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Lutz 2010
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Das Boot finds the pressure and wins lutz
(Saturday, July 17, 2010) As the wind died, It was looking bleak for the boats at the first mark of the opening race at the Lutz Regatta. As the boats of the Beneteau 40.7 section approached the weather mark, the breeze began to fail.
 Turning Point, “motored” by to leeward of the leading boats, Vayu and Mojo. The wind completely died. Sails hung limp. Boats from other sections were clustered, immobile around the mark. The sun beat down on the racers. Then a tickle of breeze. Cat paws on the water surface.
Still on the first “upwind” leg, Mojo hoisted a spinnaker. Vayu followed suit and began moving slowly. Half a knot. One knot. Turning Point standing still, in the shadow of the boats around her. Then she begn moving but Vayu already had the inside and was pulling ahead. The rounding order was Vayu, Turning Point, Mojo. Vayu held on for the next three legs and won the race.
On the second race it was Jay Muller’s Das Boot, daughter Cate as tactician, leading all the way around the course, from the starting line, to each mark, to the finish. Das Boot won the regatta with scores of 2,1 over 2nd place Vayu’s scores of 1,4. A tie for 3rd place between Mojo and Turning Point, both with 6 points, was broken and won by Turning Point.
Cate Muller had this to say about the regatta:
“The focus of the day was clear air. In the first race we actually ended up in last at some point down the first leeward leg. Our strategy coming into the gate was simple, since the whole fleet (almost everyone on the course it seemed!) was parked at the gate, we kept our kite up a bit longer, and then scooted around the outside of the clump. Once around, we were able to stay in clear air, playing the right side of the course, the strategy worked well as we climbed back to second.
“After a less than desirable start in race one, my top priority for race two was being on the line with speed. We didn't try to win a specific side, but made sure to be on the line. There was a significant line sag making it easy to have a good clean fast start. From there on it was again a matter of fining clear air. I wanted to work out right, but didn't want to be the first to make the move out. When the opportunity to tack came we waited for a little knock, and then went over to the right. We then just played the small shifts that were coming through on the right. It seemed like there was also a bit more breeze on this side, which is always a priority. Once ahead we stayed focused on our boat speed, and continuing to make smart choices.
“When it is light and moderately shifty, I always make it a priority to keep things simple. Make the boat go fast, stay in clear air, and make every more count. Everyone in the crew was on the same page, and knew the priorities, we all did a great job of communicating and executing, and it paid off for us in the end!
“It was a challenging weekend, and it was really exciting to see our fleet so close, even though some players were missing, the fleet was still just as close and competitive, it speaks volumes to the quality of competition that we all bring to the race course every weekend.”
Dave Hardy, skipper on Turning Point, said this about the day’s racing:
“Strange winds indeed on Saturday. In the first race, Vayu and Mojo got off to a great start before the wind died. Then, at the windward mark, we were able to catch up to Vayu. And as much as I’d like to take credit for superb sailing skills, I frankly don’t know how we were able to keep moving – a little luck now and then doesn’t hurt. Then, of course, Vayu passed us at the mark anyway. So we went from third, to first and back to second in the course of about 200 yards… very interesting. After that we had issues keeping clear air and couldn’t keep up with Vayu, Boot or Mojo.
“In the second race, Vayu got ahead of us at the start and we had to go right. We found pressure over there though, and were able to keep clean air all around the course. Good crew work kept us in the running (2nd all the way around). Try as we might, though, we couldn’t come close to catching Das Boot. Kudos to them for a great race.”
The Lutz Regatta was run by the Jackson Park Yacht Club. Both races of this event count toward the Area III Buoy Boat of the Year series.
Aside from the twenty minutes of very light air at the first mark, wind during the day was generally 6 to 7 knots. Each race consisted of four windward/leeward legs at a distance of 1.25 nautical miles. The first race was on a course of 10º and the second race was on a course of 115º.
Some of the fleet’s boats did not participate in this event. Collaboration was away on the Bayview Mackinac Race. Excalibur was undergoing repairs resulting from her collision last week with the J105 Twisted Lizard. Cancan was not registered.
Aboard La Tempete, regular helmsman and skipper Tom Weber and tactician Steve Youngson were absent. In Tom’s place behind the wheel was Don Hayes, former skipper and fleet member on Tsunami. Don’s daughter Wendy Enerson, also a former member of the Tsunami team, was aboard La Tempete for this event. Don’s son, Bryan Hayes, has joined Vayu as regular crew for the season and was trimming spinnaker on that boat.
Mojo now has a Facebook page. You can check it out at MOJO’s Facebook.
Current standings for the 2010 season series are at:
Results of the Lutz Rgatta:
Photos of the 40.7 Fleet at the Queens Cup Race begin at: Photos 2010
More 2008 & 2009 fleet photos start with: 40.7 Photos
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Anyone can submit photos for publishing on the 40.7 websites.
Email to cygnus(at)interaccess.com.
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