2008 Reports

The Tennessean HIYC April 12 & 13, 2008 by--Doug Meyhoefer It was a windy day and Cousin Ed (a sunken pole in the middle of the course) was enjoying the action. With his hair (it looked like dried seaweed) blown back, short courses and college style racing (5 on Saturday and 3 on Sunday) we were all worn out and unable to party Saturday night. The final tally had Sean Clare in first with Julie, Cassady second because his crew (Doug Meyhoefer) sailed the wrong course, Carson third due to too too too many people on the boat (we apologize, but there isn't enough room to list all the names) and Denis fourth. We would like to say more about Dennis, but he had a date Saturday Night. WHAT! Yes, a date. See ya'll next year!

The Ironman BSC May 17 & 18, 2008 By Bob Blythe The second stop on the 2008 South East Circuit was the Ironman Regatta at Birmingham Sailing Club with eight J/22s competing. Racing got underway Saturday with clear skies and a 4-8 knot breeze. Bill Harshman jumped into the lead after a great start and never looked back to take the bullet in the first race. Galen Freeman charged back to take the next two bullets, but the racing stayed tight. One of Galen's bullets came after he worked his way to the inside of a 5 boat pinwheel at the last leeward mark rounding. Galen made the rounding clean as a whistle, while the rest of us felt lucky just to escape without trading any paint. Heading in after the racing Galen inquired about the availability of ice at the club. That could mean only one thing-a two-cycle blender creating Frozen Rum Drinks! After dinner 'Juke Box Jim' (joined by BSC member Terry Waldron) played guitar and took request. Intermittently the sound of the two-cycle was heard above the music. It must have been a hybrid, because the gasoline lasted longer than the rum-and the tequila-and the beer and carrots (don't ask)-and several of the sailors. Those who checked the standings Saturday night found Galen alone in first by 5 points. Wayne Cassady and his Kentuckians were in second, with Bob Blythe and Team Shazaam tied for third. However, only 3 points separated second from sixth-so anything could happen. On Sunday morning the breeze arrived bright and early with a steady 10-15 out of the west. The courses were longer, but the racing stayed tight. In the two races on Sunday, Wayne Cassady and Bob Blythe took the bullets, but Galen finished near top in both races to stay in first place overall. Top 5 finishers were: Wayne Cassady second, Bob Blythe third, Vincent Priola fourth, and Team Shazaam in fifth. Next stop on the Circuit is the Billy Bowlegs Regatta at Fort Walton Yacht Club. See you there!

BILLY BOWLEGS June 14 & 15, 2008 By Galen Freeman Ft Walton Yacht Club hosted the first of what we hope will become a regular summerC "Southeastern Series" regatta … the 2008 Billy Bowleggs Regatta. (Actually John found the real skinny on "the pirate" … a scruffy Seminole Indian) While most of the country was complaining about $4 gas, six intrepid J/22 teams, broke the kids piggy banks and traveled to Ft Walton for 5 races over 2 days. AND … A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL ... In the spirit of being fair to the oil companies, the Hot Ruddered Bum team of John Robertson, Bruce Berner (our honorary Southerner from the fleet in Indianapolis) and myself did a cost comparison on the amount of gas required to completely refill the gas powered blender powered (those heathens at Birmingham Sailing Club had used up all the gas at the Iron Man) … AND THE RESULT … WE FOUND THE COST OF THE RUM WAS MUCH HIGHER Other than that … I just remember the racing was never over until it was over … The ribs on Smack Point were great … The sands the whitest in the world If you were unable to make it we are sorry for you. Don't miss it next year!!! Galen Freeman

