2009 Sunapee Laser Regatta

The Sunapee Laser regatta was held in very light air broken up by a few very mild puffs and regularly periods of drifting. None of this seemed to bother Peter Seindenberg who sailed five firsts out of seven races. With his throw-out race taking away one of the non-firsts, that didn’t leave much for the rest of us.

 I spoke to Peter after we got ashore because I felt he had hogged some of my firsts – he seemed surprisingly cavalier about this faux pas in sportsmanship. Being a shy guy I decided to let it go this time, after all he is older than I am by ten years, give or take, and he did try to give others a chance by taking a swim at a leeward mark.

Peter Shope, who took second, was more considerate to the rest of the field only taking one first, one second, one third, one forth, one fifth and a couple of sevenths. Now there is a guy who knows how to share although the scores do suggest a certain rigidity in his approach.

There were 14 boats who started the day and that was amazing considering that many of us left our houses in driving rain and rigged in drizzle while the lake sat quietly saving its small measure of wind. Why we bothered to go out at all is the more interesting question. As I’ve said many times, this is the point in my stories where my wife tends to roll her eyes and comment on the silliness of playing a sport that has so many potential downsides. My only answer is that you sail the wind you’re given and be thankful you do not have to spend a couple of hours in a yoga class.

On the hour and a half ride home I came up with a new answer. Crouched in the middle of a boat, balanced on your toes, holding a stick and a line and tilting your head back to stare upwards is a wind salutation, more active and more difficult than a sun salutation. My wife should appreciate the translation into her sport – is yoga a sport or a religion? Is sailing a sport and a religion?

I got the award for third place in the Masters category. Sounds impressive until you realize that only two people there were not Masters and so my third place came after everyone in front of me had gotten overall awards and dropped out of the running for Master’s awards. I’m grateful they don’t print all that on the plaque.