This was a much anticipated event. It was the first regatta of the year. We were all looking forward to getting the EC12s onto the water. I had sent a notice to all of the EC12 skippers to remind them of our Season Opener! This was all fine and dandy, but unfortunately there was an unknown factor involved and that was the outcome of the WX.

The previous week we had some gorgeous WX that was a portent of what was to come for us here in Western Washington. We had some beautiful sunny WX along with some stormy rainy times. The WX prognostication was for some good WX, but it did not look too promising for the day of the regatta. It indicated rain and sun. If we were lucky maybe we'd end up with the sunny part. There was always hope.

Howard Rasmussen and I, Joe Brohan both of University Place usually swap going to the lake since we live only 5 minutes apart. However, this time we both took our own rigs. I had all of the club gear to take to the lake plus the boat. Howard R was taking his boat also, but not to sail. It was for sale. In actuality he was in the process of selling his boat to Joe Oczkewicz who is our new member. He would be picking up the boat and sailing it.

Howard R had been working on the boat the past week to get it into working order. The main difficulty was that the worst thing that can happen to an EC12 skipper is to have the bow pulley come out of the hull. When he felt that he was in a GOOD frame of mind to get the pulley attachment back using a mirror which makes everything appear reversed, he gave it a whirl. And, miracle of miracles, he got it on the first try!!! He got the damaged screw eye out and reinstalled a new one with pulley and lines. That was the worst part of the repairs that had to be done and it ended up as easy a falling off a log. How lucky can a guy get! The process can be extremely frustrating and vexing. I know! Been there done that.

So, as it all turned out, I got up early Sunday morning greeted by overcast skies and rain. There were some breezes that would make it interesting if the rain would ease up. I arrived at Noel's for skippers' breakfast at about 8AM. Steve Young, Tacoma, was already there. Not too soon after Howard R , Harry Lange, Enumclaw and Joe Oskewicz, Port Orchard, WA. arrived. While we were having breakfast the rain eased up.

We left for the lake at about 9AM. Harry L, placed the marks with start/finish lines oriented E/W and N/S. The winds were all over the place so he thought that it would be best to be prepared for all eventualities. He was but as it so turned out, I wasn't! More on that later. There was goose poop all over the dock, but fortunately there was not an overabundance of it so it was not too bad a job for me to clean it off.

The dock decking had been deteriorating severely the last few years. We were concerned that the Apartment Complex owners might close the dock because of liability concerns. However, they replaced all of the bad planks. It is so much safer now not having to watch for rotted planks. As a result of all of the recent repairs there was not not too much goose poop to deal with.

While all of this was going on Howard was getting his boat ready for Joe Oczkewiczto sail. If Joe O was happy with it he would purchase it at that time. He was and he did. By the time that the starting gun went off it was about 10:15AM. The winds were from the north at about 0-2 mph. Since the winds were so light we decided to sail only a windward/leeward course starting to the north. Later we sailed a triangular course to the north. Toward the end of the regatta there was sailing to the south with a windward/leeward course four 3-4 heats.

It was at about this time that Murphy made his appearance. Not because of mechanical failure but due rather to battery problems. I had been playing tag with this problem for the last few races last year and the problem persisted. It was never really totally resolved. It was after we had sailed a few heats that I noticed that my sails were not responding promptly. Sure enough, as I brought my boat back to the dock the sail winch no longer worked. Fortunately, the RMG cuts the power off to the sails when the power gets too low and diverts to the rudder control. That way the boat can be brought back home. That was the end of my sailing for the day. I did not have an extra battery with me.

It was at this time, as I started to derig my boat that I decided that I had to get this problem resolved once and for all and decided that the only way to correct the problem was to change all of the line plugs. I felt that that was where the problem was. That way they would charge properly. While derigging the boat and taking all of the gear up to the drive where I would pick it up, I was thinking of where I could pick up some of those plugs on my way home.

It was at this point in time that things sorta kinda went awry much to my chagrin. There are times when we do things and we ask ourselves what in the world did we ever do that for. This was one of those times.

When I moved all of the gear up to the drive, I then walked about 200 yards to the car. This was all while I was thinking about those line plugs. I got to the car sorted things out and mentally arranged where I was headed and then I drove off. It ended up being a trip that was interesting to say the least.

I started to exit the I-5 Freeway in Tacoma. As I'm slowing down in the off ramp, that makes a blocked view curve to the left, I then see a car STOPPED on the off ramp in the middle of the lane! On went the binders! Couldn't go right 'cause I'd be going into another traffic lane. Whew! That was close!

I made stops at two hobby shops (one was closed) and then headed for home. At this time it was about 1PM. I drove into my driveway, turned the car around and opened the tail gate to remove my gear. Only problem was there wasn't any there! Boy! If that doesn't give one a weird feeling. So there I was home and all of the boat gear was still at the lake. I headed back to the lake. I arrived there at about 1:30PM just as the skippers were loading my gear into Howard's car!

I was greeted by many wide smiles and greetings like, "Hey, Joe. Forget something." or "Did you come back for your boat?" Or, "Got a memory problem, Joe?" or "We found a boat and some gear with no skipper," or any other appropriate remark that fit the situation. Boy, did I ever feel like a idiot. Talk about a memory problem! Wow!. So ends the saga of the Ancient Mariner. I then headed for home.

Apparently the regatta ended at about 12:30PM after 14 heats. Joe Oczkewicz did a great job considering that this was his first time at the helm with this boat. He placed 1st and 2nd in two of the heats. That is outstanding! Good job, Joe! We're proud of you. You were sailing against two excellent skippers!

Harry L picked up the marks and put the gear away and then the skippers went to the Tav for a bite to eat and figure the placing.

1. Steve Young 12 Pts.
2.  Harry Lange 24
3. Joe Oczkewicz 34
4. Joe Brohan 52

Joe Brohan

9 Mar, '06, 19:42
St. Pete Scorer for Opti's