Mother’s Arms Challenge 2012

photos contained herein are compliments of Lance Squires and Mike and Pam Loughlin

Thanks mainly to Hurricane Sandy there was enough water to run the Mother’s Arms Challenge this year.  The water stage is about 2.7 which is close to a minimum level to make this race even possible for much of the LMSA fleet. As it was we managed to find at least one spot where the water was a little thin.

I rode to the Lake with Denise ‘cause my truck has to have new brakes. I was not particularly excited about sailing but I said I said I would do the scoring. Pam Loughlin measured the wind at a sustained 14 knots but Lake Monroe is only about nine feet deep at this stage and the waves make it look much worse.  It was cloudy and cold enough for socks, which is outside my comfort level. The sky opened up a spot or two of bluish but I was thinking seriously about waiting at Wolfy’s and drinking Irish coffee until everyone was done being cold.

At the competitor’s meeting, Jerry Brinton and his daughter Lauren asked if I wanted to sail with them and I had a moment of hesitation, the Irish coffee idea was beginning to take hold.

Sail Gator is a S2 7.9 in immaculate condition, and the 7.9 is truly one of my favorite boats of all time. I wish I had kept the one that I sold when I bought the Loose Cannon. I still would have acquired the Loose Cannon, but I could have kept Wild Turns, it would have been O.K. At the dock we tied in a reef, and then headed out to the start line.

Race Committee is a tough gig. Far be it from me to cast aspersions on anyone that assumes that responsibility unless, of course, they happen to be my very good friends, Mike and Pam Loughlin and my wife. Again, not to be critical, but usually the start line is set in water deep enough to have the keel at least part way down. I am sure that this was just an extra little challenge thrown in to see how many boats could make the windward start line in fifteen knots of breeze with no keel. We were late to the start line by over a minute and crossed the line as we raised the jib. After a short beat on starboard we tacked below the layline to the mouth of the river, hoping to get lifted. Andy and Fisk apparently managed to cross the start line on port and get lifted all the way to the opening. We were too close to Mother’s Arms to risk that line even with the keel only part of the way down.

Slipping into the river behind  Ha Ha the other Precision 23 of Byron Hicks and DJ McCabe, the reefed mainsail was called into question. The possible consequences of having too much mains’l in the government cut or once we returned to the lake won out for the time being. We left the reef in. Easing the sails and bearing away just before climbing into the cockpit of the Precision allowed Sail Gator to accelerate through the Ha Ha wind shadow.

In the second short cut, the already partially retracted dagger board grabbed a big chunk of swamp bottom and Sail Gator stopped. I reached the winch first and got the board to move a little as we could hear the Precision getting closer. Lauren came from the bow and took over the winch handle, I grabbed the line to “tail” and Jerry steered us to a little deeper water, all before Ha Ha got on top of our air. We could see Fisk and Paulie flying the spinnaker on Old Yeller the San Juan 21. Andy with his crew of Johnny Yannish, Diane Forrest and Maryann Carter had the infamous whisker pole stretching out Show Me’s genoa. Removing the reef was a unanimous decision at his point, and it did help. Ron Semans and Brent Carter were staying with Show Meon the Laser 2. All three of them rounded Willie’s Roost into the government cut before we could see it. Willie’s Roost is a corner upon which I have perched in previous excursions around Mother’s Arms.

By the time we reached the cut, Ol’ Yeller’s spinnaker had passed Show Me’s pole, and the Laser 2 was having to short tack in the channel because they just did not have the momentum to punch through some of the wind shifts. Sail Gator weighs in at over two tons even without rail meat, momentum was not the issue. Not enough time to catch anyone so we finished fourth.

Jeff Herter’s Vulcan Mermaid,

met us as we returned from a leisurely reach across to the western shore of Lake Monroe after we finished, and we had a little close order drill type exercise before docking and gathering at Wolfy’s for the scoring ritual.

Andy sent this in this morning from the BVI’s. -wb-

Having sorted out my emails here in the soon to be frigid Midwest, the following reports are available from Andy Forrest and Team LMSA/Fleet 29, my comments are italicized to avoid confusing Andy’s honest efforts with my possible sarcasm.

Upon arrival

We are here, rusty grill again but skip arrived after dark and dosen’t know it yet. Nice sailors from all over the US. San Diego dude a little smug, we’ll have to take him down. But rest of crowd seems fun they brought. 15 friends and therefore rented a 45 cat too, Pam.  Here we go…   -Andy-

Rusty Grill is the code for the older, less maintained boat that Fisk and Andy had during a previous trip to the BVI’s. Apparently they will have to achieve greatness with less than the best vessel available.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

First day,bouy races:  15 knots in Sir Francis Drake channel.  Our boat named Whiskey Chaser had upwind speed over the whole fleet of nine.  We overcame early boat learning mistakes and came from last to second on the second lap in the first race.

The second race we lead until two hundred yards from the finish and were overtaken by San Fran, where is the unholy whisker pole when I need it!  (No whisker poles are allowed in this race)

Third race we lead start to finish even with a mark touch and the 360.  We were happy and suprised by our sucess against these big city sailors.

Day 2

Long upwind sail to the Bitter End Yacht club.  We lead for the first 2 hours but were passed due to two poor tacks and a jib sheet caught on a deck cleat.  Still tied for first going into the Laser race.  Sorry to say I was not in the same league as the 150 pound 25 year olds and took a solid 7th, which is last.  Pride hurt but rum is dulling the pain.

We are still in a tight race going into the two Laser distance races.  No one can sail with us upwind and Fisk is making good calls all around.

That is as many words as my thumbs can do after 10 hours of sailing and 4 hours of rum.  More to come.

-Andy-

Team LMSA/Fleet 29 is making me very proud. –wb-

The Lake Monroe Sailing Association of Sanford Florida, host of the annual Kettle Cup Regatta, is proud to announce the up to the minute success of the Commodore and his hand-picked crew in the NOOD REGATTAS NOOD Championship November 9-13, 2012 ~ British Virgin Islands. After the first day of racing I am pleased to report, after deciphering the cryptic message I received from Andy Forrest, that Fisk, Paulie, Carlton, Aggie, Diane and Andy, have won one race and finished second in the other two races. As of late Saturday those scores had our LMSA team in First Place.

I have some information from the Sailing World NOOD Championship website, http://www.sailingworld.com/nood-regattas/nood-championship/nood-in-the-bvi

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This year’s Caribbean NOOD Championship competitors are:
Fisk Hayden (San Juan 21 Ole Yeller, St. Petersburg NOOD)
J Michael Honeysett (Beneteau 40.7Wiki Wiki, San Diego NOOD)
Chris Doyle (J/22 The Jug 4 1, Annapolis NOOD)
Ben Colwell (F-18 Rum Line, Seattle NOOD)
Tom Weber (Beneteau 40.7 LaTempete, Chicago NOOD)
Charlie Pendleton & Jim Raisides (Rhodes 19 Bight Me, Marblehead NOOD)
Scooter Simmons (J/105 Blackhawk, San Francisco NOOD)

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Fisk Hayden is the current commodore of the Lake Monroe Sailing Association and member of San Juan fleet 29. His crew for this adventure includes; Paulie Kaiser, Fisk’s regular crew member, Aggie and Carlton Brown, Fleet 29 Captain and SJ-21 National Association Vice Commodore, respectively, and Andy and Diane Forrest, normally some of Fisk’s most significant competition in the Lake Monroe Sailing Association.

These next few paragraphs are copied from the instructions given to the competitors. I thought it might be nice to pass this information along so that you might get an idea of the grueling schedule our heroes have to endure to represent our club in this national competition.
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From Sailing World Editor, Dave Reed.
The first day is bouy-racing near the base: ace PRO Peter Reggio will keep the courses short and tight so you can mix it up and test your short tacking skills (tack wisely, my friends). After a few laps we’ll reach over to Cooper Island and grab moorings. I highly recommend a dinghy trip to the reef for snorkeling (I’ll be leading the charge!) The restaurant at Cooper is typical island fare, should you not want to get involved with cooking.

For the following morning, I recommend a rise-and-shine departure. Put your most hungover on the helm while everyone sleeps for the short motor to The Baths. It’s the BVI’s most popular destination, for good reason, so give yourself plenty of time to check it out. From there we’ll send you off on my favorite distance race up to the Bitter End. The outcome surprises me every time.

At the Bitter End YC, you’ll tie up to the docks, plug in, restock your ice, and send your most willing (or unwilling) crew to the Laser racing for some good ol’ fashioned short course battling. Dinghy heckling is strongly encouraged, and if we’re in early enough, go ahead and take out some of the BEYC’s other toys (Hobie Waves, etc.). At the conclusion of the Laser racing your humble race committee will be parched from a long day working on the mothership and computing scores, and we therefore require each team to present a round of their boat’s signature Mount Gay Rum cocktail for tasting. A winner will be announced at the evening’s feast.

Onward the next day, we’ll go the long way ’round the backside of Tortola to either Cane Garden Bay or Jost Van Dyke, swell dependent. Take a spin out to Sandy Cay or over to Jost for a dip in the hot springs (check your guide on how to get there), or park and relax. If it’s a sandy dance floor you seek, head over to Great Harbor to hit Foxy’s (usually quiet this time of year, though).

The final leg takes us on a grueling passage through Great Thatch current, and onto Norman Island. A mandatory snorkel stop at the Indians will be in order, followed by a trip to the Caves at Norman. We’ll leave plenty of time in the schedule for it all. The final party will be held on shore at Norman, and then, should history repeat itself, it’s to the Willy T for more than you can possibly handle.

If you’ve extended your charter, wise move. . . carry on. If you’re returning to base on Wednesday, an early rise will get you back with plenty of time.

A few personal recommendations for first-time charterers:
1. When you arrive at the base, your first order of business should be to get a spare cooler from the dock staff (they can be hard to score), but are critical for keeping beers in the cockpit handy.

2. If you’re provisioning your own boat, divide and conquer. Two super markets will have everything you need: one’s a 10-minute walk, the other (Bobby’s) has an arrangement with the base: they’ll van you to the store and wait for you.

3. The masks and snorkels at the base are well-used community snorkels…if you’ve got your own quality snorkel, bring it. The available fins are fine.

4. Waiting around the charter base for any reason is torture. The squeaky wheel gets the check out done. Find your boat briefer and make it happen ASAP. Get off the dock, and out of the harbor.

5. Make it personal – bring your yacht club burgee to fly, or state flag, hometown colors, whatever you have that tells the world where you are from.

See you in the BVIs, and safe travels.

Dave Reed
Editor, Sailing World

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We have the highest of expectations and even higher hopes for our team!
-wb-