Corinthian News: June 1999

Flying Circus Captures Lead in Racing Series

The first race day of the 1999 season was reminiscent of 1998 in that Flying Circus and Spirit battled for the honors in the Spinnaker Division. Thistle and Quick Return kept it interesting in the battle for third.

The Non-Spinnaker Division saw new faces in the hunt with Happy Days, Proud Mary and Almost Golf Free finishing 1,2, & 3, respectfully. Banana Jam and Iroquois Chief, last year’s leaders in this division were sidelined for the first race. Both boats will have a serious competition this year… Happy Days actually challenged the spinnaker fleet on corrected time.

The first race began with Herm Linter in Thistle getting an excellent start and then teaming up with Rodger Voss in Spirit to squeeze Flying Circus into third on the first tack on the upwind leg. The wind soon dropped and the J-24s were able to take advantage of their larger headsails and left the fleet behind.

Novice skipper Kevin Joyce took Buck Bryan’s Quick Return around the first mark just behind the two veterans and battled Thistle on the downwind leg. Thistle had difficulty setting the spinnaker initially but gained some lost ground by reaching while Quick Return took a dead run. Some problems with dousing the chute at the leeward mark on QR’s part gave Thistle the opportunity they needed to pass as they rounded.

Not far behind was Happy Days. Had they not overshot the layline to the finish Happy Days might have crossed the lined in front of both Thistle and QR! Watch out Doc & Chuck… you’ve got some serious competition!

The second race had one of the best starts I’ve seen in a while. Six of the seven boats were right on the line at the horn. Proud Mary was the lone straggler, and were it not for Bill being preoccupied with his new crew (and fiancée) he might have been there too. Spirit was set to make up for the loss to FC and edged to the front. Then the wind died.

The Fleet looked to the east side of the lake for wind. Happy Days took a chance on the western edge of the course and found success. Flying Circus rounded the windward mark first with Spirit Close behind. Then Happy Days, benefiting from the fresh breeze he found, rounded third.

The first downwind leg was uneventful, with light winds. Paul and Rodger were in a tactician’s duel until they reached the Leeward mark and split. Paul taking the east side of the course and Rodger the western side.

Flying Circus maintained it’s advantage and was first around the second windward mark, although Spirit had made up some ground. Paul was able to keep Rodger at bay as he approached finish of a shortened course.

Meanwhile, the two other spinnaker boats, Thistle and QR, were able to catch up with Happy Days once they set their chutes. All three were close when they rounded the Leeward mark. The second windward mark saw Thistle ahead of Happy Days who had managed to pass Quick Return. Amost Golf Free and Proud Mary followed.

The Committee Boat was forced to shorten the course and the race ended on a downwind leg. This caused a little confusion at the finish. The Committee Boat stationed itself on the starboard side of the mark and some boats still wanted to pass the mark to port. A little coaxing brought all the boats through the line appropriately and without incident

Race Clinic a Success!

by S. McClintic
This year’s Racing Clinic was attended by about 10 skippers and crew. A nice turnout for what was arguably the best clinic in several years. Those who were unable to attend missed some excellent racing pointers from three of the most experienced (and successful) racing skippers on Lake George.

The format this year was expanded from a review of the racing rules to include instruction from Dave Dougall, Rodger Voss and Tom Selfridge.

Chuck Thorne began the session with a brief overview of the racing rules. He emphasized that in any sport the rules can be intimidating but that shouldn’t deter us from participating. A point well taken.

Tom Selfridge took over from there and offered sound advice on pre-race preparation and starts. He emphasized the need to prepare your boat — equipment failures are often preventable. Get your crew prepared as well… practice is the only way to get a crew to work as a team. Of particular interest was his advice on being aware of the skill level of the skipper, the boat, the crew, and the competition. This will help in deciding how aggressive you should be at the starting line. If your at a "silver" or "bronze" level be cautious of trying a "gold" start. He noted being first across the starting line doesn’t always result in being first at the finish. Clean air in a "silver" starting position may be preferable to dirty air with the "golds."

Dave Dougal then covered the upwind leg. He delivered a very easily understood description of how wind shifts and changes in wind velocity can help (or hurt) your ability to get to the windward mark as fast a possible. The discussion on the lee-bow maneuver was particularly enlightening. One participant (who asked to remain anonymous) said: "Hell, I’ve been racing for over fiveyears and I finally understand how a lee-bow works."

Rodger Voss closed the clinic with a review of down wind strategies. He led the group through a discussion on covering and playing wind shifts. He emphasized the boat speed available from a broad reach as opposed to running, especially in light to moderate air. He closed his session with a refreshingly concise and understandable explanation of right of way when approaching the windward mark.

Buck Bryan summed up the afternoon by noting that "The level of instruction was equal, if not superior to that available at a J-World course." I think anyone who attended would agree.

Membership Memos

by Buck Bryan, Chair Membership Committee
Commodore Raggio wisely decided to reinstate the membership Committee and asked me to serve as chairman. I agreed as long as someone could be found to relieve me as Secretary. Madelyn Thorne graciously volunteered to assume the duties of Secretary, so here I am.

A great deal of work needs to be done in the membership area and it will not take place overnight. Recent additions to the LGCYC, Richard and Ann Hegney, of the sloop Almost Golf Free have volunteered to assist me in my duties. Current plans call for the creation of a color brochure to describe our club and the distribution of copies of the brochure to all of the sailboats and marinas in the southern basin of Lake George.

Starting with this issue of the newsletter we will be including a membership form. I am asking that all members take a moment to sign up only ONE new member. If everybody does this our membership will DOUBLE. Please do it. We need more members to take advantage of our racing and we need the dues to support our club. Many thanks in advance.

Historical Perspective

by Buck Bryan
Starting with this issue there will be a short retrospective story about our club’s activities from years past. I am getting the information from past newsletters on loan from Bibsy Nace. I need more information, so those of you who have any information on our past, particularly from ten to twenty-five years ago, please call me at 644-9815.

DATELINE 1981…….

"The 1980 results for the J-24 flet were 1- Jeff Underhill in Hot Blooded, 2- Mike Moffett in Banshee, and 3- Fred Merchant in Stinger. These results were reported by Cal Chamberlin, Commodore.

The tune-up race was held on May 17th, with the after event party held at the Dunhams’s Bay Lodge. 33 boats attended the event, in winds from 0 to 20 knots. Aeolus won the Algonquin Cup, while Williwaw took first in Division II, thereby winning the Algonquin Cup. Banshee won Division III, while Playdough won Division IV. The Corinthinan Cup Race is slated for the future."

Please — Anyone knowing the wheareabouts of the Algonquin or Corinthian Cup please contact me at 644-9815.

The time to beat in the Ti Race is Gusto’s performance in 1981 of 8 hours and 15 minutes. That’s fast!!

An update here: 42 starters in the 1981 Ti Race and 28 saw the finish line. Bill Bedford on Rattlesnake took first honors (corrected time). Post Race was at the Boardwalk Resturant.

Board Meeting

The Governing Board, Committee Chairs and Officers have a regularly scheduled meeting to discuss LGCYC business the first Tuesday of every month at Starbucks in Saratoga Springs. All members are encouraged to attend. The next meeting is scheduled for July 6 at 6:30 PM.

Return to top