2023 Classic Moth Boat Mid-Winters--Gulfport, Florida

 It's been a while since I last posted anything.  Part of that was Covid related and part was due to event cancellations.  Also, since my daughter is now working full time as an RN, I don't have a photographer on call.  But this year's Mid-Winters allowed to get a camera out on the mark boat.  Those pix are the work of Lennie Parker and Amy Linton.  Then after the regatta, Race Committee member, Mark Joseph supplied some pix he took.  So, plenty of pix.

Sadly, very few boats.  Six in total, due to a lot of last minute conflicts.  Hopefully we'll see a better turn out in '24.

What follows is a collage of what the photographers saw.  Enjoy.

There was a postponement each morning, waiting for the land to  heat and the sea breeze to develop. This launch scene is from Saturday.  By the time we sailed to the starting area the breeze had built to 10 to 15 out of the SW.  In addition, the bay got quite lumpy/choppy.

 

The Generation II boats included Joe Bousquet in his Mistral Try-Umph.

Jeff Linton sailing his Mousetrap.

Mike Parsons in his Mistral Revolution.

Jamey Rabbitt in his new design Knotty By Nature.  Note the clarity of the water--you can see the dagger board. This ain't New Jersey or E. City, NC.

 

As mentioned earlier, the bay offered a lot of chop and distinct wave trains as seen here.  Everyone flipped at least once during the two day event..

Joe B. trying to catch a wave.

 

Generation I attracted only two boats, both Europe designs.  Here we see your old diarist, sailing his Galetti-built woodie Femme Fatale.

My Gen I competitor, Greg Ducan sailed his glass Winner-built Europe.

As noted, everyone flipped at least once.  I flipped twice just for good measure.  Once 30 seconds before the start and the second time after rounding the leeward mark for the beat to the finish line.  Why are cameras so abundant whenever I do something clumsy in the boat?

I think this series of pix documents my first bath, just before the starting horn.

The dagger board fell out of the trunk (twice) which added to my swimming session.

Almost back in but the boat decided to capsize to weather!

Finally back in the boat chasing the fleet.  Yes, I completed this race in order to limit the damage to my score. Capsizing is very slow.  The rest of the fleet enjoyed a little rest while I sailed the course very much alone.  There's a fish somewhere with a very stylish cycling cap.  At first I thought I'd also lost my sunglasses but the coakie did it's job.  They were tangled in my life vest.

Mike P. in Revolution.

Jamey's design is a good bit narrower on deck than a Mistral.  It appears to have flatter waterlines as well.

Waiting for the start.

A few seconds later.

Joe B. tacking away on port.

Joe's Mistral is the only Gen II boat with a three stay, deck stepped rig.

Jeff L. in Mousetrap.

The pin end on one of the starts.

Jeff and Jamey pick their way up wind through the waves.

Greg keeping me honest at the leeward mark.

Rounding the mark with less than a boat length between us.

Towards the end of the day Saturday, Jamey broke his mast puller.  As seen here he can't control the rake of his mast.  He was able to repair it overnight.

Stern view of Jamey's design.

Our Race Committee headed by Mike Kasper.  Year after year GYC does an amazing job of running this regatta, including keeping the start line and marks where they should be as the wind shifts over the course of the day--aided by Amy Linton and Lennie Parker in the mark boat..  Thanks for a great weekend of racing!  Already looking forward to next year's event.

The trophies.  Six boats, six bottles.  I like it when things work out!