Duck Challenge Aug 22-23

Five Fleet 329 boats made the trip up I-95 for the annual Duck Challenge this past weekend. Jon, Jason W., Joan & Gary, Mark B. and I with our respective crews made for some serious fleet 329 competition. The Duck is always one of the most enjoyable events on the Dixie District circuit, not necessarily for dependable breeze but for their warm hospitality, easy access to the racecourse, always enjoyable cookout and party, and the barhopping. Everyone up at Harve DeGrace is so nice, we always have a great time and this year was no exception. 17 boats in all attended this years Duck Challenge.

Saturday’s light and variable breeze from the north made for some interesting racing. Shifts would appear and disappear with no discernable reason. You looked good one moment only to sail into the abyss and have the rest of the fleet sail around you the next moment. Fun stuff. Jason was fast from the start and paced everyone with two firsts in the first two races. Jon opened up with a 2nd & 4th while we struggled with a 7th and a 3rd. Races 3 & 4 we found our way to win both races. Jon would sail his drop race in race three with a second in race four. And sailing consistent was Joan & Gary who opened with a third and then had two fourths in race 3 & 4. Throw in Mark B. with a fifth in race two which was awesome in such tough conditions. OK, are you confused by all the numbers, I am. Jason led us by two points, with Jon 7 points back and Joan & Gary a few points behind Jon after Saturdays racing. Factor in a projected drop if we reach seven races and the scores were even tighter.

Saturday’s evening cookout as always was quite enjoyable. Normally you pick either a steak or salmon and you gather around the grill and cook it yourself. This year we had some nice volunteers who braved the wind and rain to cook for the competitors. Then it was off to the favorite local watering hole, McGregor’s, where one becomes part of a whole cast of characters.
Joan had plenty of energy to burn and hit the dance floor with Gary, not hubby Gary, but the ever-effervescent Gary Hofer. A sight to behold indeed, but luckily not on YouTube.

Sunday morning showed promise as the front had gone through and a nice northwesterly was blowing as we reached the club. But the promise would be fleeting, even though the first race of the day was held in a steady 8 knots of breeze. The remaining two races would be more of the patchy light stuff we had on Saturday. Jason struggled some on Sunday while Jon was hot out of the blocks and had two bullets in the first two races. Joan showed no ill effects from her dancing and opened with an 3rd & 2nd and we stayed close with an 2nd & 3rd. With a throw out going into race seven, Jon and I were tied. Race seven was as exciting as racing can be in two-four knots of breeze, we reached the weather mark ahead of Jon, Jon passed us downwind, we passed Jon upwind, and then were able to pass Pat Phelan with a hundred yards to the finish to win race seven and take a two point lead over Jon. With boats struggling to finish, the race committee decided to call it a day and a regatta. Final results were: 1st Steve 11 pts, 2nd Jon 13 pts, 3rd Jason 21 pts, 4th Joan 25 pts. Complete results can be found at:

http://www.lightningclass.org/fleet50/dixiedistrict/2009/DuckChallengeResults.htm

A special thanks to Pat Phelan and Tom Compton and everyone else up at Fleet 192 for putting on a good regatta. See you next year at the Duck.