ODOM 5 SUNDAY AUG. 20, 2006

We have had just superb WX these past few weeks. The day before was just great with sunny skies and warm temps. The WX reports were that there would be good WX on Sunday. So with no trepidation I retired Saturday evening knowing that when Howard Rasmussen would pick me, Joe Brohan, up that the WX would be AOK. Well, it was. There was a slight overcast, but showed that it would be clearing up. Howard and I arrived at Noel’s for breakfast at about 7:45AM. Harry Lange, Enumclaw, WA was already there. Soon after that Gary Kohler, Keyport, WA and Jerry Snowbird Muridge, N Tacoma arrived. We left for the lake at about 9:15AM. When we arrived at the lake Roland Krona, Gig Harbor, WA, and Bob Corbett, Milton, WA were already there. Shortly after Joe D’Amioco, Sequim, WA arrived. Great seein’ ya, Joe!

We have been relatively fortunate, if there is such a thing, in that we have not been overburdened with the goose poop this year. However, this AM there was an accumulation at the South end of the dock that needed to be cleaned up. While all of this was going on and the Skippy Barrier(preventing skippers concentrating on their boats from walking off the end of the dock) was installed at the North end of the dock with the windsock, Harry L placed the marks with a N/S and E/W oriented start/finish line. Thanx, Harry! Good thing too. We sailed both ways.

The starting gun went off at about 10:15AM with a westward start. At this time the breezes were 0-3mph with gusts to 5mph from the W. However, the breezes increased gradually in strength as we neared the 5-6 heat. At the start the temps were in the mid 60sF and would warm up to the low 80sF by the end of the regatta. Of course, the usual turn of events is that when we are at the end of the regatta then the breezes start to move as we really wanted them to.

While we were sailing the 1^st heat, who should show up but Rick Martin, Tokyo, Japan! Rick works for Boeing and is on this side of the pond for a spell. Great having you with us, Rick! Good thing that I had sent him an email re the regatta on the chance that he would be around here. And he was! Rick did not have a boat with him, so I had him take the helm of my boat. Great sailing, Rick!

We were fortunate that Murphy was not about to do his dirty work. All in all it was a regatta as it should be with no real problems. Except of course, not doing the right tacks, bad starts, hitting marks, etc., etc., etc. At times the breezes would drop so we did a simple windward/leeward, sometimes single and sometimes double. We sailed the 11^th and last heat at about 12:30PM.

Learning to sail these boats is difficult for a newcomer who has never sailed an RC boat before. It’s getting used to the transmitter, the action of the boat and getting used to direction when the boat is headed toward you. Roland Krona, Gig Harbor, WA has been sailing with us for only about 6 weeks. At the ODOM 5 he did great, especially when you consider that he was sailing with the likes of Rick Martin, Joe D’Amicop, Jerry Muridge, et al. In the first seven heats he had a 2^nd, 2- 4^th, 3 - 6^th and a 7^th. That in my mind is very good, especially when you consider that he was sailing in the fluky light airs that we had. Great job, Roland! Keep it up and don’t let that jib luff!

It was close racing with a 1 point spread between 1^st and 2^nd and 5^th and 6^th.

Harry L and Jerry M rounded up the marks, locked up the boat and put the gear away. Thanx, guys! We then went to the Tav for a bite to eat and figure the placing. We headed for homeport at about 2PM.

Joe Brohan

NOTE NOTE NOTE ODOM POINTS NITE AUG 22