February 10, 2024
by Earl Thomas #5121
Commodore & Fleet 62 Captain
Commodore & Fleet 62 Captain
Ahoy and Happy Lunar New Year,
The weather was great, the view was scenic and the sailing was SUPER on the day before the Super Bowl. We assembled in the LMSC parking lot and I saw Russ Klein first when I arrived and he had his Sunfish in the water already. The El Toros were unloading by the checkin area with Tom Burden as the first and Paul Zander following shortly after. So the two of them had a good match racing opportunity. Roy Jordan then rounded out the fleet with his arrival. Russ greeted me in the morning and said welcome but "today was going to have different and better results” for him and the Sunfishes. Challenge accepted. Oh, and they had donuts at the checkin table. Lots of sugary glazed and tasty treats. Ralf really liked the blueberry variety. We should try this diabolical temptation at Shoreline but maybe throw in a healthy option to balance the sugar high.
The hoist was not available so the big boats (haha) launched at the ramp. And the little boats (ET’s) just slid off the docks over by the hoist. And since the hoist was out of commission the RC boat couldn’t get in so we divvied up the marks and sailed out to drop them. We returned to the start area and proceeded with the races with Vicki (RC) on the end of the dock starting us off. Thank you LMSC for your hard work and this great opportunity to sail.
We did 4 different courses today, each one a different challenge and direction. Upwind starts were had in both and opposite directions today. But the real head scratchers were the classic wind changes and wind holes on the Lake Merritt. It lived up to it’s reputation and we used a few choice words about 'what the xxx just happened' and 'where did the wind go’? Russ and I were at one point 25 feet away and he was dead in the water and I had wind and just past him by. More choice words were heard.
So the Sunfishes with Russ and Roy battled it out with Ralf and myself in our Lido for our combined starts. The El Toros followed us with their starts and maybe different courses. But I couldn’t keep track of their adventures from across the lake. Though Tom mentioned that he may join us on our ’Sail-A-Dinghy-Day’ on April 21 with his Laser. We fared well against the Sunfishes with some wins but toward the end Russ and Roy inched their way back in with victories of their own.
The city skyline views from the water were perfect with brilliant azure skies above and temps in the 50’s and up. We dressed too warm but better that than shivering. We heard the sounds of Oaktown as we sailed around, from a protest about Gaza, a rhythmic drum circle somewhere else, and the many sound systems and boomboxes of the walkers and bicyclist around the lake. It was a classic big city experience.
Back to the fickled wind. It was all over the place. We would be sailing well at a good clip and then the wind would swing 90 degrees, then just bottom out completely. At one point Russ, Roy and we were just staring at mark one just out of our reach. With absolutely no wind or way to get to it. Roy finally brought a little wind with him as he hugged the shoreline. So I actually drifted back to him to see if i could get into it. Russ was ahead but in the biggest hole and the two of us approached him at a snails pace which is fast compared to nothing. Russ finally got the wind when it reached him but Roy and I were passing him by then. And more words were uttered.
We experienced every mode of sailing from hiking moderately on the rail, good but light wind, doldrums, looking for wind from afar, whisker pole up, whisker pole flip, whisker down and back up again. We tried half centerboard up experiments for less resistance, hand holding the jib out and quick single sculling to make it through a turn. But these challenges help keep you sharp and ready for the return of spring time sailing, so we will be ready in May.
I asked Ralf if he wanted to skipper the last race and he cautiously said yes. We had a decent start and farther into the race he commented that "Now I know what your talking about with the crazy wind changes” and "This is difficult". We finished the last race strong but Russ got the gold, Roy snuck in right in front of us to secure the silver and we finished just seconds behind him. Ralf did well and I think a boat of his own is soon warranted.
Fun was had by all involved. You too can join in the sailing frivolities next month on Sunday March 10th. That is also when LMSC will have their yearly Crab Fest dinner, after the races, that concludes their Mid-Winter series.
Thank you Russ, Roy, Tom, Paul and Ralf for being there and continuing to support the clubs.
See you in Oakland next time. That is a hint to the LIDOS and other El Toros if you didn’t get it already. It’s lonely out there.
