3rd Annual Alamo Classic IOM Regatta
November 22nd, 2008

by Ray Seta

The expression “ You should have been here two days ago !” was never so true! Just two days before the 2008 Alamo Classic IOM Regatta it was blowing 25-35 gusting to 40 in San Antonio mind you. And I just knew it would suck itself all out by Skippers Meeting on Saturday. But as you know , That’s Sailboat Racing! You never know what your going to get and you just deal with it.

With a total of 16 boats this year, we once again broke the fleet into Gold and Silver. But to keep it fun, of course, we kept it at one start for everyone with 16 boats on the line. Eric Gregory decided to do RD service today, on a day that I wouldn’t of wanted to do it. Try serving as RD on a day with little to no wind and when there was wind, it was constantly shifting from North to South. And sometimes in the same race! Another pressure of serving as RD on a day like today was also being responsible for everyone’s good time. Try it, it’s not an easy job to do, that’s why everyone should try it sometimes and you too will have a new appreciation for the RD at your next regatta. Thanks Eric for the day!

With little to no wind doesn’t mean we don’t race IOM’s. It only means it going to be a bit slower. Patience and clear wind is the key! It was clear that the Dallas boys came down on a mission. With all the Dallas boys showing up hours before Skippers Meeting and many there before the San Antonio Pirates at their own lake. It was clear that they had been practicing and many sporting new boat designs anxious to see how they would perform in the light condition.  I don’t have a lot to write about when it comes to the racing because you can see from the photos that there was not a lot to write about. But after 12 races, it was clear that the added practice days for the Dallas boys this past year would pay off.   The following is an exert from a post on the Trinity River Yacht Club’s yahoo group of Brig’s North and David Eldridge’s simple  assessment of racing in ultra-light wind conditions this past weekend:

1) Don't hit anyone!

2) Don't have your beat dictated by what other people do.  If you want to go right, go right.  Duck sterns if need be, but get where you think the wind will be.

3) Get starts that allow for you to hit the line with speed.  Don't get there too early, have to slow, or worse yet, be over early.

4) Go in with a positive attitude and learn from mistakes.

5) Use the tuning guide that Eric wrote up on our site.  It works for most boats.

6) Because it's so important, don't hit anyone!!

            I think I will add a couple more that I have come up with:

7) Keep your air clear – Find the clear lane!

8) Keep the boat moving – never pinch or sheet to tight!

9) Look ahead for the pile-up at the mark and sail around it!

You can’t come to a San Antonio regatta without talking about the food. Once again the Seta Clan of Tony, Mama & Papa Seta, and Cristina Bernal do their best to keep the food good and Mexican for the traveling folks. And as usual no one goes home hungry at our club! Many Thanks also go to Theresa Meyer for helping Eric with scoring, and Randy Rimmer for rescue boat duty. Regatta’s just don’t happen without the entire crew pitching in!

I can’t write a story about any one-day event with out mentioning the folks that travel in from a far just for the day. Mark and Traci Cooper, Drew Peerless of Houston, and his father Skip Peerless from Florida made the trip. As well as Mark Hogan, Mitch Martin, and JK from Austin came down. Thanks again for the support our event.