Watkins Cup Regatta Sept 13 & 14, 2008 KLSC By Wayne Cassady Well Sean mentioned that at last year's Watkin's Cup it blew the squirrels out of the trees, this year the event included winds that just took out the trees. Saturday the winds were just about perfect for a challenging beat and then some downwind surfing in the puffs that were occasionally a little over twenty. It was also hot, 90+ degrees, and sunny, so the spray and sometimes dunking felt good. Teams Carson, Freeman and Cassady were the J22s that showed for the racing this year and the real racing was between Carson and Galen. Galen needed a crew member at the last minute so we got an unsuspecting, never been on a J22, victim from our dock to jump on board and delivered him (Steve Smith) to Galen and John Robertson. We hoped he would like it and could tell at quite a distance that he did after the first race when he gave us a big grin and two thumbs up. The Kentucky Lake Sailing Club did a good job getting in four races on Saturday as the weather reports were that Sunday might be a little unmanageable. Sunday before racing we headed to breakfast and crossed the dam to see real good breeze coming up the lake, but nothing that we'd not seen before. On the way back from breakfast we decided to cross the dam again and now I was looking at some breeze I'd never seen anywhere including at the lake. It was a scene off of the Weather Channel with people leaning into the wind to hold firm. A review of the NOAA Weather site for Paducah later showed that the reported winds were 81mph at Ky. Dam, 78 mph at Grand Rivers and 76 mph at Calvert City. The racing was wisely called for the day and awards presented. Carson was first, Galen second and with three J22s present we snagged the third. Race # 1 2 3 4 Total Carson 1 1 2 1 5 Galen 2 2 1 3 8 Cassady 3 3 3 2 11

Halloween ASC Oct 11 & 12, 2008 By Eli Putnam Two boats showed up for the Halloween Regatta in Augusta. The wind cooperated with us and kept a steady 15-20 mph all weekend long which made for some great spinnaker runs and exciting mark roundings. We raced against three J24s and it was good to see Wayne out in front of not only us but also all of the 24s. Wayne and his crew did a great job with boat handling and were able to stay ahead all weekend. Saturday night featured a live band and a wonderful dinner. Many people showed up to the party in costume and the band played until a little after midnight. Overall it was a great regatta and was run well both on and off the water.

2008 Equalizer PPYC Oct 16 & 19, 2008 By John Robertson The 2008 Equalizer was held 18th & 19th at by Percy Priest Yacht Club on Percy Priest Lake in Nashville, Tn. 6 J-22's showed up for the final regatta of 2008 Southeastern Series. Saturday morning was partly cloudy with a nice north 12-15 knot breeze. Sean Clare got off to a good start in the first race and never looked back. Galen Freeman was second with Bob Blythe in third. Race 2 started in the same conditions with Sean Clare taking an early lead, but the course was littered with a large fleet of Catalina 22's causing problems at mark rounding's which allowed the Freeman boat to slip in at a leeward mark rounding and win the race, followed by Sean Clare and Bob Blythe. Race 3 once again started off in the same conditions, due to a poor start the Freeman boat bailed out early went to the unfavored right side of the course, which quickly turned into the favored side of the course. Galen Freeman was able to get ahead and stay ahead to win the race, followed by Wayne Cassidy, who also went right and Sean Clare in third. Race 4 started off in the same conditions but weather legs were a lot shiftier than the previous races. Bob Blythe did a great job playing the shifts on the weather legs and won race 4 followed by Sean Clare and Galen Freeman. At the end of the day Freeman had a one point lead over Clare, Blythe was 3 points back Cassidy 3 points behind followed by Brad Arnold and Ben Ford. Sunday morning everyone drifted to the starting for a 9:30 start and drift we did for 3 hours waiting on enough breeze to start a race. Race committee got of a race with about 10 minutes to spare before the cutoff time of 1:00 p.m. The wind was south very light and variable and very shifty. Freeman rounded the weather mark first followed by Clare and Cassidy. The downwind leg quickly turned into a close reach, with a course change at the leeward mark. The third and final leg turned into another close reach so there were few passing lanes. Freeman rounded first was able to keep everyone behind for the win, Cassidy stayed low was able to sneak in for 2nd followed by Clare, newcomer Ben Ford was right behind for 4th. Galen Freeman won the regatta with 8 points, Sean Clare was second with 11 points Bob Blythe broke a tie with Wayne Cassidy for 3rd with 16 points, Wayne Cassidy was 4th followed by Brad Arnold and Ben Ford. It was great to see a new boat on the course #110 skippered by Ben Ford, we hope to see him more next year. Thanks to PPYC and the Race Committee for putting on a great event on and off the water.