Lightning Racing on August 7, 2005

The wind was challenged today. When it showed up, it was unpredictable - and when it went away, the sailors baked. Not fun for the Race Committee of Mike Moody, Jim Kennedy, Lisa Winters and Steve Jackson. This picture of boats ghosting on the water in Race 1 shows how the day started.

In race two, the wind was a little better and a little steadier. There were some important firsts to recognize. Junior Sailor Code Eggenberger joined the "Wind Dancer" team and sailed his first race in Lightnings with Bob Miller and Pat Dolan. Here they lead the fleet around the first mark.

Neil Harrison found "Unidentified Flying Pigasus" with an overlap coming in to the windward mark. Alanna Harvey and John Quensen sailed with Neil. On board "UFP" with Blaine Severin were Julie Pierce and Tom Deits.

It was a mini-pinwheel with Neil on the outside and Blaine on the inside.

Some more firsts are found aboard "Oh m". With Ron and Jane Marshall watching from the shore in front of the Club, Susanna Tellschow skippered the Marshall boat. This was Susanna's first Lightning driving experience in LIghtning Fleet Racing - so she talked Doug Carlson into being middle crew to help with strategy and tactics.

In the front of the boat was David Watson - his first crewing experience on Lake Lansing. With all these firsts, they did well -ending 4-2-3 for the day. And, except for accidently hitting the finishing mark, they would have been 2-2-3.

Blaine thought about putting up his spinnaker for the final leg of race two, but it turned out to be too close a reach. Cody Eggenberger, front crew of "Wind Dancer", can be seen putting the spinnaker pole up - just in case the wind shifts and the chute will fly.

By race three, the wind has filled in a little more solidly. Susanna Tellschow and crew are leading coming to the first mark. "Wind Dancer" can be seen to leeward of "Oh m".

"Oh m " is indeed first to round at the first windward mark. They decide not to fly the spinnaker.

"Wind Dancer" is next to round and they decide to go for a gybe set - even though new crew member Cody has never done one.

"UFP" rounds third and looks to do a bear-away set. "Wind Dancer" is struggling a bit getting the chute around the boat - but they are headed at the mark.

Neil Harrison and crew also decide to do a bear-away set. "Wind Dancer" has her chute going and gives chase to the leader. At the leeward mark, "Ohm" is forced into a "seamanlike" rounding - while "Wind Dancer" is able to do a tactical rounding and gets inside at the beginning of the final upwind - pinning "Oh m".

With a wind shift to the right, "Wind Dancer" tacks and leads all boats to the final windward mark - and sails on to their second victory of the day. Here they are doing a gybe set on the way to the finish.

Pat Dolan, Cody Eggenberger and Bob Miller of "Wind Dancer" pose for a picture after sailing.