IOM EVENT RESULTS –SATURDAY  20 MAY – MANSFIELD HOLLOW SITE

   In sailing there are two main factors that influence the results of racing; the competition and the weather.  If you sail smartly, your competitors will not control your results. The smart sailor generally avoids other boats by finding clear air away from the fleet.  On the other hand, the weather, i.e. the wind always plays a big part in your sailing. One must always adjust sailing technique and sail trim to take advantage of the changes in the wind. It is amazing how much variety can be in wind conditions during a day on the lake.  There are turbulence levels, streaks, velocity changes, layers, direction shifts and reversals, vertical wind components, rolling, gusts, dead pockets, and who knows what else. No wonder then, that sailing is so challenging.  Ponder on your navel for a few seconds and wow, the wind has changed again and your boat is twirling on it’s toes.

   Perhaps Saturday did not have all the variety of winds, but certainly enough. For the first time my boat laid down flat on the water, with the sails filled with water. It sat in a dead spot for a few minutes. I made up many places by nervously skirting the shoreline while others further off shore idled on. The boat did a 360 turn on a dime by itself. Needless to say, everyone scrambled to cope with the changes. The level of success was reflected in the results below: