LET IT BLOW!

TURNING POINT WINS COLORS REGATTA

(Sunday, June 8, 2008)  Turning Point skippered by Dave Hardy won the Beneteau 40.7 section of Columbia Yacht Club's Colors Regatta.  The four-race event was held on a windy Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8^th, and took place on southern Lake Michigan a few miles east of downtown Chicago. 

This is the only 40.7 class event of the year in which professional sailors, one per boat and non-driving, are allowed.  Professional sailor is defined as anyone meeting the definitions of ISAF Group 2 or Group 3. (See ISAF Classification Code)

The course for the first race on Saturday was 200°, at a distance of 1.75 miles, and four legs.  At the first weather mark of the first race the order of rounding was Turning Point, Tom Weber's La Tempete and then Ron Buzil's Vayu.  La Tempete tacked tight on the layline forcing them to pinch up and throwi bad air on Vayu who had followed her tack and was now in a difficult position.  Vayu made it around the mark but not without touching it for which she was rewarded with the "honor" of doing one penalty turn.  By the time the turn was completed, Jay Muller's Das Boot and Don Hayes' Tsunami had passed them.  At the leeward mark it was Turning Point still leading, a position she held for the rest of the race, La Tempete in 2^nd, and then Vayu, which had regained 3^rd place only to lose it again on the final upwind leg. 

With a significant left shift at the start of the 2^nd race, Vayu nailed the pin end of the starting line, sailed out on starboard tack for a few minutes, then tacked, and crossed the fleet, eventually winning. 

In the 3^rd race and last race on Saturday, Das Boot tried starting at the pin end but had to luff up to make the mark.  This caused a chain-reaction of about five boats, all luffing and trying to avoid being pushed over early.  Lots of noise at this start!  Finally the boats slowly began moving away from the starting line and sorted themselves out.  In the end it was once again Turning Point crossing the finish line first. 

On Sunday morning the final race of the series began in 20 knots of wind on a course of 195° for 1.5 miles and the usual four windward/leeward legs.  The first boat to round the weather mark was Clem Boltz' Cancan with Mike Considine of UK-Halsey sails aboard for the day.  Next around was Vayu. 

The  wind was as high as 25 knots on this first downwind leg of the race.  About a quarter mile from the leeward mark Cancan got knocked down, breaking her spinnaker pole.  One of the crew was thrown into the water but she managed to hang onto a lifeline and was pulled aboard.  To her credit, Cancan finished the race. 

This is the only Beneteau 40.7 “class event” of the year in which professional sailors are allowed, and there were several.  Andrew Kerr sailed both days with Vayu.  Perry Lewis of North Sails sailed on Cancan on Saturday and on Turning Point on Sunday and on.  Mike Considine of UK-Halsey Sails was on Cancan on Sunday.  Tom Pease of North Sails sailed with Tsunami on Saturday.  Mojo had J-World pro, Jim Johnstone, aboard for the weekend.  They also had Bob Vickery, skipper of Collaboration, with them on Sunday.  Bob is considered one of the best sailors in the fleet.   He had this to say about his experience aboard Mojo:  “We started by tuning the mast properly for the conditions of the day and then I shared some trim tips.  They are a good group and only needed a little direction getting the tune and trim right.  We had a good start at the boat end of the line. I was on the main sheet and able to help with trim.  The boat speed dialed right up and we were able to make a good race of it.  The Mojo crew did a great job of handling all of the maneuvers on a tricky day when boats all around were wiping out.  (Mojo finished in 2^nd place on that race)

For photos of the Colors Regatta 2008 go to:  Photos.

FINAL RESULTS

OLYMPIC CUP REGATTA (40.7 SECTION)