Friday (almost) Dinghy Night
Rick Fontenot | Published on 6/28/2020
At the risk of being redundant again, "The wind on Lake Hartwell averages 14; it blows either 28 or zero". The third event of the 2020 Friday Dinghy Night season went without a hitch... almost. After watching the forecast of west wind of 7 to 5 change to 9 to 7 (Yay) and no chance of thunderstorms, Friday afternoon brought a brief, but intense rain shower. Then, the Summer nemesis, NO WIND (Boo). RC inflated marks, gathered anchor buckets, and prepared all the other race management gear. After all, we're quite practiced at racing in no wind.
But about the time the 4th anchor bucket is being placed into the Jon boat, ripples are forming on the lake. By the time the signal flags are loaded, there's 10 blowing. By the time the RC boat leaves the dock, there's, well, too much of a good thing. At the breakwater, my hand held anemometer is reading a continuous 17.5 with gusts to 23. For a brief moment I see 15., but then a corresponding gust of 25. The sea state (lake state?) is pounding the RC boat, with water coming over the bow on about every fifth wave. Was it Pogo who said "Retreat is the better part of valor"? Being valorous, RC retreated to the shelter of the harbor and consulted with the fleet.
The fleet. We had a fleet assembling, watching the wind and waves, deciding which was the adjective: fun or foolish. There were 4 or 5 Force Fives (I think all agreed on short rigs), one Weta tri (rig's not short enough), one Capri 13 (don't have a short rig),one Capri 13's wife ("I'll watch from the beach"), one Hobie 16, one Lightning, and one Thistle. All in all, another sizeable fleet supporting Friday Dinghy Night.
To continue. Fleet organizer Eric and RC Rick decided to watch conditions for a while in the event the wind and wave state might diminish enough for a course to be set. The breeze did drop marginally, but RC still felt it was too rough to attempt to set a course and anchor the signal boat. In the meanwhile, Whisky-Tango- , several of the boats launched and headed out of the harbor for a short sail in the 'thrilling' conditions. Eric followed in the Club Whaler as a safety boat. A few of the crews practiced their capsize/recovery routines before returning for the pizza and beer, ugh, I mean beer and pizza segment of the event. Beer and pizza we did have, and safe distancing was exhibited by all.
Not the best sail racing, to be sure, but still a very pleasant time with sailors. The next scheduled Friday Dinghy Night is 10 July. Come and give us a try.
For information and race results and season standing (not changed from previous event):
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