our toes with questions. Jim Ayer's picture here is Anne on the left with Elizabeth. One question was, "Mr. Duff, why do you wear that blue blazer out here on a beautiful hot day like today?". My traditional answer was "breeding" which no one seems to understand. Another part is being a Texan who seldom feels the heat. Finally, I have worn a jacket since my military training in uniform beginning at age 13 during WWII.
"Chuck" Angle and Russell Wells ran the pin boat like old pros. Roger Drumm had the mark boat with three teenagers who showed him a few tricks known only to very experienced young Opti sailors. These kids were Christopher and Michael Drumm with Ian Barrows on a visit from the Virgin Islands. I met his mom who talked a little about an older brother, Thomas Barrows. He is in China racing a Laser for the USA in the Olympics. All four of these outstanding young sailors are products of Marblehead's PLEON YACHT CLUB.
Before leaving talk of the Olympics, "Chuck" Angle is traveling shortly to watch his son race n a Sonar in the para-Olympics next September. WOW!
The VIPERs had a disastrous 3rd race with three boats over at the start. All were disqualified as they failed to come back for a needed re-start. One was #55 PLAYSTATION Paul Zimmermann who had a 1st and 2nd before the DSQ. #60 noname John McCormack had a 2nd and two 3rds. #74 TUSKER Justin Scott had a 3rd, 1st and DSQ. #50 RATTLER Michael McCloskey got 1st after the 3 DSQs in the last race. #41 GERONIMO Duncan Mcintyre picked up a 2nd place.
Peter Frisch took the day for Sonars in #547 PENN PACKET with 2 firsts and a second without his regular super-helm Dru Slattery. Very well done! Larry Ehrhardt took a 1st and a 2nd in #690 RALLIE. Tyler Doyle #564 had a 3rd and a 2nd and did not finish the last race in noname. Sarah and Jon Sheldon recorded a 2nd and a 3rd in SHEARWATER #566. A 3rd each went to #362 BLUE STREAK for Miriam Jaffe/Marty Browne and for #374 PDsquared Peter DeWolfe/Bill Kauff.
J-24 #3525 VITAMIN J dominated the class with three firsts for Ted Johnson. Jeffrey Earl got a 3rd and two 2nds in #4119 USUAL SUSPECT.
The two Lasers got three minute dinghy starts with Wayne Colahan winning all four close races with noname #192032 over Adam Dubitske in ICE PLANTER #154091.
On Monday a group of us journey to Rockport Massachutts to manage a 3 day Junior Olympics Regatta. We will have our own ETO signal boat for PRO Susie Schneider, Andrea Dunn (EPYC), Rebecca Bennett(EYC-O/G) and me. I probably will be the timer since our regular Brad Marvin has another commitment. Jim Ayer will join us for Tuesday and Wednesday. John Rando will take over as PRO Tuesday afternoon when Susie rushes back to run the Betty Pleasants Memorial Women's Race.
Jim McCulley is taking Gaele's fancy motor boat for doing marks all three days. We will use regular 5 minute start sequences and run as many races per day as weather permits.
We anticipate about sixty Championship 420s with about forty Green Fleet 420s. The Lasers will be somewhere near that number. A couple hundred Optimist single hander prams will be managed by other people on other lines.
I plan a blog every night. Maybe my APPLE printer/scanner will be working for more of Jim Ayer's pictures by Monday night.
The APPLE gets better and better with a little practice. Do not forget to check the two Olympic links at the bottom of this blog! Charley Cook had a publication waiting for us when we got home from racing on Saturday.
See you all again Monday night!
