Congratulations to Uffe, Larry & their support team on a GREAT
regatta. The location was wonderful, arrangements and plans
exceptional, and the wind was almost too much... ;)

Since Arden wasn't there for us to chase, I'll provide the blow-by-
blows. Maybe I should ask Adamski to do this since he is the one that
took the bullets with Arden gone... I've asked the MOWIND race
committee to take a look at Jeff's new knee to see if it is legal. ;)

Race 1: Racing didn't start until after noon, and early it looked like
a longboard race with significant holes in the wind. Forecast was 15+
and building, so eventually the formula fleet was going to benefit
anyway. I think between 20 - 30 sails were on the start line! I took
my equipe out to cover Don Altmeyer (not that I thought could beat
him, but didn't want him to feel out of place...) However, by the
time the race began the formula boards were planing immediately and I
knew I goofed... Jeff led the whole race I think, but Uffe and Steve
Johnson were not far behind. The wind picked up quickly, and as was
the case most of the day bodies littered Kevin's jibe obstacle
course... I managed to keep up with Don, and Peter on his IMCO not
far behind, followed by the rest of the formula fleet. Given the
conditions, I was surprised the longboards did so well, would have
expected more of the formulas to shut us out... We planed on the
longboards through much of the race. Good to see Woody learning to
use his new formula, expect him to be with the leaders when he gets
the down-wind-I'm-gonna-die part mastered... As soon as I finished I
raced to shore to get my formula which was sitting conveniently on the
beach. Don also raced back to shore, and it was really cool to see
Don do half an unintended forward loop on the way to shore. Wind was
getting interesting...

Race2: Fewer sails on the start line as the wind continues to build,
and Jeff again jumped to an early lead and formulas really dominating
now. I got off to a fair start, but maybe having just raced a
longboard goofed me up because I got too aggressive upwind, went off
plane, and was soon consumed by a lot of other sails. Compound that
with a bad lay line choice (racing longboards is sure different than
formula boards...), and I was battling from last place at the weather
mark. Again, lots of litter around the jibe marks, and clear that
many were struggling in the building wind. I managed to benefit from
others mistakes, and finished right behind Jeff with Steve in a very
close third place. Longboards battling, but just not their
conditions. Looked like part of the fleet decided the wind was a
little much for what they took onto the water, and I was glad I had
elected to use my 9.3, doubt anyone was much bigger.

Race 3: I doubt more than a dozen sails on the water as wind continued
to build. Jeff off to another great start, but Peter on his IMCO
doing a great job hanging with Jeff through the first lap and well
into the second lap with Steve right behind. Though I got off to a
better start, Steve wasn't going to give me an opening and I had to
fight to finally pass Peter. For anyone who has been on a longboard
in what is clearly a formula race, you can appreciate the pure skill
it takes to compete in those conditions - my hat off to both Peter and
Don! Jeff took the bullet again, with Steve and me not far behind.

At this point we went off the water to eat, and Kevin reset the course
for downwind slalam as wind got nuts... Some of us got out to try
some slalam equipment, but everyone was tired, the wind was 30+ and
the inside was slightly offshore with obstructions. Thus, everyone
struggled to get a small board and sail out to the course...

Race 4: Ok, we can all be accused of being tired and not on the water
with optimal equipment, and that might explain the result. Only about
6 sails even made it out. After going back to put max downhaul on my
6.2 RAF sail, I came back out with a 130L board just to get out in
time. Thought things were managable, but got to the line a little
early and elected to just line up in waterstart position since the
wind was so strong and & didn't want to risk two quick jibes before
the start... Other sails showed up soon, but it was clear everyone
was sailing in survival mode... Adamski still in a 8.? sail and
formula board. Even given his talent after a few legs he dropped
out. I managed the first leg, but the 130L board with that sail spent
more time out of the water than in the water and I elected to leave
the race to get a smaller board and sail for the next race - I knew
Bonnie had rigged a 5.4 and was tired after trying that so I figured
I'd benefit from her efforts. I think everyone else but Steve had the
same plan, and the exodus would have been complete except that Steve
completed the course in tact to win and be the only one to finish.

While those willing to race in those conditions struggled to come back
out with smaller equipment, the race committee was struggling first
with its anchor given the wind, and then with the motor. Net result -
end of racing for the day with no committee boat. I don't think I was
the only one grateful to hear we were done racing for the day, I was
pooped!

That night the dinner was very good, socializing even better, and the
raffle prizes out of this world! However, the knock on my camper at
4:30am was not part of the plan, but a necessary evil as we raced to
take down the event tent before the storm line hit. After taking the
tent down, a bunch of us frantically de-rigged the sails piled up for
the next day and tied them to my four sails that I had tied down in
anticipation of big wind. All survived thankfully...

Sunday morning storms and lightning in the area meant an early awards
ceremony, with the 4 races comprising a legal regatta. Steve won
overall since he was the only one to complete 4 races, with Jeff & I
rounding out the top three. I think all would agree that the race
committee and assistance scorning from Kevin Gratton were first rate,
thanks guys!!

PS: Thanks for the new sail, and new copy of Windows Vista (these guys
really know how to do raffles...)