12/4/10 RACING

by Pam

We kicked off our winter series with an exciting day! The weather wasn't unpleasant but the water was cold and the wind was rather strong and gusty. We started the day going back and forth on whether to sail and by the end of the day, our eventual 4 boat fleet required 3 rescue boats. That's not so bad. Over in Fort Worth the juniors were sailing (and capsizing) and 9-1-1 had to be called and a junior taken to the hospital. Yep, it's winter and that old North wind isn't to be taken lightly and we get our annual reminder about this time.

While we contemplated whether to sail, we were messing about with boats. We took the mast down on the fleet boat that I was going to be sailing and when putting it back up I noticed the pin on the forestay didn't seem to be very secure. Bruce said not to worry and assured me it would be fine. Mistake 1. I thought, I don't really agree but no big deal, if it comes down, I'll be upright and dry and there will be a rescue boat to tow me in. Mistake 2.

About the time we'd decided the day was a no go, Tony comes sailing by on a Sunfish. He says it's not too bad between the gusts. Shortly after that, they decide we're a go. Mistake 3. Three is the charm, right?

Well Luigi left the harbor and I was right behind him with Bruce and Sandy right behind me. Sandy was opting to use his old boat and an old sail and Bruce was opting for an old sail too. That should have been my first clue. Then as I sailed past the clubhouse, I see Burton standing on the dock and he's clearly opting not to sail. That should have been my second clue. I'm thinking to myself that these crazy old coots are going to get me killed. Suddenly I could hear my Mom's words coming out of my mouth with respect to my older brother and all his bright ideas and I realize, I wouldn't have it any other way. Adventure ... excitement ... it keeps you young inside.

So, I sail past the committee boat and Tom and Jackie are waving me down and tell me they're leaking a ton of gas straight into the lake and they're going in. That should have been my third clue. Three is the charm, right? Next thing I know, they've changed their mind (fixed it I guessed) and are starting the race and we're off. Yep, North wind, gusty, splashing and cold. One minute Sandy's got the lead, then he's in irons, then Bruce has the lead at the first mark with me in second, then Bruce gybes at the reach mark, rounds up (or maybe hit it and was doing circles) and I move into first with Sandy in second, then about 10 feet from the bottom mark, I lose the tiller and round up and Sandy moves into first with Bruce in second, then Bruce somehow takes the lead and we end with Bruce, Sandy and me with Luigi bringing up the rear. That was a weird and exciting race. I'm getting into the groove and thinking this isn't such a bad idea after all.

Then the 3s start to add up. The wind kicks up and I go screaming past the committee boat on a wild reach and they're waiving and I realize they're dead in the water. I look over my shoulder and Luigi, way North of me and the committee boat, goes over and I start to try to head up to go toward him and the boat heals over and it happens. The mast tilts aft at a 45 degree angle and the boat rolls to the side. I'm on the edge of the boat heading for the centerboard and realize my forestay is gone (it'll hold huh?). I opted to let the boat roll over thinking the mast will come down gently in the water and I'll bring the boat back up and climb in the cockpit. Nope. Didn't happen that way. I did something I'm quite certain few sailors have ever done on White Rock Lake. The mast hit the water and disconnected from the mast step and the boat turned turtle with a slam and I landed on the bottom of the boat with not even a wet shoe. Wow! That was pretty cool. So I waved at Tom on the rescue boat and he waived back and held his arms up in the air shrugged his shoulders (there will be a rescue boat to get me, huh?). In the meantime, Luigi had gone over twice and gotten back up twice and wasn't wet and was quite proud of (and looking quite studly in) his new foul weather gear. During this time, Bruce and Sandy have sailed over to CSC to get a second rescue boat. Luigi finally figures out we're probably through racing and heads in to the safety of the docks. I sit on top of the bottom of my boat wondering about how air tight the hull is and which direction to attempt to swim should it sink. About that time Bruce and Sandy come flying across the water and rescue me and as we're headed back to WRBC, a second CSC rescue boat is heading to the rescue of the WRBC rescue boat. What a day!!

We lost a haylard and some gas but other than that, Luigi was pleased with his foul weather gear and that he'd been able to self rescue and I was pleased that I didn't go for a swim and Bruce and Sandy started off the winter series with a 1st and 2nd and Tom and Jackie didn't get all wet and covered in mud doing any rescues. Should we have sailed? Probably not, but as Bruce said while encouraging us to go, if you don't get out and try, you won't learn how to handle yourself in this stuff.