For a week heading into the regatta, the weathermen warned of continuous rain until past Mother’s day. I watched the weather channel and other predictions. I am reluctant to cancel an event, only to be called a Cassandra when the weather clears.  On the other hand if I do not cancel when the predictions are dire and our club members show up only to stand around and get frozen or soaked. Bottom line…I can’t win!

  Fortunately, Saturday worked out very well. Yes it was cloudy and cool, but the moisture was sporadic and mostly a mist. The wind was supportive and the boats were flying around the course. We finished eight heats in 1 ½ hours. Ron Rhault set up the perfect windward, leeward course so that the starts were clean and the long run to the windward mark was generally orderly. Our group of IOM sailors have lifted their skills by virtue of generous help by the club experts and a generally patient attitude when someone commits an infraction.

   The fleet was usually closely packed throughout much of the racing so one mistake by a boater put him in the back of the pack. All I can say is “ make one wide turn at the leeward mark and you have lost two places”. Very competitive and rewarding sailing…thanks guys. Next event:  Spring IOM regatta 3 on Saturday, 20 May 2006 at Mansfield ….regards, Rich  The results are shown below:

Congradulations ... Ron Rhault