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| Jameson's Irish Whiskey Kettle Cup at Lake Monroe, Florida | December 5 - 6 |
| Story |
| Seven Windmills entered the 2015 Kettle Cup regatta on Lake Monroe (Lake Monroe SC, Sanford, FL) December 5-6. Unfortunately, last minute problems kept the Penders in Maryland but we look forward to their continuing and increasing participation in Windmill events. Thus 6 boats gathered Friday/Sat AM ready for the races.
Saturday found very strong winds (20+) and significant difficulties just getting out to the race course, but all Windmills eventually navigated the problems and appeared in the race area. As the committee attempted to set a course, the first setback was that one safety boat, after securing a gate mark in the 7-8 foot deep lake, got the anchor line fouled around their propeller and eventually capsized and turtled trying to get free! It's not a good omen when a safety boat is upside down! Even worse for the Windmill was a fast Catamaran in our starting area (racing handicap on the other course). When this boat was on a collision course with Colin Browning, Colin altered course to avoid a collision, whereupon the Catamaran altered course and T-boned Colin & Eric while moving at high speed. Both were knocked into the water (no injury) and the rail, deck and interior side of "Bella" suffered damage that made it unsafe to race the boat. Colin & Eric made it in but were unable to race on Sunday (Colin did get out on RC boat and took photos). This led to RC abandoning racing for the day on our course--without ever having set a course. Allen & Sarah planed "down" the Lake while Ralph & Sandy went the other way. All eventually came in for plenty of on-shore time and hot showers before the regatta dinner. With 0 races, everyone was tied for 1st! Windmillers had a great time at the dinner, highlighted by success in the raffle where Jake Fath won a bottle of Jameson Irish Whisky and Sarah Steward won a brand new guitar! Sunday AM found winds in the 12-14 range with challenging waves but none of the overwhelming wind strength & puffs of Saturday. The Committee ran off 5 races, all WLWL with a small gate at the end of the first run. The first race found Lisa & Jake Fath (4028) having to turn around to avoid OCS while the others made clean starts. The four lead boats arrived at the weather mark very close together and remained that way on the run. On the second beat, Dave Ellis & Rye Heastings (5527)worked out a lead which they held to the finish. Lon & Meg (5070) took second just ahead of Ralph & Sandy (5060) with Allen & Sarah (5586) close astern. The second race was equally tight although Lisa & Jake made up for their first race start by taking the lead at the weather mark. Only on the second lap were Lon & Meg able to catch them and go on to win. Dave & Rye were just a bit back, but managed to hold off Allen & Sarah by 1/2 boat length for 3rd with the Sponars 5th. The third race was again very close but Allen & Sarah used an excellent start and good speed in clear air to round 1st. Eventually Dave & Rye got by them on the second weather leg, aided by a starboard tack Mutineer on its first lap. As close as things were, Lon & Meg dropped in between 5527 and 5586 while the Sponars closed the gap. The run to the finish was very close and ended with Colin Browning taking a video which showed Dave/Rye beating Lon/Meg by a second, followed closely by Allen/Sarah & Ralph Sandy. The total time between 1st and 4th in this race was 11 seconds! Lisa & Jake followed not far behind. The fourth race was again very tight going up the 2nd weather leg but Lisa/Jake and Ralph/Sandy found a shift and good breeze to the left. Lisa looked to have the race won as she came in on a long port tack but the jib tack and halyard fittings both failed, leaving the jib on the deck and leading to a capsize. This left the Sponars with the lead around the mark; Allen & Sarah picked up a great lift on their starboard approach to the mark to turn right behind Dave & Rye and ahead of Lon/Meg. The Sponars lost some distance but retained enough of their lead to win "easily" while Dave/Rye just edged Allen/Sarah. Lisa and Jake did well to get the boat back together and finish 5th, still lacking a jib! Jake then did an astonishing repair job which allowed them to put the jib back into action for the 5th and final race. Within the final minute of the 5th start, Allen turned B&B toward the line and somehow capsized when he thought sails were luffing! Instant action by Sarah leaping onto the board and then back in as the boat righted, followed by pulling Allen in allowed B&B to start and finish the race but of course well astern. The other 4 boats were very closely matched but Dave & Rye cemented regatta win by finishing ahead of Lon & Meg with Ralph & Sandy taking 3rd for both the race and the regatta. A fascinating venue with great comradeship and several unusual events--certainly hope to keep this regatta on the Windmill schedule for 2016! Congrats to Dave & Rye for their win in such a competitive fleet! All 5 boats led at some mark(s) in some of the races! |
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