Cedar Point Hangover Bowl

[EricLaser (at) AOL.COM]

Eleven sailors launched from the beach (because the ramp was solid ice) on 
New Years Day for the 19th Annual Hangover Bowl at Cedar Point YC.  This 
regatta, also known as Revenge of the Race Committee, consisted of eight 
races in 8-12k under sunny skies, with the water temp a little higher than 
the air temp.

Tim Maier won the first 2 contests, including the required 360 turn on each 
leg in the 2nd, but this turned out to be a strategic error after he consumed 
his 2 prizes.  The third race, which required a downwind, stern-first finish, 
was won by Andy Norman.  Andy also took the 4th heat, and matched Tim for 
prizes consumed.  Dwight LeComte had scored three 2nds at this point, and his 
strategy was obvious.

The 5th race was a windward-leeward, or a leeward-windward.  One could sail 
the course in either direction, and the fleet split evenly.  Andy won the 
upwind group, and his third consecutive prize.  Steve Girling took 2nd by 
winning the downwind group.  A choice of jibe marks was available in the 6th 
battle, but by this time both Tim and Andy were having a tougher time reading 
the shifts.  Jay Lurie took first, with Dwight again a sneaky 2nd.

The 7th and feature race, known as "Come Within Chug", was a double 
windward-leeward, where the sailors selected a beverage from the RC boat on 
the first downwind, and returned the empty after rounding the leeward mark.  
Although Dwight thought he was done racing after his successful deposit 
return, he recovered to retake the lead and the win, just ahead of Andy.

The fleet started downwind in the final race, through a gate, then up to the 
weather mark, and back down to the stern-first finish.  Andy led approaching 
the finish, but found this backdown maneuver somewhat more difficult than in 
the 3rd race.  Steve performed a perfect pirouette for the bullet, followed 
by junior Bill Betts and grandmaster Halsey Bullen.  After several attempts, 
and a couple of sideways crossings, Andy managed to finish 8th.

Thus on his final race day before returning to London after 2 years in the 
US, Andy won his first Laser regatta.  Dwight captured 2nd, followed by Tim 
and Steve.  The fleet, with family and friends, retired to Eric & Lila's 
house for the party.  As Joe Myers said, "Not all of us were here for the 
racing!"

Results are posted here:  <A HREF="http://www.cedarpointyachtclub.org/">Cedar 
Point Yacht Club</A> 

Eric Robbins
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