[Capri25] Ultra Light Air Races

[Dan McNamara]

I too would like to thank the RC for getting off a great race in  
terrible conditions.

As a Bayfield sailor and the veteran of dozens of off-shore races I  
like the opportunity to race in changing conditions and learn how to  
make the boat go better.  Any one who has:  Gone from 12 kt to zero at  
the top of Hermit Island with no visible change in the texture of the  
water.  Approached a boat head on when both boats are on Starboard in  
a convergence zone.  Gotten to Silver Bay early Sunday morning only to  
park there for 4 hours and have the wind come up 10 boat lengths away  
with no way to get there... understands what sailing in light,  
unpredictable and "unfair" wind is all about.  The best boats always  
seam to find a way to do well and predict the unpredictable.

I see the Light Air Cup as a way to learn a new set of skills without  
driving 4 hours to Bayfield.  It also makes me more confident if I am  
in an out of town regatta with a RC not as good as ours.  A day like  
Sunday were the wind was up and down with short shifts less then 90  
degrees a short course in the middle of the lake with lots of legs is  
great.  On those days where there is wind but it is all over the  
place, a start finish line in the middle of the lake with 3 or 4 marks  
in different bays and a RC boat telling us what mark to go to next,  
like a Bayfield random buoy race, I think would work (require radios  
if RC resources are a concern.

I would love it if the fleet had a trophy for this.  I know that I am  
crazier then most and have fun racing at 0.01 kt of boat speed in lump  
and in numerous Burton Cups or Big Islands have dove the keel to clear  
weeds.  I don't mind bobbing in a hole during a race hoping the wind  
fills from my side of the course, or that the lead boats find a bigger  
hole that we can sail around.  I don't expect those races to be fair  
but to me the are fun. The things I see and lessons I learn make me a  
better sailor.

I don't think there are many in the Capri fleet that "like" racing  
with little to no air on a HOT Summer day, besides me.  But if there  
are boats sailing back to Wayzata Bay there is enough wind to race a  
Capri for a light air cup race.

Thanks, from an ultra crazy Capri Sailor,

Dan McNamara