Chaos?
Nope, just getting the fleet launched for our FIRST-EVER regatta. The New Bern NJROTC cadets were good hosts, doing the work of rigging & launching 6 Flying Juniors before the races could start.
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Let the racing begin! What you can't see in this photo is four other FJs almost perfectly aligned, hidden behind FJ#2 (skippered by RTP's Willing crewed by New Bern's Carlton) and FJ#3 (Albert & Bloom).
This is the first time that our NEW sets of sails have been hoisted... they look perfect!
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Bill Drechsler of New Bern supervised the actual running of the races. His team of cadets varied throughout the day (pictured here, Webster Carlton and Ciara Jones) and displayed the precisely-timed starting signals to the racers, directed the placement of buoys, and recorded the finishes.
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Here (pic at left) is New Bern cadet Mi Mon skippering FJ#3. She sits high on the side to see around crew Mike Foster's famous hat. This team should have won the award for 'Biggest Smiles' during the regatta.
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A minor administrative glitch with the boat rotation... All competitors sail a race in every boat, thus leveling the playing field, but we started with 10 teams, 6 boats to sail, and used a rotation matrix for 9 teams for the first race. Halfway thru the 2nd race, we managed to put together a close-enough rotation to get back on the level playing field (anybody who thinks this is easy, please contact Coach King for the matrix/array problem... you have until next year's regatta to find a better solution) and New Bern cadet Allyssa Cormican got all the teams back on the water in the correct boats for the rest of the races.
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Matt Fesak of Bridgeton skippers FJ#6 to a bullet (first place finish). In later races, crew Sharon changed places to skipper well enough for 3rd overall in the regatta; this team also earned the Cadet's Choice award for sportsmanship & spirit.
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Cadets Crosby & Murphy of the West Ashley NJROTC traveled all the way from Charleston SC to attend this regatta.
We hope to have a number of NJROTC sailing events in the future and look forward to sailing with these cadets again.
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Race 3- Long ago, a wise man said "Watching sailboats race is almost as exciting as watching grass grow." Too bad he isn't watching this one. FJ#6 (Albert & Bloom) puts a squeeze on FJ#4 (Parker & Parker) at the finish line buoy (yellow ball).
This is a good example of textbook racing tactics put into practice... earlier on the last upwind leg, #6 worked at pointing high and building seperation; then bore away from the wind a little for speed to make this play.
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Race 4: Here are both RTP High School team competitors in action. FJ#2 skippered by Joe David puts a "loose cover" on FJ#4 skippered by Will Willing and crewed by New Bern cadet Peter Carlton. You don't win races by using this kind of tactic, but in shifty wind conditions you can certainly LOSE races by NOT doing so!
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Who is it that makes sure the starting line is fair? And puts the windward mark squarely to windward? The chase boat & crew, of course! We also take pictures when not too busy with race duties, hopefully we will post video of some of the racing action in the near future .
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Maneuvering for the start of Race 5, FJ#2 with the father & daughter team of Sarah & Eddy Parker, FJ#1 skippered in this race by Matthew Fesak of Bridgeton, and FJ#6 with New Bern cadet Jeff Glover (crew) and Mike Foster (skipper) of New Bern.
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Last weekend saw cannons firing in the re-enactment of the Civil War Battle of New Bern, here the river is scene of a more quiet but very intense battle under sail.
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With the historic New Bern sky line in the background, skipper Doug Longhini and crew Sergio Lopez (New Bern NJROTC cadet) roll their boat thru one last quick tack at the finish line mark (yellow ball). They are so close, but FJ#3 beats them across the line in Race 6.
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The RTP High School team members Evan Renoud (skipper) and Joe Thomas (crew) won this race, and the regatta. They posted 1 more bullet (first place finish) than Team Bornarth but also sailed a bit more consistently, with no finish worse than 3rd
Evan crewed in most of the races but he obviously knows how to work that steering thing, too.
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The race course itself demands skill, to finish at all is a victory. Skipper Doug Longhini's grin shows the satisfaction of sailing a close, hard fought race.
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Father & daughter team of Dan & Katie Bornarth. Two redheads in the boat spell trouble... for the other competitors! This photo shows them preparing for the start of Race 7 which they won.
Dan & Katie earned a 2nd place in the regatta overall. They beat the winning team of RTP high-schoolers Joe David & Evan Renoud twice during the regatta.
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Guest team of Albert & Bloom sail out to the starting line in Race 7.
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Blackbeard Sailing Club member Mark Brennesholtz skippers FJ#3 preparing for Race 8, with New Bern cadet Colton Craig as crew.
All ten races were completed in light shifty winds; but as you can see the FJs were moving pretty well (look at the bow wave here) and the races were won more by sharp sailing & tactics than by the dreaded summer 'drifting matches.'
A big THANK YOU to Ken Gurganus of Blackbeard Sailing Club for all photos
posted by Assistant Coach Doug King