Greg, here are the race results for the web page:

Elizabeth City Classic Moth Boat Race, May Ninth, 1999.

Results:

Heat One: 1. Brian Gregory, 2. Erkey, 3. Greg Duncan 4. George Bailey (Mike Odell flipped and swamped just minutes before the start). Heat Two: 1. Mike Odell, 2. Erkey, 3. Brian Gregory, 4. George Bailey, 5. Greg Duncan. Heat Three: 1. Mike Odell, 2. George Bailey, 3. Brian Gregory, 4. Greg Duncan (Erkey did not race the third heat).

Winds 4-8 first two heats, infrequent gusts to 10 or so, with intermitent lulls of next to nothing. From the South for the first two heats, changing to the North four minutes to the gun in the third race (so the course was reversed at that point).

Greg, here are the off-the record details.

Wierd wind in this place - like sailing on a lake, I guess. Mike Odell flipped avoiding me. I was on port tack luffing behind the line and he came about to port tack comming at me and noticed me at the last minute and so had to jibe abruptly, and rolled over in so doing. He was not able to get her up before she filled, so had to go in to get the water out, so missed the first heat.

Since there were only two sunfish, they started with us each heat. On the first heat, I was off in my timing for the start by 30 seconds (I am used to a flag or gun at 30 sec, but apparently this is no longer done). So I was last over the line by aways, following the two sunfish and everyone else. There I remained all the way around. The course was so short we sailed it in 20 minutes. (This is why we were able to get in three races despite the light airs.) Next start I was not in too bad a position about 100 ft from the starting line and comming up to it with seconds left when the wind abruptly stopped. I mean, everyone just stopped. Then it came back and the boat nearest me and I were headed a bit, changing what had been an ok position into a bad one, and again leaving me with a poor start. However, this time the wind was up a hair and as we proceeded to the first mark and I passed the two sunfish and Greg Duncan. The two sunfish almost passed me on the run to the third mark, the wind being down again, but I was in the better position at the mark and got around first and stayed ahead of them back to the finish line. The last heat I was determined to get a better start. I was used (in the old days at the Miami Yacht Club) to being able to get aways from the line and time it so that I could make it back just in time. This was not working here, as the winds were to unreliable. So I stayed very near the line, and was first over. I held the lead until literally 20 feet from the finish. I was very surprised that Mike and Brian did not pass me on the run to the second mark. I was about forty feet ahead of them at the windward mark but they quickly ran down on me. By some luck I was able to hold them off to the second mark, though they almost got by a couple of times. It was a reach to the third mark and I actually added a little distance on them there, so I rounded about 40-50 feet ahead. I was covering them on the windward leg back to the finish. They kept tacking together which made it possible for me to keep them both covered. Finally, Mike tacked away from Bryan, and I had to go with one or the other. I picked Bryan, but probably should have covered Mike. Mile got a lift and Bryan and I got headed close to the line. I was on Starboard and Mike on Port, and I could see Mike would cross before unless I forced him about, which I did. He came about but still beat me by two inches, according to the guy on the dock acting as the ract committee. A nice bit of sailing on his part. I was pretty amazed that I was able to hold them off that long, given that my boat is 115 lbs, my sail is very full, and so forth. This experience has re-educated me to just how important the start is. Its been a long time (37 years, except for St. Pete).

I took photos before and during the races. I got a little waterproof cannon Sure-Shot A1 auto focus point and shoot just for this purpose. There was some spray, so sooner or later then lens got some water on it. I will have to see how this affects the picts. I will try to get a CD made tomorrow, and either put them up myself and tell you the link or send them to you as email attachments (your preference?). I hope one shot in particular comes out. Erkey and two other boats were very close to one another and rolling about avoiding a collision at the third mark. I got the shot, but I do not know how clouded the lense was with spray by that time. I am also testing the camera for indestructibility, as it seem to hit something every time I come about (even after I shortened the neck strap). So far, though, it seems fine.

Other than a small leak at the base of the dagger-board trunk, I did not have any problems with Curley (my moth). All in all it was a fun day.

Wanna see some pictures?? Click Here!