Dolan, Moody and Ahlbrand Score Sunday Victories

"Bananas" crew setting the kite Photo by Paul Davis

"Splash" getting ready for a set Photo by Paul Davis

Light and variable. Definitely. No sooner had the Race Committee set a course than the wind shifted significantly. Perhaps remembering how the race several weeks ago turned into a parade when boats were able to lay the windward mark almost immediately after rounding the leeward mark, Mike Moody pushed for a course change by moving the pin end of the line almost a quarter of a mile. Even then, the sailors were due for huge shifts - as well as periods of no wind at all.

Jim Fletcher made the right call in Race one - heading for the right shore while everyone else went left. Jim got to the windward mark well before anyone else. However, soon after rounding, he became becalmed and could only watch as the other boats got wind that he didn't and sailed past him. Pat Dolan's "Wind Dancer" crew managed to find wind all the way after that to start the day with a win. Jonathan Ahlbrand was second and Jim Fletcher recovered to finish third.

In race two, Dolan and Moody battled throughout for first place. Moody led after one leg but Dolan found wind on the west side of the course and sailed hot angles to round the leeward mark ahead. Moody's upwind speed put him back in the lead at the wind ward mark, but "Wind Dancer" did a nifty gybe set in a gust and sailed back into the lead. Moody got some great spinnaker work from crew Emma Trentman and Susanna Wagner and went on the attack. Bob Miller and Gil Chesbro were equally capable crew on "Wind Dancer" as they defended. However, with just a few yards to go to the finish, the boats ran out of wind and it was the "Booty" crew that prevailed by a narrow margin when a little zepher found it's way into their sail and they went by to leeward.

The wind came up a little for the final race of the day. Again it was Dolan and Moody contesting for the lead. However on the final windward leg, Moody went hard right with "Wind Dancer" covering - and both sailed out of contention. Instead, Jonathan Ahlbrand, Nikiforos Delatolas and Tom Hutton found themselves going up the center of the course with Jim Fletcher close on their stern in "Splash". Maribeth Fletcher and Brad Kleihege helped Jim sail "Splash" into position to claim victory if they were fortunate enough to get a shift as they approached the finish. However, the wind direction held and "Bananas" was the victor.

Larry Koster put together a last minute crew with Robert Mosher coming unexpectedly to the Club and Ron Marshall on hand. Although they went 5-5-5 on the day, it was still great to be on the water. Thanks Robert, for stopping by to sail.

Lightning sailors are down to their last two Sunday race days. Next weekend, Mike Moody and Susanna Wagner will pick up former LSC member Ken Knight in Coldwater on their way to Wawasee to sail in the "Hoosier" Regatta.

Paul Davis and Mike Middlewood got the Club spiffed up as the key part of their Race Committee Duty - and then went on the water to help Anna and James. Paul took pictures - and an album of them is on the Lansing Sailing Club website at:
www.lansingsailing.org/Pictures/2008/LightningRacing20080921/Album/.

Complete results and standings can be found on the Lansing Sailing Club website at www.lansingsailing.org. Click on "Racing" then on the fleet symbol.

"Wind Dancer" starting fast Photo by Paul Davis

"Moody's Booty " showing speed downwind Photo by Paul Davis

"Shibumi" making the best of light air Photo by Paul Davis

Coming Events Detail