OH SAVANNAH

John Sawyer is again doing the Southern Circuit in the Lightning Class.

Love his narratives

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From: john sawyer [mailto:johnsawyer@ec.rr.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2010 10:14 PM
To: 'Chip Whitesides'
Subject: Oh Savannah

I’m a little wiped out, but here goes. Around 30 boats participated in this first leg of the southern circuit, that’s lower than normal. The big question was where’s the heat. It was freakin cold Sunday morning. This leg is only 3 races, Saturday wind was SW at 16 gust to 20. Lots of carnage unfortunately. 9 boats capsized including yours truly. Our dirty deed as we call it happened in the second race final downwind run. We still don’t know why for sure, but after getting upright the spreader was severely bent and the vang broken. The safety crew gave us second place to Tommy Allen for time to get back up, Tommy sail out of his capsize and finished mid fleet. New mast tubes are always on the lawn at Savannah Yacht Club, they are not free replacements but if you travel from Canada as some have for the southern circuit and you break your mast it’s good. One broken mast was replaced, three tubes are left. Tom Allen had a few spare spreaders and the part I needed to fix the vang so by 7pm I was back together. Except for the all the #*!()&%$ stuff that came out of the boat when we capsized.

The club roasted oysters for dinner Moose tried to work a deal for snottier oysters , that’s his way of saying not cooked so long. Appetizing thought, and I watched my NC State lose to George Tech with a bunch of GT fans to complete the day from hell.

Sunday: Even the snowbirds are complaining. The wind has not layed down and it is about 50 degrees. I decided not to sail which my crew, shivering with hot coffee in hand loved hearing, they would have sailed but I just did not want to risk another day of damage, within 30 minutes I regretted not sailing. My crew and I assisted on safety boats. Watching the race from the weather mark, the current effect was very interesting. I actually learn some things. The wind did drop and only one boat broke down. If you go to sail, SAIL.

From our district Will Tyner and crew were outstanding, they won the second race and were top ten for all races.

On my way to Miami, more latter.

John Sawyer

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