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July 18, 2000

Dear Friends in Sailing,

Race number three was the "perfect storm" that separated the smart sailors from the not so smart. The smart ones stayed on shore. Just three cats and four mono hulls showed up for the race and were treated to near gale conditions on some parts of the course and a demanding though "considerate" pin placement by the race committee. Joe and Emily gave the racers a break by setting the windward mark in a difficult to reach but rewarding respite from the stormy conditions. We who sailed thank you for a great job.

Three boats seemed totally unaffected by the conditions: Doug and Lisa in the Dart, who seem to laugh at heavy air and continually dominate such races; Cliff Eames and crew in the Javelin, who led the monos from start to finish; and the committee boat itself, with the race committee actually finding time to go for a swim.

Race highlights include:

- Harry Peddie again screeching around the course in near record time, only to capsize at the third mark in a single hull boat, essentially putting an end to his racing for the day but increasing his social agenda by introducing him to the local friendlies who came to his aid.

- Captain Courageous, Doug Kell, again sailing his JY solo and leading the two boat planing hull class until forestay problems dropped him to a courageous second.

- Mark Eggleton with a conservative but well conceived race plan to finish second cat about a week behind Doug and Lisa and two days ahead of the nearest monohull.

- The Bob Frazier cat making good choices to go to the right and keep the pressure on the other cats as all three finish well ahead of the monos--definitely a cat day.

- Special thanks to my crew Doug Craib for steering my boat from the front while surfing down wind without a rudder in the water. Sorry about that, but I always wanted to try that stunt at least once.

Announcements:

- ICE CREAM SOCIAL (the best reason to race that day) at the Kells following Race 5 on July 30.

- We need a race committee for the upcoming Race 4 this week. If you can help, please let me know asap.

- Flag colors are:

Yellow - Warning

White - Displacements Start

Blue - Planing Hulls Start

Red - Catamaran Start

See you on the water,

Mike Connolly