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Hi All,<br>
Odell, Blake and I discussed the Thursday short course at length.
Sorry that the fleet ended up with such a short course. Blake and
Jarrod were looking at two lines of thunderstorms coming toward the
lake. Blake was looking at live radar on the committee boat.
The first line didn't have anything in it but rain and seamed safe to
race, so Blake started. When they decided to race, the second line
looked much more active and possibly dangerous...lighting. To
further complicate the matter the wind was switching direction with
possible big changes in velocity. In the interest of safety and of
trying to get in a race, Blake give the C-25's a shorter course so they
could be off the lake if the second line of storms with lighting got to
the lake.<br><br>
Odell asked the question, "why couldn't they set a 5 leg course and
if the storm came, shorten the race after 3 legs at the windward
mark"? The problem with this is that we race with a separate
finish line windward of the windward mark and in order to finish at 3
legs, the mark boat would have to notify the fleet of a change of course
at the leeward mark which would make the timing difficult if lighting was
coming in the storm front. We use a separate finish line because
the 120-125 boats of all different fleets with some going around the WW
mark and others finishing has a safety issue and is too complex for the
race committee to know who is finishing and who has another round to
go. Blake didn't want to set longer courses and use Bailiff to
finish some at either the WW mark or at the leeward mark, because he
wanted to have Bailiff available (not at anchor) to render assistance if
the storm hit and a C-25 sunk.<br><br>
As it turned out, both thunderstorm lines dissipated as they hit the dry
air near the lake and it was a nice light air sail. So, that made
the short race disappointing for all. However, when there are big
issues of safety, Blake and I will come down on the side of safety and
what is best for the entire group.<br><br>
If you still have a problem with what went down, we strongly encourage
you to go on the committee boat for a race as a guest. You will
have your eyes opened as to the complexity of the operation and the skill
of the WYC race committee.<br><br>
It is still the intent of the RC to give the C-25 the longer courses and
so serve the C-25 Fleet.<br><br>
Please feel free to discuss this with me at the club <b><i><u>BUT NOT IN
EMAILS. <br><br>
</u></i></b>Regards,<br>
Bert Foster<br>
RC Chairman </body>
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