Lightning Racing on August 21, 2005

Debra Hart of WMMQ was a crew member of "Moody's Booty" today. Debra came early to get acquainted with other crew members Mike Moody and Jamie Rasmussen as well as do a little practicing. Here she is in the middle position coming to the first windward mark. Photo by Doug Carlson.

There was plenty of wind, with gusts into the low 20s. In this picture, Susanna Tellschow and crew fight to keep the boat on its feet. Terry Kleimand and Gary Marx sailed with Susanna on "Dragon Tail". Photo by Doug Carlson.

The "Booty" crew approaches for the start with great speed. Photo by Matt Allswede.

And they're off. Race 1 begins. Photo by Matt Allswede.

There was enough wind for the boats to be up on a plane downwind. Here Neil Harrison creates a lot of spray in a strong puff. Photo by Doug Carlson.

Neil sailed with crew John Quensen in the front of the boat and Alanna Harvey in the middle. Here they finish a gybe. Photo by Doug Carlson.

Ready for the run in to the leeward mark, Neil and crew prepare to get the spinnaker down. John has the pole off. Next? Photo by Doug Carlson.

Having rounded the mark, the crew tacks and is off in search of more wind and a header so they can tack and stay in phase. Photo by Doug Carlson.

Susanna had the boat moving very well upwind. She finished third in the first race. Photo by Doug Carlson.

"Wind Dancer", sailed by Pat Dolan, Gil Chesbro and Doug Crawford works upwind. This was Doug's first time crewing in Lightning Fleet racing - and he did an excellent job. Photo by Doug Carlson.

Adrianne Tuttle is in the front, Scott Watkins in the middle and Merrick Hurlbutt at the helm as they come to the windward mark. Photo by Doug Carlson.

They turn the corner and work their way downwind. Photo by Doug Carlson.

Starts are always important in a race. In the start of Race 2, the boats get off the mark. "Moody's Booty" is in good position to windward while Merrick Hurlbutt is to leeward and slightly ahead of "Sail Fevre". Photo by Doug Carlson.

In another start, the "Wind Dancer" crew has great speed and is in good position. Photo by Doug Carlson.

Today's Race Committee was Dave MacKenzie and Matt Allswede. Doug Carlson volunteered to be in the Safety Boat. Phill and Denise Carbonell were ashore to assist spectators. Tom Rasmussen went on the Committee Boat as did one of the Allswede boys. Michael Moody and a friend helped out too. Photo by Doug Carlson.

Bob Miller is in the front of the boat, Leif Alton in the middle and John LeFevre at the helm of "Sail Fevre". They are getting ready to gybe in the picture. Photo by Doug Carlson.

The gbye is done and "Sail Fevre"'s crew settles in for the sprint the leeward mark. Photo by Doug Carlson.

On the upwind leg again, "Sail Fevre" hopes to hold on despite the bad air coming at them from "Dragon Tail". Photo by Doug Carlson.

"Moody's Booty" leads "Wind Dancer" to the first windward mark. Photo by Doug Carlson.

The "Booty" crew decides not to fly their spinnaker and "Wind Dancer" takes advantage. "Dancer" goes on to win Race 1. Photo by Doug Carlson.

In Race 2, the "Booty" takes early control and this time the spinnaker comes out. Debra Hart handles the spinnaker trim like a veteran. Photo by Doug Carlson.

Here is the result - a Race 2 win with "Wind Dancer" a close second. Photo by Matt Allswede.

"Moody's Booty" cleans up between races. Photo by Doug Carlson.

"Wind Dancer" sails with jib down while waiting for the next race to begin. Photo by Matt Allswede.

"Moody's Booty" sailing between races. Photo by Doug Carlson.

Susanna Tellschow has "Dragon Tail" in good position for a start at the boat end of the line as they luff to slow the boat. With the clock ticking the final seconds, they pass the stand off buoy behind the Committee Boat. Photo by Matt Allswede.

Coming to the end of Race 2, "Dragon Tail" has to gybe. as they do, disaster strikes. A huge puff hits and the boom slams across the boat, knocking the skipper off her feet, causing a round up - followed by a capsize. No one was hurt - but it added some unexpected excitement to the day. Photo by Doug Carlson.

The "Wind Dancer" crew gets ready to douse their spinnaker. Doug Crawford, LSC Junior Sailor making his first appearance in Lightning racing, gets the spinnaker pole down. Photo by Doug Carlson.

"Moody's Booty"'s crew of Jamie Rasmussen, Debra Hart and Mike Moody - winners of two races. Photo by Doug Carlson.

After racing, Debra Hart helps Jamie Rasmussen get the "Booty" ready to go on the trailer. Debra came to sail on one of the windier days of the year. With just a little bit of practice before racing started, she really came through. She hiked hard to help keep the boat flat, trimmed the spinnaker, handled the spinnaker douse - and got very high marks from Commodore Mike. Well done Debra. We hope you had a good time. Photo by Doug Carlson.