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2007 Harvest Regatta Hosted by Eugene Yacht Club Sept 8th & 9th, 2007
13 boat fleet with very strong winds from the north. Six races with one throw out.
The team of Jason Crawson, Sylvain Barrielle and Kim Magers won the event. Read more about Jason in Andrew Kerr's interview. In the mean time, enjoy the report from Gordon Mattatall, our Class Association President and check out the scores at the bottom of the page.
It Was a dark and stormy night… No it was a beautiful day got to the club about 7:30 in the morning and the wind was all ready up and blowing at about 8 to 10 knots and the sun was shining.
The forecast as for 10 to 20 out of the north and there was a low sitting off the Oregon coast and you could see the cloud movement coming in from the coasts come up the Columbia and down the Willamette valley, and Fern ridge is the bottom of that valley.
As race time draws near the winds were picking up to 15 to 18. We were setting the Genoa up as we watch the boats leave the dock we change down to the jib. Push off the dock and were doing 7 with only the main.
Race 1 The wind has built to about 22 to 25 knot with 28 to 20 knot gust. Have not seen winds like this on the lake out of the north. It can happen with the storm winds out of the southwest but not the north. Windward leeward twice around, clean start boats on my hip and to leeward both try to put it in point mod with no speed. We move out in front of them, playing the wave not much wave action as we move north to the dam. Look around and we have Lance and Jason coming into the mark right behind us. Set the chute and off we go. Water is breaking clean off of the transom and we have a small rooster tail. Sea bear (Jason) and DA (Lance) are right behind. I am not looking my crew is call position. Head for the west end of a long start line. Pass the line with Jason on my hip and Lance close behind. Jason heads down toward the leeward mark we try but we start digging the bow in and the water is about 3” to coming over the deck and we are doing better then 11 knots. Start a death roll and head up to get control of the boat and Jason cuts inside he has the lead. That is the race and Sea Bear 1 H20 Boa 2 DA 3
Race 2 and 3 The winds about the same as race 1 for race 2 but they build a little race 3 with the puffs being a little higher. All most the same race as 1 but we start going around the east end as the boats that did that on the first race made up ground on us. The finishes were the same for the top three boats. These two races were a blur for me as a fire started on the east side of the lake and I have several friends who live there. And as I watch the fire spread and the smoke change color I as saying a little pray for them. Lucky as no lives were lost and only some small out building.
Race 4 First race on Sunday look like a repeat of Saturday wind was building. Sailed out with Genny up, at the start area changed down to the jib. Setup for the start rolled back and set up as the last starter. Sea bear and DA where by the pin working each other hard, look like Paul Stephens in Aquila was above the rest of the starters. As the horn blow and we were off the wind shifted we tack on to port and were lifted to the mark. Mike our foredeck said that no one was coming with us. Look like Paul had everyone pinned and the lift had not reached the rest of the fleet. First to the mark never look back as the rest of the fleet work around the course. Jason in Sea bear had second. Ron fish third, Paul forth and Lance in DA fifth.
Race 5 Setup up behind the fleet as they set up by the pin. Just before the start there is little gust. We dive deep and up to hold our place at the start. One of the other competitors was driving down to cover us at the start. We came up hard and then fell off in our hole and horn sounded the boat above us went into point mode with no speed. And that allowed us to get our nose out in front. As we settled in for the beat to weather, Mike said that the recall flag was up and that there were several boats at the pin that look like they were over. And that Sea bear and DA were heading back to the line. First to weather mark and watched as Jason slow eat up the other boats and move up through the fleet. First to finish, Doug Smith in One Eye Jacq second, Jason third, Ron Fish fourth, and Lance fifth.
Race 6 This is a triangle course. As we are setting up at the start boat, we get caught in a Squeeze between DA and Sea Bear. Horn sounds and out the back we go. Over to port to clear our air and behind a boat or two, as we come into the mark Lance is firsts and walking away Ron Fish is in Second. Jason, Doug Smith then Ryan in Dust off comes in on port at the pin. Just cut in front of us. We set our chute go high then low. Ryan is having problems with his chute. We are working low pass some of the boats that have gone high. Jason and Doug we cut into the mark as inside boat, Ron is about 5 boats in front and Doug is on my hip with Jason hard on his (Doug). The wind is quit fresh and we are making good time. Jason make a hard luff to cover Doug and Doug response we come up but they have us so I am hoping that the two of they will take each other out --- no such luck. Jason gets inside and away we go. At the mark as we start up wind they lose control of their pole as they are cleaning up. But it is not enough to slow them down. Now I am covered like a blanket as the race is between the two of us. And this is our throw out and Jason just need to control me and he does.
Nice racing with great sailors.
Gordon Mattatall H20 Boa
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