4/2/11 RACING

by Pam

Saturday we had a beautiful sunny day, lots of activity on both docks and lots of visitors. The Butterfly manufacturer, John Hayashi from Windward Boatworks, was in town delivering more new boats.  We now have 7 new boats at White Rock. 

John was, however, a bit disenchanted with all the Tide and Bleach bottles at the tops of the masts.  It’s hard to blame him.  Earlier in the week he was ice boating up North and then he comes down here where the sun is shining and the redneck Texas sailors all have gun cases for board bags.  That’s just the way it goes in Texas.  We stay on the water all year long and the boats are kept together with duct tape and a little ingenuity that sometimes looks a bit crude.  I’ll bet if you promise not to use another bottle at the top of your mast, John will make you a deal on the ever so cool flotation panel like Amber has.  It works quite well and you'll avoid the old White Rock racing stripe at the top of your sail. 

Several of us had the opportunity to chat with John as he unloaded boats and met with customers.  He and his friend, Mark, got a chance to ride with us on the committee boat and watch the third race.  It’s always interesting to hear advice from a fresh perspective.  Amber and I learned a few new things.  I don’t think Doug learned anything new except that he and John have very similar approaches to sailing. 

CSC was having a work day so there was lots of activity on their docks and they even put a photographer on the committee boat for the first two races.  Frank came out for the first two races and won both races with what appeared to be, the greatest of ease.  He opted not to sail the third race which gave Burton an opportunity to win the third. 

There were pictures and video taken but I’ve been swamped so it will be a day or two more before I get around to uploading it.