Gig Harbor Model Yacht Club
Annual Spring Binnacle and Region 6 EC-12 Championship
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Surprise Like Milton Washington
| Place | Sail # | Skipper | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 87 | Steve Young | 13 | 1 | (2) | (2) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | 17 | Joe Brohan | 15 | (2) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | (4) |
| 3 | 79 | Harry Lange | 31 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | (5\DNF) | 3 | (4) | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 4 | 88 | Joe Oczkewicz | 35 | 4 | 4 | 4 | (5\DNS) | 3 | (5\DNS) | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
SPRING BINNACLE/REGION 6 CHAMPIONSHIP MAY 7, 2006
The WX(weather) was marginal with heavy overcast skies, moderate winds and temps in the high 40s and low 50sF. This combined with the fact that the Gig Harbor Model Yacht Club venue is tucked away in the NW corner of our great Northwest contributed, no doubt, to the low entrant turn out at the Region 6 Championship located at Surprise Lake, Milton, WA located a short distance from Tacoma, WA. This combined with the fact that it was scheduled not during vacation time added to the problem, I am sure. Next year we'll schedule it in June, July or August.
Our WX, however, does have a positive result. It helps to prevent our beautiful area from being overpopulated! No matter where we live we all are dealing with this problem. Guess that there are just too blasted many of us human beings around! At least it seems that way.
Howard Rasmussen, and I, Joe Brohan, both of University Place, WA arrived at Noel's for skippers' breakfast at about 8AM. Present also, at the breakfast, were Joe Oczkewicz, Port Orchard, WA and Harry Lange, Enumclaw, WA. We arrived at the lake at about 9AM just as Steve Young, Tacoma, arrived.
There were sprinkles when we arrived. Harry L set up the marks with the usual right angle N/S E/W start/finish line.
He also set up a windward/leeward and triangular course. Howard Rasmussen no longer sails the EC12(sold his to Joe O) so he ably officiated as the RD.The starting gun went off at about 10:15AM with winds from the S and SW at 3-8mph with occasional gusts to 15mph. These conditions are great for sharpening up the EC12 sailing skills and we were surely well tested. There were many exciting times in the traffic at the WX mark. There was one incident when Harry L was on port tack and Steve Y on starboard as they were about to round the mark. A heavy gust caused Harry's boat to round up and was dismasted when he hit Steve's boat. Fortunately, there was no damage to Harry's boat, but more to his feelings. Steve, with no damage, finished the heat.
The wind directions shifted warranting some windward/leeward and triangular courses. Good thing that Harry set up that right angle start/finish line. By the time that we neared the end of the regatta, we were getting 15 mph gusts one after the other. You could see them parading down the lake from the S about 100' apart. That was an exciting time especially when attempting to round a mark. There were times when we were headed in directions that we did not want to go. At some time, all EC12 skippers have found themselves in that situation. There's naught to do but hang tough and sweat it out until the skipper gets control of the boat. Hard to do though, as we all know, as the EC12 is laying over on its side held down by the wind.
While all of this was going on Joe O was doing an admirable job handling his EC12. This was especially so since this was only the 4th time that he had sailed it in a regatta. He did a great job.
When we reached 11 heats and the winds were blowing more consistently at 6-8mph, I suggested we sail another heat for #12. This suggestion did me in and was the basis of the Brohan Principle that states "do not suggest another heat lest that last heat do you in." And it did! More on this later. As we were finishing the heat it started to sprinkle. Our timing was just perfect.
We finished the heat and Harry L and Joe O hurriedly brought in the marks and put the gear away. Thanx for doing this, guys! By the time they had it all locked up there was a driving light rain. We then headed for the Milton Tavern, Milton, WA for a bite to eat and figure the placing. When all headed for home, about 2PM, it was raining hard. TALK ABOUT GOOD TIMING.
As I was figuring out the placing, to my chagrin, I discovered that I had "shot myself in the foot" by suggesting that we sail heat #12. It was that last heat that did me in when I placed 4th. As a result, I dropped from 1place to 2nd. All through the regatta Steve Y and I were battling back and forth for 1st place. Steve Y, to his credit, got 1st and I 2nd. Ergo the formulation of the Brohan Principle. Warning: all skippers heed it!
Later, after I sent my write-up to Rick West, EC12 Class Secretary, I learned that the scoring for the Region 6 Championship was null and void since we did not have the required number of 5 entrants. This bears out my mantra "participation, participation, participation." It was this lack of that sunk the SMYC.
Joe Brohan
7 May, '06, 17:14
St. Pete Scorer for Opti's