Happy New Year!

Sailing Report from Buddy Hatch:                                 Jan. 2009
                       
It’s a new year and “they say” whatever you do on new year’s day will happen frequently the rest of the year. So this years forecast is heavy sailing, frequent eating, and persistent grinning. We had 9 different boats on the water. Some boats spent as much as 6 hours on the water. We had 32 people attend the lunch. I hope everyone had as much fun as I did.

Boats generally started at the mouth of Honey Creek, raced around Two Trees (or until “hey I’m turnin around these gomers are goin to China”), then back to Honey Creek.

Frank and I had a wonderful contest all day. It began at 9:30 on the water when Captain Frank’s ship hauled in along side, hailed my boat, but the word’s were lost in the wind. So, knowing Frank was probably just wishing we a wonderful sail and good luck in the coming challenge, I yelled back “AIN’T SKEERD”. Frank’s crew promptly boarded my port side and demanded the rum, women, children and the helm. After a few tense moments with no hostages available, and depleted liquor reserves. I traded the helm for total allegiance to the cause. The wind 6 to 8 mph in Honey Creek. I noticed Frank had a #2 head sail so I thought I would be bold and I hanked on the 150%. (Dang I’m smart!)

Before we reached Shangi La the wind had piped up to 15 and my IQ had dropped sharply. Frank was 200 ft ahead and having a fierce battle with a well trimmed cat 27 “Wind Song”. We finally caught them at Governors Island and turned upwind. Halfway up the leg I noticed my jib wench had stuffed the sheet twice around the self tailer. Sabotage? I cut my eyes toward the potential spy. Gave him my best Josey Whales “you gonna skin em er whistle Dixie” look, but he just stared back like I’d just grown two heads. By the time I’d sorted this out we were way above the rum line and past Two Trees Island. The wind was 18 to 26 and we had lost the lead. We kept the boat at near hull speed or better all the way back to Honey Creek but never gained on Frank. It was ”white knuckled” and unforgettable. Thank you, John and Laurie. You are good crew but we all look forward to your boat hitting the water so we can return the favor.

At lunch my son showed up for the first time to sail on this lake in this boat. Everyone at the club was so great! It was just the way I’d described it to Billy. He felt as though he already knew you all. Billy has sailed with me since age 6.

During lunch I kept throwing Frank a threatening look. Knowing I would have some serious talent on the boat for the afternoon race. I was getting my bluff in early. Frank just looked back like “you know where the bathroom is”. Well, Bill Snow teamed up with Frank so there went that advantage. The wind was 8 to 16 for most of this sail and the racing stayed tight with several lead changes. We finished 1 boat length apart and completely spent from the fight. What a perfect day! Thank You Everyone!

~Mr. Watch My Stern