The first Jordan Coaching event for this year was held May 4 at Vista Point. Eleven boats showed up, including 5 Thistles, two Tanzers 16's, one Flying Scot, one Catalina 16.5, one Buccaneer, and of course, the ever-present 505. We also welcomed 4 guests, all getting a ride. The FS fleet was at Lake Norman, where they enjoyed some good breezes on Saturday, and cancelled races on Sunday due to lack of wind.

The wind presented an unusual pattern from the east in spite of the forecast that it would be from the north and clocking to the northwest. With the direction change came a drop in strength, with the highest speed measured at the start of the first race at about 4 kts. RC managed to get 3 races off, starting on time and finishing by 2:30pm. Most of the time there was good wind near the leeward mark, but less at the windward mark. The wind fell during the first race, was very weak during the second, but came back up for the last race. So it was a light wind day - not exciting, but good practice for those late summer regattas! To finish, you had to find the wind and stay with it.

There were some interesting starts and close finishes. Starting: Dave Puckett doing a 720 right above the line, right at the start..... Finishing: Charlie Buckner's (Flying Scot) and Nicole Robers (in a borrowed Bucc) had a photo finish in the first race, with Charlie shooting ahead in the last few feet. Watching a boat come within a few feet of finishing and then sailing backwards about 150' after a (non) tack before getting up enough speed to make it. We've all been there! Those who went in before the 3rd race missed some of the better conditions of the afternoon.

Let's all pull for more wind for the next Coaching event, June 1! Bring your friends and neighbors!

Brought to you by Race Committee: Manis, Sigmund, Meddock and Cesar. There's nothing without RC.

Scores are posted!

On March 9th, we had a cool, but pleasant & sunny day at Jordan with 3 races to conclude our Winter Series. Twelve boats came out which included 6 Lasers, 2 Scots, and a Thistle, Tanzer, 505 and Catalina 16.5. Several guests joined up as crew. Temperature was in the high 40's with wind starting out up at 10+ out of the NW. The forecast predicted the wind going left and dropping. It did both big time. By the second race, the wind shifted 180 degrees and subsided to 3 knots. Sailors were treated with a downwind start, a NW wind up the windward side and a complete opposite SE wind on the leeward side (no, wait, it now is the windward mark . . .) anyway, some crazy wind conditions. We had another great Chili social afterwards, Thanks to Jack. Also, thanks to the Lasers for making such a good showing this winter, we hope to see them more this season.

I'll be posting photos this week and scores have been posted.

Alan Backus
PRO

With some recent marketing at the Boat Show and a camp fair, the Junior Sailing Camps are starting to fill up. I would hate for your child not to get in. All the information can be found at www.carolinasailingfoundation.org

At this time we do not have a level 3 camp scheduled. We will be introducing open Opti Sailing and racing opportunities for experienced sailors that will take the place of the level 3. I hope to have full schedule and information shortly.

Our adult sailing instruction schedule will be posted this weekend.

If you have a child interested in the High School sailing team or teen sunfish camp you can also find information at the foundation website.

Get out your sliderules!

A nice article on the physics of sailing appears in
February's Physics Today, and is available on line. The cover for the issue is here.

Thanks to Peter Hamilton, our scorekeeper, for the link.