Photos

Comments from our Fleet Captain We could not have had a much better day for the first ocean series race of 09. Wind was 10 to 15, seas around 3 feet. Even the motoring early Saturday morning from the fingers to the jetties in the fog was great fun. We were all glad that we had postponed the race for 1 week due to high winds and heavy seas the week before when it was originally scheduled to be run. There were 8 boats that started the race. 6 finished. The race started between the entrance buoys near the jetties at 0900 Saturday morning, we then proceeded to buoy TX 14, the Port Isabel Fishing Reef buoy near the mouth of the Rio Grande about 7 miles south, then headed for the large gas platform that is almost straight east of the jetties about a 7 mile leg, and back to the jetties. The total triangle course was about 22 miles plus the tacking that was required. Total course time varied between 5 and 7 hours. Mike Koehler on his 31 foot Hunter was making good time when he discovered a water leak below decks and withdrew from the race. Mike is an enthusiastic sailor and I expect we will see him often in this years races. Jim Godfrey aboard Summerwind got hung up in the current at the start but hung in there until the buoy and then decided it was a nicer day for cruising than racing and headed back. THE COLONEL, Bill Maples, sailed Wind Dancer to a second place finish, Congrats Bill. Wist, sailed by Mike Putegnat, placed 3rd. Bob Fisher on Zephyr (gee, I hope I spelled that right) came in 4th, John Pinkerman, Sea Gal 5th, Bill Rushfeldt on Calipso finished 6th. I think this is Bills first race on his own boat. He is new to sailing but has a great attitude and desire to race. Hoorah Bill! Keep it up. Myself and my crew aboard Night Magic placed first. I hope everyone enjoyed the race. Please help us make this the best year of racing we've ever had. Help me to encourage anyone who is even slightly interested in racing to make some of the races this year. Start scheming now on the March regular series races. I'm Rocky, and I'm a sailaholic! SEA YA!