Earl
___
Earl Thomas #5121
Fleet 62 Captain
The weather was great, the view was scenic and the sailing was SUPER on the day before the Super Bowl. We assembled in the LMSC parking lot and I saw Russ Klein first when I arrived and he had his Sunfish in the water already. The El Toros were unloading by the checkin area with Tom Burden as the first and Paul Zander following shortly after. So the two of them had a good match racing opportunity. Roy Jordan then rounded out the fleet with his arrival. Russ greeted me in the morning and said welcome but "today was going to have different and better results” for him and the Sunfishes. Challenge accepted. Oh, and they had donuts at the checkin table. Lots of sugary glazed and tasty treats. Ralf really liked the blueberry variety. We should try this diabolical temptation at Shoreline but maybe throw in a healthy option to balance the sugar high.
The hoist was not available so the big boats (haha) launched at the ramp. And the little boats (ET’s) just slid off the docks over by the hoist. And since the hoist was out of commission the RC boat couldn’t get in so we divvied up the marks and sailed out to drop them. We returned to the start area and proceeded with the races with Vicki (RC) on the end of the dock starting us off. Thank you LMSC for your hard work and this great opportunity to sail.
We did 4 different courses today, each one a different challenge and direction. Upwind starts were had in both and opposite directions today. But the real head scratchers were the classic wind changes and wind holes on the Lake Merritt. It lived up to it’s reputation and we used a few choice words about 'what the xxx just happened' and 'where did the wind go’? Russ and I were at one point 25 feet away and he was dead in the water and I had wind and just past him by. More choice words were heard.
So the Sunfishes with Russ and Roy battled it out with Ralf and myself in our Lido for our combined starts. The El Toros followed us with their starts and maybe different courses. But I couldn’t keep track of their adventures from across the lake. Though Tom mentioned that he may join us on our ’Sail-A-Dinghy-Day’ on April 21 with his Laser. We fared well against the Sunfishes with some wins but toward the end Russ and Roy inched their way back in with victories of their own.
The city skyline views from the water were perfect with brilliant azure skies above and temps in the 50’s and up. We dressed too warm but better that than shivering. We heard the sounds of Oaktown as we sailed around, from a protest about Gaza, a rhythmic drum circle somewhere else, and the many sound systems and boomboxes of the walkers and bicyclist around the lake. It was a classic big city experience.
Back to the fickled wind. It was all over the place. We would be sailing well at a good clip and then the wind would swing 90 degrees, then just bottom out completely. At one point Russ, Roy and we were just staring at mark one just out of our reach. With absolutely no wind or way to get to it. Roy finally brought a little wind with him as he hugged the shoreline. So I actually drifted back to him to see if i could get into it. Russ was ahead but in the biggest hole and the two of us approached him at a snails pace which is fast compared to nothing. Russ finally got the wind when it reached him but Roy and I were passing him by then. And more words were uttered.
We experienced every mode of sailing from hiking moderately on the rail, good but light wind, doldrums, looking for wind from afar, whisker pole up, whisker pole flip, whisker down and back up again. We tried half centerboard up experiments for less resistance, hand holding the jib out and quick single sculling to make it through a turn. But these challenges help keep you sharp and ready for the return of spring time sailing, so we will be ready in May.
I asked Ralf if he wanted to skipper the last race and he cautiously said yes. We had a decent start and farther into the race he commented that "Now I know what your talking about with the crazy wind changes” and "This is difficult". We finished the last race strong but Russ got the gold, Roy snuck in right in front of us to secure the silver and we finished just seconds behind him. Ralf did well and I think a boat of his own is soon warranted.
Fun was had by all involved. You too can join in the sailing frivolities next month on Sunday March 10th. That is also when LMSC will have their yearly Crab Fest dinner, after the races, that concludes their Mid-Winter series.
Thank you Russ, Roy, Tom, Paul and Ralf for being there and continuing to support the clubs.
See you in Oakland next time. That is a hint to the LIDOS and other El Toros if you didn’t get it already. It’s lonely out there.
Earl
___
Earl Thomas #5121
Fleet 62 Captain
