Daily Reports

U.S.  Women's Match Racing Championship 2005

Friday, November 18, 2005

Conditions: No wind
Race officials posted SI Amendment #2 calling for a double round robin for all competitors in the consolation round today after the morning meeting.  Following a brief postponement on shore, everyone left the harbor around 1000 in light, variable conditions in an optimistic mood.  While the light breeze looked promising across the lake, no clear directional information was apparent when the velocity dropped to 2 knots, so AP was flown again at the posted start time of 1045.

Sunny skies prevailed and seismic cable crews continued their work on Eagle Mountain Lake as some racers climbed the masts to look for wind and others searched for a deck of cards or a domino set to pass the time.  The participants returned to the harbor at 1126 and had lunch outside under the trees and waited ……………..And waited …………… and race officials went back out to take readings on the lake and monitored computer weather programs while the PRO walked up and down the dock checking conditions until N over A was signaled at 1415.

Dinner at FWBC is scheduled for 1830 hours this evening and racing resumes tomorrow at 0900.
 


Thursday, November 17, 2005
Conditions: Southerly 10 -18 knots

USWMRC racing started early this morning in spite of calm, thirty-four degree conditions with fog on the water at Eagle Mountain Lake.  Following a competitors’ meeting at 0800 with the umpires and a quick review of the evening’s logistics and transportation to the Fort Worth Stockyards, the 6th flight of Round Robin #1 began just after 0900.

 Winds remained relatively straight from the south with only minor adjustments necessary.  Velocity was again up and down (10-18 knots), so the length of the course and also the length of the line were changed several times between flights.  Temperatures had climbed into the mid-50’s by early afternoon and nine flights of four matches were sailed by 1530 to complete both scheduled Round Robins. 

 USWMRC Chairman, Susan Epstein, was granted permission to sail this morning as a substitute for one crewmember suffering a 24-hour flu and Championship Chairman, Karen Reisch assisted with flags on the RC signal boat before driving Sue Bodycomb of YachtShots.com around the lake for action photos of some excellent match racing.

 Going into the semi-final round tomorrow, current world champion, Sally Barkow has acquired 14 points, former world champion, Betsy Alison is in second with 11, former world champion, Liz Baylis and Katy Lovell each ended with 9 points, the tie being broken in favor of Lovell.

 Racing resumes tomorrow at 1000 after some serious boot scootin’ in Cowtown.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Conditions: North/ northwest winds 3- 15 knots

Round Robin racing began today on Eagle Mountain Lake for US SAILING’s 2005 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship. 

After five flights, Sally Barkow and Liz Baylis are tied at five wins each, with Betsy Alison is a close third at 4 points.  Under sunny skies and with temperatures ranging from 32-53 degrees (Farenheit), winds oscillated from the north/northwest and varied from 3-12 knots most of the afternoon.  PRO Bob Gough kept the action going throughout the afternoon under difficult conditions and support personnel worked hard to keep up with the changes.

 Dry Creek Vineyards will host a reception following today’s debrief and racing begins tomorrow at 0900.