THE SAILING BEAT

This Monday, August 6th marked the 15th race of the Dahlgren Yacht Club (DYC) racing season. Monday's race, #15, was the seventh PHRF Summer Low Point Series race. Conditions were partly sunny, at the start with a NE breeze at 5-7 knots. The 9 boats at the start were Dionysus, Melee, Frigate, Ol'Blue, G.W.T.W, Night Moose, Radio Flyer, Blue Heaven, and Destiny. The 1656 start went flawlessly with Honey Do performing Race Committee duty. Monday's racecourse was WD, a 4.36 nautical mile Windward - Leeward course. The race started with most boats on a beautiful downwind spinnaker run heading towards the first mark "32". Skippers jockeyed back and forth for position as the wind speed fluctuated. First to round the mark was Blue Heaven, followed by Night Moose, Melee, Ol' Blue, and Frigate. The final leg of the race was a beat back to the finish line with all boats tacking back and forth trying to take advantage of the shifting wind. As is typical in the summer series, the fleet fell victim to the "dying wind syndrome" as the wind dropped out as the first boats crossed the line. First over the line was Radio Flyer, followed by Frigate, Blue Heaven, Night Moose, and Ol'Blue. After handicap corrections were applied Radio Flyer took 1st followed by Frigate 2nd, and Blue Heaven in 3rd. Next week is the final race of the summer series and all skippers and crew are looking forward to improved conditions as we enter the fall series!

This Monday, August 13 will be race #16 of the season and the 8th and last race of the PHRF Summer Low Point Series. Skippers or crew wishing to participate in the PHRF Monday Night series, or the daysail / centerboard series should contact the DYC for details. In addition to the PHRF and Centerboard series, DYC is hosting other events including the St. Clements Island Pursuit race on September 15-16, and the "Under the Guns Regatta" on October 7. Again, DYC is always looking for people willing to crew on several local and newly arrived boats so anyone interested in participating in any of these events should contact the race committee.

This coming year will continue to be exciting so bring your boat out to race or just show up and crew. See you out on the water! Jibe Ho.

Josh Colwell, DYC Race Governor, skippers Night Moose berthed at Dahlgren Marine Works and is an Image Scientist with Boeing-Autometric. He can be reached at jcolwell@autometric.com

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