Lake Eirie Interclub Canada, Committee Boat - Day 4 (Point Abino Bay) and Day 5 (Point Abino to Port Colborne)

 I wasn't on the Committee Boat for the fourth race as I had signed up for a workshop on that day, prior to the announcement of the Interclub dates. C'est la Vie was again the Committee Boat and Jacqui and Karen reported that it all went well. There was a problem for some of the slower boats as the course was too long for them to complete in the designated time frame and they were scored as DNC which resulted in a penalty.

On the final day, Day 5, I left home early (another sunrise!) and arrived at Point Abino

in time to take a few photos of the boats "at rest".

Don't those towels say it all - "Keep Calm", but they are upside down!

The resident Kingfisher.

Most of the sailors were still having breakfast on the patio at the Bertie Boat Club, next door. The club had opened its restaurant specifically for the event, providing dinners, breakfasts and box lunches for the Interclub participants.

When I joined Steve and Hadley I heard the beginnings of the "Dumpster Diving" story

Over the course of the day I heard bits and pieces, often 3rd or 4th hand. As near as I can make out Jacqui gave the time sheets to someone who gave them to the statistician. When he got to his hotel he realized he didn't have them and may have left them on the table. There were phone calls. One call was to Jacqui, but she was already asleep. Of course all the tables had been cleared and then the "Dumpster Diving" began. I heard in graffic detail about disgusting garbage bags, noses being held, maggots shaken off etc etc. I am not sure how much was reality and how much added for dramatic effect but the piece of paper was finally found in the garbage can behind the bar. It hadn't even made it to the dumpster.

If they had been able to get through to Jacqui they would have found out that she always takes a photo of the results and keeps the scratch sheet.

I believe there are photos of these events but I don't have them. Maybe they are being saved for bribery purposes.

The Tetrahedron had been left out over night so we didn't have to place it in the morning.

We just had to anchor C'est la Vie in position and

sent the two fleets off

without any difficulty. There had been mention that it was difficult to see the flags the previous day so this time we worked out how to post them from the Flybridge.

The fleet this time was racing a much shorter course and in consultation with the Coarse Committee it was realized that we could not get the tetra, go in, load up, drive to Port Colborne and get out, in the next Committee Boat and set a line before the first of the boats got there. Therefor the fleet was instructed to take their own times and the time of the boat behind them and relay that to the Committee Boat. We were able to do those chores and drive to Port Colborne in a leisurely fashion and ultimately set up on the deck of the Marina restaurant. We were not able to see the boats finishing from there but could see them as they headed in to the marina and could ask their times if they had not already radioed it in. Quick lunch and we went down to the pavilion for the flag ceremonies.

Flags were awarded in both fleets (Jeff from Enigma and Race Chair, Andy)

Brad from Sequence

Crew of Dolce Vita

Crew of Sheets and Giggles

Only one kiss, Angie from Relentless.

There was acknowledgement of this young couple who raced Belafonte together for the 5 days, spinnaker and all.

Paul (Vision skipper), Karen, Carol and Jaquie (Committee Boat Crew) and Norm (Blue Pearl skipper)

Everyone experienced windless periods, water gun fights, biting flies, tacking and gybing, big wind, duels, frustrations, hot nights, pushing for another knot of boat speed, docking in new slips and the camaraderie of racing together over 5 days. On the Committee boat we met helpful and interesting people, worked together well, found the work physically taxing, shared some laughs and were really glad that Jacquie had a truck to haul the paraphernalia.

And this is what happens when I am away for a few days. I thought it was the compost smelling until I found this large dead fish on the back lawn. ?????? Must have been dropped by an Eagle and then the heat and Turkey Vultures left it like this.