Fall Series Race #2

Finally, an exciting race! There was beautiful sunshine with shifty but steady winds throughout the race. The race started smoothly with Manana, Cordellia, and LaC crossing the line ahead and the Melges. It was a beat to the weather mark – the Crash Mark at Oak Creek. The pesky Melges managed to hold the line without needing to tack, beating the entire way to the mark, leading the pack. Some of the other boats were forced to tack. LaC tried to use their Code O but the angle was just too tight for them to carry it and Manana was hot on the heels of the Melges. Just as the boats rounded weather mark the wind rotated forward and what was hoped to be a nice run became a close reach. The Melges could not carry their kite despite two attempts to put it up, while Manana and LaC hoisted their Code 0s which were the perfect sails for those conditions. The wind turned back down the course and finally the Melges was able to carry their kite, but by this time Manana had created a substantial lead. The Melges was able to hold off LaC and cross second. Congrats to Bob and Ray Bennett on their win.