Only two skippers were present due to an event at another venue. What we laughingly called a breeze was about all we experienced as we still sailed for a time. Two light sprinkles also occurred during sailing time. The author’s new boat, acquired from Paul Mercer ( and earlier Rick Laird) really wasn’t tested with the light conditions present but every once in a while it heeled over a bit. No marine life were injured during testing.

After a late start due to someone figuring that the start time was the time to start assembling his boat and NOT when racing was supposed to begin whose name will not be revealed, a shortened schedule of eight races was accomplished in the allotted time frame. Light conditions were again the order of the day except in the afternoon there were very spotty good breezes evident making strategy more important. Herb was having a little trouble early with the farthest mark allowing the rest of us a little advantage but solved that forging to the front in the end. Rick retired after the sixth race for unknown reasons. This was the first VM regatta your humble author attended due to being given Jim Linville’s boat “GRONK” after his passing. The boat shows promise… me not so much LOL.

An early start still attracted four skippers however Alain’s boat never hit the water due to a malfunctioning winch. Unfortunately, the malady was catchy as Chris’s winch also died causing Chris to miss two starts while replacing it. On the water, very light fluky breezes were the order of the day. After a half hour start delay ( including Alain diagnosing his problem ) only seven races were run due to many “My boat needs tweaking” waits compounded by how long it took to get back to the start area. Herb showed his dominance without Cliff to challenge him with 6 straight wins, mostly by large margins. Rick and Chris settled to battle for second but, due to Chris’s winch problems, ended with Rick in second.

NO SAILING 7/20, V36#2 Moved to 7/27@10:00, V36#3 8/10@10:00

See the schedule for the changes.

Chris made a gutsy call on suspect weather ( Don’t you just love weathermen? ) which turned out to be the correct one with gradually clearing skies throughout the regatta. Six skippers tried to compete, but Chris’s rudder servo decided to be intermittent just before the first start and was replaced during the first race. Unfortunately, while replacing the servo, the hatch integrity was compromised which caused Chris to scratch. Rick Laird missed the first 2 races due to a big accident on Rt 93 (Southbound but you know rubberneckers!). On the water there was wind, no wind, heavy wind, shifty gusts, downdrafts (?), and boats on opposite tacks 6 feet apart. That is to say normal Sandy Pond mid summer conditions. Cliff took the win, Greg and Herb had a tiebreaker for 2^nd and 3^rd, Dave in 4^th and Rick Laird rounding out the places. Rick Gates kibitzed from the sidelines and Cheryl spectated. Your humble reporter was lucky enough to be able to sit in the shade while officiating the start/finish line.

We are going to attempt to race today rain should be gone around 10 it will be wet but not raining. Bring water it’s gonna be HOT.

Heading says it all unfortunately.

It was decided that rather than running the 4^th Annual V36 regatta, which will be rescheduled-probably in October, we would run the postponed V36#2. Four skippers completed a full 12 race schedule finishing just as some very serious rain began. Missing was Alain Jousse who, as I was told, found that deer crossing the highway do not yield to cars on his way over. Alain is OK but I heard his car is missing a bumper. I haven’t heard the condition of the deer. On the water conditions were fairly good. Full overcast, cool temperatures ( after several days of mid 90’s ) and a mostly consistent WNW breezes made for some good racing although there were a multitude of long skinny weeds picked up by everyone at one time or another. Almost everyone got multiple bullets but Cliff had a sizable advantage affording him the win trailed by Herb,Rick L and Rick G.

Start time for all series regattas has been changed from 1:00 to 12:00 as noted on our modified Facebook schedule page. This does not affect special regattas.

The second regatta of the doubleheader ran from 1:00 to a bit before 3:00. Rick Gates graciously allowed Herb to sail his boat as Herb’s was sidelined. This allowed Rick to kibitz from the sidelines better ( Chuckle). Wind conditions were no better than in the morning but I’m currently at a loss for more adjectives meaning crazy. Conditions aside, Cliff made it look easy with the others vying for second. For the spectator ( Chris and I) it made for an interesting afternoon with many place swaps and the aforementioned funky breezes. Often 2 boats were only feet apart on different tacks or one in a lull and the other one laid over. In the end, Cliff took the win, Herb ( sailing Rick Gates’s boat) in second, Alain in third and Rick Laird bringing up the rear.