ISA 2003 Photo
Gallery & Results
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Photo Gallery 2
March 14-15, 2003
Photo Credits: Jeff Soderholm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes from Jeff Soderholm:
We hit the road at early Friday morning and were greeted with very slick
conditions as we had received five inches of new wet snow late on Thursday.
Fortunately the main roads were well salted. Anyway, it was a nice day for the
ride with clear blue skies especially compared to the day before.
The trip up Route 89 thru the Green Mountains was beautiful and before we knew
it (4.5 hours later) we were in Burlington. We still had another half hour ride
to the regatta site. Local directions were good and we arrived at the site
around 11 am. Magnificent scenery as you descended the private gravel road to
the site. Beautiful clear hard smoooth ice as far as the eye could see with
mountains reaching up behind creating a wonderful backdrop
for the tall Skeeter rigs to be seen.
Weather forecast was not too encouraging for wind. We had left a forecasted wind
in our own [DN] sailing area up north 15-20 to drive five hours to sail in a
forecasted 5-10. Needless to say we were delighted to find a light but steady
breeze upon arrival with many boats out sailing on Friday. The Skeeters had
already done their racing and some were in the set up area but a couple were
still out and were zipping back and forth majestically across the large plate.
Oh yeah, this was going to be worth the trip alright. The only parking at this
site was to be on the ice so we cruised over and joined fellow club members
already well settled in and ready to sail. I wasted no time putting on warm
clothes and grabbing the camera. Off to see and document the big Skeeters in
person as soon as possible. Then we went to work on setting up the boats.
Sailing on Friday was great upon arrival and winds let up around two when the
wind died. This left plenty of time to walk around and BS with everyone and gawk
at hardware. More and more boats/people arrived throughout the afternoon. Lots
of familiar faces. Around four the wind picked up to 5mph or so enough for the
late arrivals to get a little sail in on this great plate.
Jon Hix showed up around this time with his newly designed J12 boat and went
right to work on rigging it up and going for a sail. This boat drew a good
amount of attention as it was recently the topic of a new article on the Harken
website.
A tour of the launch area found the 'Attitude' campaign busy at work in the
trailer with propane heater and West System repairing a hairline crack at the
top of the mast. Seems to have worked out ok as it was on the ice and sailing
again on Saturday morning.
Most of the DN racers were set to stay in the Best Western in South Burlington a
twenty to thirty minute ride north. This was a good choice as it had lots of
rooms, a good restaurant and most important a good bar. A large group of us
descended on the restaurant and then to the bar for a couple of drinks. Most of
us too tired to stay long.
The next morning found a fresh half inch layer of fluffy white snow on the
ground and light winds. Forecast was for 5-12 out of the south opposite the
previous days north wind. Since we were not racing and there was not any wind we
made some stops to pickup film, lunch, and had a good breakfast. We arrived to
find it had snowed at the site also but someone was nice enough to clean our
boats off. Setup was done first off in case the wind came up
and then it was time to check out the latest arrivals.
By the way a total of nine of the big skeeters were in attendance. I cannot list
all the boat names but the ones I know are: Insanity, Attitude, Mona Lisa, Lost
Kaus, Amphetamine 2.
Weather was forecasted to be mid thirties with overcast skies but there was blue
sky showing and sunny. This did not affect the ice at all as it stayed firm
enough to sail throughout the day.
The wind did come up as predicted on the weather channel hourly forecast. It
started every so lightly building enough to sail between nine and ten. Then it
was time to set the courses. Two courses were set. One straight out from the
launch for the skeeters and another to the left or south for the DN's just the
other side of a pressure crack. Both courses wound up being moved after a slight
wind shift. This delayed starts for both races. Discussions in both groups
centered around whether the wind was steady enough to start the racing. The DNs
attempted one race but cancelled it due to a lack of a steady enough breeze. The
Skeeters were on the line for a while but eventually the wind meter hit 7 mph
and the race was called on. I am told some skippers felt it wasn't enough
though.
Dan Clapp certainly won and was fast. He approached the upwind mark on the
second rounding with a good lead and was in a nice hike giving us all a
show. I heard there was one incident at the leeward mark but don't know
enough to expand on that.
