To the bridge! Shackleton 5
January 2003

January 11, 2003: Finally, weather cold enough to provide a challenge for the hardened racers of Sale Creek Marina. The forecast is NW 10 MPH; the course is a simple one, up to the Highway 60 bridge and back. Ah, but the Bridge is not to be taken lightly, and forecasts are not always to be believed.

Shortly After the start.

Shortly after the hotly-contested start, Maniac and Banana Split began pulling ahead, as usual. With the winds lighter than expected, the crew of Possible Mallard were happy they had decided to put up Big Red.

David Frye Closing on Dutchess

With just five boats in the race, there was plenty of room on the lake for everyone. Some boats, like Maniac and Katzenjammer, kept an especially large amount of room around them. Hey guys, it's only polite to stay together. I'm sure they'll be more social next time.

katzenjammer

Katzenjammer was looking good and eyewitnesses confirm she even flew a spinnaker later in the day. Since the spinnaker declined to be photographed, little actual evidence of this feat remains.

Dutchess and Split Split Crew

The temperatures actually weren't all that cold--at least so long as that darned wind wasn't blowing in our faces.

Close Race to the Bridge

It was a close race up to the bridge for Dutchess, Banana Split, and Possible Mallard. We traded places a few times, but no one seemed to be able to agree on who should be first around the bridge pylon. We finally decided to let Banana Split go first, since she was the smallest.

Spinnakers Away!

Suddenly spinnakers erupted ahead of the Mallard, and both Dutchess and Split sped away, evidently completely out of control. They did not even have time to wave goodbye as they rushed off to the finish.

Unofficial Race Results
In order of finish, not corrected for PHRF or other abnormalities:

  1. Tim Chambers, J-29 Maniac
  2. David Frye, San Juan 24 Banana Split
  3. Andre Rijskijk, Dutchess
  4. Rodger Ling, Hunter 25.5 Possible Mallard
  5. Eric Almlie, O'Day 23 Katzenjammer


Copyright © 2003 by Rodger Ling.
All rights reserved. Comments: rling@stationr.org.