What happened? Well let me tell you, Magic stuff happened! I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a regatta so much.
But my memory is already fading and I can't remember all the details. How do people write those regatta recaps where they recall every start and every leg and every mark rounding and every incident in every race? But I do remember it was all good.
This regatta, then known as the Saltmarsh Trophy, used to be run out of New Bedford Community Boating Center by one of the most loved Laser sailors on the scene, John Bentley, who sadly died way too young in December last year. Long time readers of this blog will know him as That Guy.
It was always one of my favorite regattas. It had just the right combination of informality and professionalism if you know what I mean. Things done properly while still in a spirit of fun. Not at all stuffy or bureaucratic. Races run properly and on time, and then hanging out with good friends over pizza and a few beers. Usually around 20-30 boats which is a big enough fleet for some fun racing without the hassle of trying to deal with all the logistics of car parking and boat park overcrowding and launching mayhem and ridiculously long start lines not to mention mommy boats etc. etc. which you get at those 100+ boat regattas.
Anyway the regatta got moved to New Bedford YC and renamed in John's honor, but they have done a damn fine job of preserving the spirit and style of the regatta that made it so special.
Saturday was kind of screwy. The wind started of in the west at about 12-15 knots, then went down a lot for the second race, shifted way left just before the start of the third race, and then came back at a solid 15 knots for the final race. Towards the end of the day I was getting some cramps in my arms; need to get back to the weights. I didn't feel I was sailing particularly well, but then if I was perfect all the time, I would win everything and that would be disastrous.
The last race had an upwind finish at a spot that set us up for a screaming, planing reach back to the Padanaram breakwater, the yacht club and.... free beer. I remembered an exactly similar situation racing at some regatta here with John Bentley a few years ago. Like most folk I imagine, after a hard day of racing I just slacken off and sail back to the club at about 75% of effort. John had finished the race a few places in front of me (like he always did, the old bastard) and I was looking forward to a leisurely sail and a chat on the way in. But John had a different idea. He sheeted in and hiked out and sailed that reach at 110% effort. He was 100 yards ahead of me before I realized what was going on. He may not have won the real race but he was going to beat me in the race to the beer.
So on Saturday I sailed that reach the way John would have done. It was the least I could do.
Sunday was a magical day. Perfect Buzzards Bay sea breeze weather. 15-18 knots from the SW. Waves you could surf for ever. I was in some kind of zone where I just wasn't getting tired. Must have been the adrenaline I guess. Definitely sailing better and getting better finishes. I don't remember a day I had more fun racing.
The awards ceremony got a bit emotional with several folk talking about their memories of John. His best friend Mark Bear told of how they had arranged a memorial for John back in February, but that John was never much one for ceremony so, from wherever he is now, he had given them the middle finger and arranged for Superstorm Nemo that weekend and they had had to blow off the event. This regatta was kind of the alternative to the memorial and John had fixed the weather for us again.
Not a dry eye in the house.
Final thoughts: Never too old, going to lose some weight, going to work a little harder on my fitness.
But then I alway say that.
More thoughts on what I learned in another post.
11 comments:
Thanks for this. Sorry I was a bit impatient before, but I've come to expect quick recaps of events held the day before. I love to hear when you're thoroughly thrilled with the weekend's goings on.
Skipper, all of our stories will certainly end in the middle. So I am wondering if, in advance of your untimely but anticipated death on your Laser, have you given any thought to what sort of race or regatta you would hope for as your memorial?
I am not worthy of a regatta. There aren't enough regattas to name one after every mediocre Laser sailor like me. Only for special people like JB.
But it would be nice if someone would write a song about me. Maybe they could call it "T for the Tillerman"?
Deja vu. I swear I've read this post somewhere before. It started and ended the same way.
T for the Tillerman, steak for who won.
Wine for the woman who let Tillerman come.
Seagulls sing your hearts away
'Cause while Grandpa sails, the extensions play
Oh Lord how they play and play
For that happy day, for that happy day
Okay, but maybe a special Tillerman Cup Race. Over a long course, perhaps one of your favorite venues. Something significant like circumnavigating a lake or an island. The Tillerman Cup Race should include an endurance element of some sort. Specify that it has to start a little before noon to ensure finishing if light airs predominated. Too add spice to it, schedule it in a summer month annually when there's going to be a full moon. That way your competitors would not have to finish by sundown?
Well spotted /Pam. In fact this post was first titled Laser Sailing at Age 64, but then I changed my mind.
For those who didn't get the allusions, it is of course a post-modernist homage to a recent guest post on /Pam's blog by the Laser Master legend Joe van Rossem titled Laser Sailing at Age 74.
Doc, are you sure you are not projecting your own wishes on me?
I haven't given much thought to such matters. Except one of the other sailors had mentioned during the weekend that he was driving to Florida on Monday to spread his father-in-law's ashes at the place he had requested. After sailing on Sunday we were at the boat ramp and I was still so pumped up after a fabulous day of sailing that I told him that when it's my time he could spread my ashes out where we had been sailing on Buzzards Bay.
But the Sakonnet River is pretty special for me too. And Bristol Harbor. And Newport.
@Baydog: Nice!
@Tillerman: Select a course. (Provide for a rabbit start, if necessary.) Choose a trophy. Affix plagues. Start this year, so that you give yourself a chance to win your own event.
Like I have.
I already did it Doc. I started a Laser regatta back in 2005. And I won it the first year it was run. See The Regatta. Nothing left to prove.
And the second year my regatta was run it had a special trophy and a new name The Collander Cup in honor of my famous sailing cousin, of whom I am sure you have heard.
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