Exciting Capsize Highlights Sunday Racing.
Sunday, September 4, 2011. By Brad Kleihege. This past Sunday there were 3 Wayfarers and 1 CL16 on the line to race. The conditions were just right for an exciting afternoon of sailing; winds averaging 10-12, gusting near 20.
At the beginning of the first race John Kolstoe noticed a problem with his forestay and had to retire from the race. That left 3 wayfarers who had a competitive 3 races. Brad Kleihege and Jim Fletcher were ahead but made a tactical error in the downwind leg that allowed Pat Dolan and Gill to take over first place and win race 1. In race 2, Brad and Jim took 1st, Pat and Gill 2nd and Jonathan Ahlbrand and Julie Pierce 3rd.
In the final race, Pat and Gill had a lead on the other boats but ran into weeds, permitting Brad and Jim to push past them. On the final downwind leg to the finish, with a sizable lead, Brad and Jim capsized while gybing. This allowed the other two boats to pass them. With a waterlogged boat, Brad and Jim had to be towed back to the club to bail out the boat.