The wind pretty much died after that race sometime around one. I used what
little breeze was left to cruise back towards the launch so as not to have to
push the long distance back. A good choice as by one thirty there just was no
breeze. It was a good time to break for lunch and hope the wind came back at
some point.
The DN's were trickling in as they had postponed racing till two to see if any
wind came up. A lot of BS and renewing of acquaintances ensued along with
thorough documentation of all boats on hand by all. A string of four Skeeters
were towed back from the starting line by Jeff Morton using the six wheel ATV. I
think being in the middle of that string would be nerve wracking upon arrival
especially with a boat like Insanity or Attitude in front of you. Substitute the
brake into the old saying feet don't fail me now ;-).
By three thirty it did not look too promising and both races had been officially
called for the day. A slight flutter of wind drew a few 'suckers' out onto the
ice only to be left in the middle of the plate to push home.
We had decided not to stay over as very warm temperatures were forecast for
Sunday and figured it was going to be a short day of sailing. So we said our
good byes and hit the road. Very happy to have made the trip. It was a great
plate of ice with a beautiful backdrop and a tremendous group of people on hand
to enjoy the 'almost' perfect conditions
Update, March 17:
I just spoke to the Eastern Lakes DN Manager Steve Madden and was told
that Sunday was a bust for them. Reports from the National Weather Service
indicated as much as 13 mph wind from the south in Burlington but they did not
have enough wind at the regatta site in West Addison.
They noticed when leaving there was wind just to the south of the site so are
now thinking the site location may have some wind restrictions due to geography
of the mountains. Especially southerly winds.
The DN event, the Easterns, must be cursed this year as this is the second time
they had great ice and great (nice but calm) weather but could not get the
regatta off. The first time the race was called for Sebago Lake in Maine where
they had a huge plate of mirror smooth ice like in my black ice oasis photos.
Sebago does not freeze in its entirety that often but it did this year and did
so on a calm clear night creating miles of mirror smooth ice. Unfortunately they
stood around waiting for the wind and never got the race in. The patient
attendees at that event who stayed on the ice until late in the day were lucky
enough to sail for an hour or so at the very end of the day on some of the best
ice this season.
One comment I heard on the site selection was that the Skeeter guys found this
particular site which had not really been used for a regatta previously.
Actually one local mentioned he believed they were gunk holing in the area
looking for access when they drove down this dirt lane with full size Skeeter
box trailer in tow and had no choice but to pull out onto the ice so they could
turn around and once on the ice said hey this looks good I guess where here
(easier than pulling back out at the time ;-)).
| DAY 1 | DAY 2 | FINAL | |||||||
| RACE 1 | RACE 2 | RACE 3 | COMBINED | ||||||
| SKIPPER | SAIL # | SAIL # | FINISH | SAIL # | FINISH | SAIL # | FINISH | POINTS | RANKING |
| Dan Clapp | 53 | 53 | 1 | 53 | 1 | 53 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Tom Nichols | 94 | 94 | 2 | 94 | 3 | 94 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
| Tom Hyslop | 738 | 738 | 5 | 738 | 4 | 738 | 2 | 11 | 3 |
| Bob Kau | 162 | 162 | 4 | 162 | 5 | 162 | 4 | 13 | 4 |
| Bill Stavola | 59 | 59 | 3 | 59 | 2 | 59 | DSQ | 15 | 5 |
| Pete Rochelle | 536 | 537 | 7 | 536 | 8 | 536 | 5 | 20 | 6 |
| Rick Stavola | 106 | 106 | 6 | 106 | 6 | 106 | DNF | 22 | 7 |
| Jordan Glaiser | 928 | 928 | 8 | 928 | 7 | 928 | DNF | 25 | 8 |
| Peter Block | 894 | 894 | 9 | 894 | 9 | 894 | DNF | 28 | 9 |
| CLASS | B | SKEETER | |||||||
| George Neyssen | 152 | 152 | 2 | 152 | 1 | ||||
| Mark Hancik | 219 | 219 | 1 | 219 | 2 | ||||
| Greg Hansa | 37 | 37 | 3 | 37 | 3 | ||||