Lightning Racing on September 18, 2005

With some new faces involved today, most of the crews went on the water early to get some practicing in. Larry Koster, Michael-Salomon Jost and Tom Rasmussen took Shibumi out before anyone else. Here they practice some Spinnaker work.

Scott Watkins was at the helm of Merrick Hurlbutt's boat along with Adrianne Tuttle and newcomer Kenan Cosguner. After some practice runs, Scott tacks for the start in the first race.

Mike Moody picked up crew at Saturday's Spartan Singles when MSU Sailor Casey Ray and his friend Kristen Etchebarne agreed to sail. They too were out early practicing and it showed as "Moody's Booty" took charge of the first race about half way up the first windward leg, and held their lead all the way to the end. Here is Casey trimming the spinnaker coming to the finish.

Susanna Tellschow also had a new face aboard as she talked MSU Sailor Rich Manner into joining her and Bob Miller in "Oh m". Susanna and crew show their spinnaker as Ron and Jane Marshall watch and cheer them on from the shore. Ron and Jane have donated "Oh m" to the Lansing Sailing Club for use as a Club Boat.

Chris Miller was at the helm of "Wind Dancer" for the first two races with Gil Chesbro and Pat Dolan crewing. Chris had just executed an excellent mark rounding to come up inside Watkins and crew.

Both boats had to avoid "Oh m" who was coming to the leeward mark on starboard.

Mike Moody took control of the second race and was leading everyone back to windward. In the background, "Wind Dancer" and "Bananas" are dropping their spinnakers getting ready to round the leeward mark. Moody continued to lead at the windward mark with "Bananas" close behind. The two boats went high with bear away sets. "Wind Dancer" meanwhile gybed immediately at the final windward mark in a gust that they rode on the opposite side of the course all the way to a first place finish.

The "Shibumi" crew heads right. Is there more wind out here? Looks like it.

Pat Dolan took over the "Wind Dancer" helm for the third race as Chris Miller took on responsibility for calling tactics. At the start, "Wind Dancer" had the windward position, but "Moody's Booty" led everyone away from the line.

Although the wind was light, there always seemed to be some - until the first downwind leg of the second race. Mike Moody had gybed and headed toward what looked like new wind. The boats following stayed in the center of the course as the wind died across the lake.

Suddenly, the wind filled in. "Oh m" headed for the finish line, wondering why "Wind Dancer" and "Bananas" were looking as if they were going to round the mark. Sitting in the sun with no wind will cause you to forget which leg of the race you are on. They recovered quickly however, and made for the rounding.

Sally and Bill Pratt came out to enjoy the beautiful day and the camera caught them as they passed by the Race Committee Boat.

"Wind Dancer" had a few boat lengths lead heading to the windward mark for the second time - and with the wind filling in, the rich got richer. They extended and won the third race.

Jim Fletcher, Maribeth Fletcher and Bob Hill bring "Bananas" in with a second place finish in the final race of the day.

"Moody's Booty" crosses in third place in the final stanza - an unfortunate result after having sailed superbly to lead by a substantial margin after the first mark - only to fall into a hole.

Susanna and crew bring "Oh m" across the finish line to wrap up racing for the day.