work and boat performance. Darlene Woo, new to the Snipe fleet, took the opportunity to learn from the fleet. Exhausted by the end of day two, Darlene was gratified by a day well spent racing. Carol Buchan aboard her 505 Yellow Jacket won the Shilshole south course with straight bullets for the day. On the Meadow Point course
the International Formula 18 (F- 18) Catamarans enjoyed a light but competitive day of racing. The crew aboard Ben Colwell’s Barely 18 found Saturday’s light wind conditions challenging to keep the boat at optimum performance. Even in the light breeze, Jim Geros noted that the F-18’s were by far the swiftest of the boats sailing the middle course. The Melges 24’s continued to play musical chairs for fleet position with many tight mark rounding and finishes. The Melges 24 starts had become so competitive by day two that the race committee hoisted the “I” flag to help prevent over early starts. Mary McCollum’s San Juan 21 Yellow Jacket racing in the non spinnaker class enjoyed a favorable day to hold fleet position into day three. Day two of the NOOD also proved
to be a day of focusing crew work and boat performance. In the J/109 fleet, the crew of Ed Pinkham’s Jeopardy gave Stuart Burnell’s crew on Tantivy a run for their money as Jeopardy moved up in the fleet to second place. Kerry Sherwin aboard Jeopardy noted that the crew work came together seamlessly helping them gain ground on David Dac’s J/109 J-Tripper. Rich Bustamante, sailing on Jerry Woodfield’s J/109 Shada, pointed out that “The tenet of crew dynamics is largely a matter a sailing with people that you enjoy spending time with.” Crew work in one-design racing is
the most essential element to winning. With boats so closely matched, the only way to win your fleet is to out-perform them at mark roundings and during legs of the race. How well your crew dynamic functions will determine how well you maintain your race positioning. Each crew member is an essential part of the boats choreography. A sailboat only really works if each person performs their specific task in unison with the others aboard. Day three of the NOOD proved
to have a surprisingly windy and beautifully sunny Sunday afternoon.
48° NORTH, JUNE 2011 PAGE 67
The stage was set for the final play of the regatta. The J/105 fleet would decide a 3-way tie for 1st. The J/24 fleet would decide a close race match with only one point separating first & second and a third place tie. The J/109, J/80 San Juan 24, Sport Boat and Melges 24 fleets were still too close to call, it was anybody‘s race on Sunday. The overall winner of the Seattle
NOOD with the honor of racing in the British Virgin Islands at the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Championship went to Herb Cole and his crew on the Melges 24 Midsummer Hai-Yah! Congratulations Herb!
Consistency wins the most regattas.
The boats that maintained the most consistent and competitive performance finished their regatta with the greatest satisfaction. As Dr Stewart Walker once wrote “the team that has the fewest mistakes wins.” It can also be said that the team that has the most fun wins in spades. Ultimately, at the end of the day the payoff is having done what you love, while racing with the people you enjoy sailing with the most. By the end of day three, the Sperry
Top-Sider NOOD proved a rewarding regatta for all.
by Joshua May
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