Greetings…..

First and foremost I want to thank the Flams for hosting the Fleet 1 Christmas Party.  It was a huge success with a lot of people braving the rain and coming out for great food and conversation.

Second I want to thank Rick Roberts and his team for coming out in the rain to host the Fun Run, if you have never done this regatta you should, it is a ton of fun with lots of close racing.  Everyone behaved and we did not have any “situations” which is the way to sail the Fun Run, we don’t tolerate “foul play”

First race was sailed in south breeze about 7-9 knots of wind with a double windward leeward course.  Keith Ives and Chuck Stevens had a good start and sailed to the left side of the course and rounded in first.  Chuck Clay sailing with King Harbor Cal 20 sailor Brad Knox gave it their best to catch Ives but had to settle for a second, while Chris Rabb sailing with Dave Crockett and Kenny Dair in the third spot followed by Jeff Ives and Phil Soma then Craig Fletcher and Randy Smith; then to round out the fleet was Stu Robertson and Paul Ancil.

Race two was sailed in similar conditions with Craig Fletcher and Randy Smith winning the start and never looking back to take Race 2 with Rabb in second and Ives in third and Clay to follow up with 4^th and Robertson in 5^th.  Jeff Ives had a good race and was in the top of the fleet at the weather mark, but ran into light wind and had to settle for a 6^th.

Race Three was a triple windward leeward course in about the same wind with Ives taking the start and going all the way.  Fletcher was trying to catch him but to no avail to take second with Clay in 3^rd then Rabb followed by Robertson then Jeff Ives.

Race Four was a double windward leeward course and the wind still from the south around 8 knots, once again Ives had a good start and sailed a good clean race to take the bullet, followed by Rabb for second.  On the down wind leg to the finish Fletcher was ahead of Clay but at the last minute Clay threw in a fake jibe and passed Fletcher in the last 40 yards to take third. 

Typically we only have four races for the fun run, but everyone was ready for another race.  At this point we had no rain, but there was a front moving in and the rain was on its way!  Going into the fifth race Ives had 6, Rabb had 11, Clay and Fletcher were tied with 12, and then Robertson with 21 and to round out the fleet it was Jeff Ives with 22.  Very close to say the least.

Now it is raining but Clay got off to a good start with Rabb on his weather hip going left.  Ives was on the right side hoping to add another bullet to his score.  Rabb tacked off of Clay leaving a little room on the left which played in Clay’s favor rounding the weather mark in first followed by Rabb then Ives followed by Fletcher and Jeff Ives.  Robertson had some problems and decided to sail in and take a DNF.

Final results were Ives with 9, Clay and Rabb tied with 13, but Clay wins on the tie breaker then rounding out the top with Fletcher with 16, then Jeff Ives and Stu Robertson tied with 27 but Jeff Ives taking it on the tie breaker.

It was great racing and we hope to get more boats next year, results can be found on the LBYC website.

Chuck Clay #26