Fourteen boats showed for the Jordan Winter series on March 7, including 8 Flying Scots, two 505's, two Thistles, and one each lonely Bucc and Laser. Under clear skies and a nice warming day, 4 races were run despite the wind ranging from 3-9 knots (yes, there were a few moments when we registered 9 knots!) and clocking around between 110 and 295 degrees, while undergoing 30-60 degree shifts every 5-10 minutes. There were some interesting moments as one of the downwind legs became a reach, or as wind shifted during the start of the last race by about 45 degrees! Highlights included watching Dave Burchfiel single-hand the spinnaker, and then hang out on the trapeze in a close upwind finish against John Pelosi's Thistle, and a group of FS's converge to finish near the pin, all on port tack, while the Laser came in on starboard! Another treat was watching some of the boats that struggled in the first races have great finishes in the last 2 races! Way to figure it out!
Thanks to my crew on RC (Rob Fewkes, Tony Cockrell, and GIlberto Diaz-Castro) for making everything work and keeping alert so we could start on time and get that 4th race in before 3.
Everyone stayed for all 4 races, and plenty for the tasty chili afterwards!
The next and final winter event is March 21.
We had a great regional Race Management Seminar hosted by Lake Norman Yacht Club on Saturday, Feb. 27th in Mooresville. As they always do, the Slater's did a wonderful job going through the Racing Rules, focused on managing a Race Committee and running high quality races. We all took a written test at the end as a step towards being certified as a Club Race Officer. This is a great Seminar to take before the season to refresh and to build up new PROs. I want to thank the Carolina Sailing Foundation in covering the class fee for all the CSC members that attended:
Howard Alexander
Alan Backus
Pat Backus
Deborah Bender
Bronson Bowling
Kirk Kitchin
Ray Merrill
Eric Rasmussen
Joleen Rasmussen
Contact me if you are interested in learning more about Race Management and serving on RC this year.
Alan Backus
Participation Chair
alanobackus@eaton.com
This cold & wet winter finally gave us a break today with ramps open, sunny skies and temperatures in the lower 60's, which made for a beautiful day on the lake. Only the wind didn't cooperate too well, swinging from east to west only averaging 1 to 3 knots. We had a great turn out with 14 boats (5 Lasers, 3 Thistles, 3 Scots, a Tanzer, Buc and Dave's fast 505). We managed to get 2 races in where there were some close finishes with the Lasers. Our second start was a general recall with 5 boats over early and the other starts had at least one boat over early, so everyone was pushing it.
As to be expected, the Chili social was great with 2 pots to spice up the day along with Ray's Brunswick stew.
Thanks to my Race Committee (Pat Backus, Kirk Kitchin and Craig Wacaser) for a great job, chasing the wind around the course, moving marks and keeping the racing square down the lines as best we could.
Alan Backus
PRO 
Two Flying Scots, two 505’s and three Lasers turned out for a great day of racing.
The PRO John Pelosi started the first race at 1300 even though the wind was light. I noted that John never flew what I consider the real CSC Burgee (the postpone flag) the whole day.
The wind slowly filled in and averaged 2knts. The second race averaged 6 knts. The third race averaged 9knts. The fourth race wind averaged 13knts. The spinnaker runs where a blast!
We toped off a fine day of racing with some great chili furnished by Bronson Bowling. He brought two pots – one called “hot” & the other called “hotter”. Thanks Bronson!
Next Super Winter Race is Sunday Feb 7th – race in the afternoon and watch Super Bowl that evening – what a day!
Five Carolina Sailing Club junior sailors and their families cut their holiday celebrations short this year, to travel to sunny Florida for the USA Junior Olympic 2009 Orange Bowl Regatta.
