Lake Erie Interclub - Erie to Dover race

This year I helped on the PDYC Committee Boat for the Interclub races that came to Port Dover. Andre and Teri who own Unison  rounded out those of us who regularly man (and woman) the Committee Boat for the Monday night spinnaker races.
The first race of the series is from Erie, Penn. to Port Dover, ONT and starts (literally) at the crack of dawn on Saturday. However there was no wind. We all met at Unison at 10am but heard the races being started, over the radio, at about 10:45 so didn't go out onto the lake until about 1pm. The whole fleet (about 45 boats) had motored out to Long Point before there was enough wind to start racing.

The slow start to our day gave me the opportunity to take a Committee Boat Team picture. I also had time for a swim.

There was no wind - flag hanging limp, lake like glass. Gradually boats started to radio in that they were retiring from the race. They had worked out that at the speed they were going they wouldn't be finished before the 7pm cut off time. About half the boats retired.

After retiring they just took down their sails and motored to Port Dover, relaxed under shade canopies if they had them, probably had a beverage or two and a nap.

The first boat across the line was Sledge Hammer.

Gradually boats came into view and crawled to the finish line. There was much cheering from the crew when the horn sounded that the hot, slow endeavor was over for the day and they could head for dockage.

Graffiti. As I've mentioned before on this blog, reflections in the water are never a good sign for racing.

1st Port Dover boat was Ritual

The flag stirred occasionally and helped some sail across the line but others seemed to be drifting across.

Storm Warning crossed and we got our first view of the beautiful design on the whole length of her hull; blue sky at the stern, then storm clouds and lightening bolts at the bow.

Outlaw crossed the line and

someone took the opportunity to cool off.

The winds were also erratic in terms of direction and some boats were able to finish under spinnaker.

Cyclone, another Port Dover boat.

Reflections again. After all day on the lake that last half hour, with the finish line in sight, must have felt like 3 hours!

Most of the finishers were nicely spaced out, giving us plenty of time to get their sail numbers (with binoculars, for identification) and take their times down. A couple of times we had some excitement, with boats neck and neck crossing the line or one coming from behind to nip the other "at the post".

A couple of swimmers off this one.

Here comes Enigma, another Dover boat

as well as Caleidoscope (who I crew on usually). She won for her fleet as all the other boats retired, she was the only one to finish.

Cut off was 7pm but we were off the water by 6:30. I stayed overnight on Zatarra so I didn't have to drive back and forth to Long Point for the 3 days I was on the Committee Boat.

Along with the cheers of relief that they were finished and the occasional swim, many of the crews also yelled their thanks and appreciation as they crossed the finish line.

Heading in - take down and pack the spinnaker, take down, flake and stow the sails, loop the ropes and make it all ship shape before reaching the dock. Then a beer (or rum) and the post mortem on the race. And do it all again tomorrow.