Thistle East Coast Fall Series

Annapolis - Oyster Roast Regatta

Full results

31 Boats. Lots of folks from the southern end of the circuit that we don't get to see as much, which was great. It was blowing 37 on saturday, so we went to the smithsonian air and space museum. Given the rain lots of people had the same idea, so there wasn't much space, but the air was decent except for in the food court, where it was really hot. we checked out all kinds of aircraft and spacecraft, and were looking at the navy exhibit when I saw Kimberly in a room set up like it was overlooking the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. There were kids everywhere. Turning the ship's wheel, yanking the levers, climbing the railings and running around in circles. Kimberly said "Welcome to the bridge". Back in Annapolis we went to the obligatory bars, Davis's and then then the Boatyard.

On sunday it was still honking but we went out anyway. The wind was from the RT 50 bridge. We started near the pin and went left, but Don Stehle was under us. Couldn't seem to roll him. After several minutes he managed to squeak out ahead and we felt the knock so we tacked. Played the middle to good effect and rounded something like 5th. The front folks were pretty legged out so there was very little attacking to do. I think we caught 1 more boat. In the end Lawton took the bullet, followed by Stehle, then Charlie Kraft.

Race 2 was a little lighter. I lost track of time and tacked for the line for a perfect 4th row start. We bailed right. Our speed was good, so when we managed to get to clear at the edge and tacked back, it looked like we were in the top 10. Then the lefty came. With pressure. About a 40 degree lefty. Being rightmost boat we rounded 3rd to last. The downwinder was a reach, but we ground down a few boats on sheer determination, then the upwinder was adjusted for the new breeze. Shorter beat. Darn. Tacked up the left on the shifts, caught a few more boats, then went like heck on the short little run down. Clawed our way back up to 18. Ugly but better than the first mark. I think we need to work on those starts. Stehle took the bullet, followed by Baker and McCorkell.

By the last race we were ghosting along. Fighting to move and stay up on the line against the current. Couldn't lay on starboard. Tacked for the line with 5 seconds to go. Got off well and went up the middle again. Left seemed to be paying. Went over there. The breeze built a little. There was a front pack, then us, then everybody else in a clump. They closed on us downwind in the dying breeze. We just got out of the leeward mark in time. It went left again. We held our course and got lifted to the mark. Caught 1 boat, almost 2. Baker took the bullet, followed by Stehle, Reasoner.

Upon reaching shore we found out Baker had OCS'ed in Race 1. That switched things up a bit. Top 10 were Stehle, Lawton, Latham, Kraft, Dunn, Hudson, McBride, McCorkell, Falsone.

We, at North Sails One design,
are proud to support the 2006 Thistle ECFS !

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