A8-Wednesday, June 18, 1980 - North Shore News lt wasn’t exactly a serious kind of race FROM PAGE A1 assisted by large quantities of hot coffee. Mysterious notes were exchanged with the ‘Madrigal’, another sailboat that was heading for the Start. “If at the sound of the gun at the finish we are the winners, aj] this money is yours,” one of the notes read, and was accompanied by a cheque for $1.13. The other note was a confidential message from the captain of the ‘Madrigal’, in which he expressed his complete inability to be able to sail a boat. “In fact, the closest I have gotten to being a sailor,” the skipper wrote, “was an anchor I had tattooed to my chest which was removed last year by a flying mast as I ran aground at Wreck Beach.” THE START At the start, we hoisted our sails and became just one of a number of boats milling nervously around the ‘Skeena’, at the starting line Skippers waited anxiously to begin the race so that they could show thetr prowness 1n such categones as the boat with the most glamourous head or the most con veniently located bottle opener. To the outside observer there were several little signs that indicated this was not to be the most senous of events, such as the stuffed pig that graced the bow of one sailboat and the two toy boats being towed behind another vessel The beginning of the race was an impressive sight as (almost) all) the satiboats crossed the line seconds after the 10 10 a mo starting tame By some brilhant doubt thoupts he unintentional picce of planning on the part of the race committce the start comncided cxactly with the train beginning st; fun up to Hudson Royal steam Squamish As for the first masker off Point Athinson foot the sailboats headed our Clow Coaeegt the one crew member who went bach to sleep) had b good opportunity to watch other boats Ke by ‘To thought you guys were supposed to be last the shipper of one boat yelled ay he amd his crew used Blacktop area gets landscaping After teste ats in two yearn of trviig the Be Vtowld Comrt Bhuctsonoets aite mien wok Nero Ae prase dd Tebas bi 4: Vrdanngde oat the ater tien landscaped Nuowth Nae ces Drinter eee AKECGd M. aphot tlie ; ae. © Oe ee eet TS corte ed ravedhany night te reageare st ra geopysen because th. raitial COME Ngee © apy are df. Bs ans proper t have eS Oe a : was therefore toa provided foot tao thre ie beurcdgge t water-filled balloons in an unsuccessful attempt to stop US passing. The actual sailing was handled very _ proficiently throughout the race, by Peter Speck, Kim Hen- necker, and Graham Wake, with the rest of the crew being called upon to hold on to the end of ropes. After rounding the Point Atkinson flag, the sailboats headed for the bell buoy off Point Grey. By the time the last people passed the first marker, the more than 70 sailboats in the race were spread right out across the harbour. At about this time our boat took advantage of the wind to reach its top sailing speed of the race - just over three and a half knots. Unimpressed by this breakneck pace, ome crew member was heard to mutter, “Il thought racing would be faster than this.” Our firm grip on 40th or so position began to slip as we neared Point Grey, and small, large, and medium size sailboats passed us with hittle effort But then, fate. in the form of the freaghter ‘ksporanza intervened to give some breathing space the us With satisfaction the crew watched as the freighter blocked the passage of al least len other racing boats As we tacked around the Point Grey buoy we wat hed as the ‘Kahlua spun around ina circle She wasn't the only boat to have that waler problems navigating stretch oof and at the finish there talk oof that went around that parti ular particular wis one boat buoy five times before heading mn the right direc thon BEC ALMED We headed back across the harbour and our oapisin checked has boats at maments which were oof course oomby on teoard fo reasons of self defenec After some omechant al gee deren © Perbree Lier DB omweee nd KA ‘ we Nor Est RADIATOR ORIVE IN SERVIC E IUIN T CPF OPO RAERE PR RON ’ RAD FLUS. adjustments he got the fire hose and pump working and fired off a few practise becalmed in the middle of rounds. English Bay on a sunny Luckily the weapon was ; not needed. About this time everybody had some lunch and we heard on the radio that the And while we didn’t set any speed records (fast or slow) or do anything dramatic (like sink the boat), there is a lot to be said for a race that involves being ‘Primorka’ had _ already finished the race, in first place. The wind began to die down and the sun came out, which was very nice, but not conducive to sailboat racing. More and more boats passed the finish point off Kitsilano beach as we struggled to find wind that wasn't there. Lazily we drifted between anchored freighters and heard on the radio that the race would finish in one hour, at3 p.m. Everything on board was cleaned again including the soles of the skippers’ wife's shoes, in preparation for the finish - an event some crew members doubted we would see before nightfall Then with 20 minutes to go until the deadline. wind appeared oul of nowhere “We're going to finish this race,” said Kim. much to the surpmse of a few people This cheered everybody so much that) another round of refreshments was brought out With wind billowing in our satls we tmumphantly saved past the Skeena at the finish line and proceded on to the post race festivities at the North Shore Sailing School in False C reek _ Wed. Thurs. & ERNE u p Fish and Chips Fri. June 18, order-3-pieces of fish sy 987-413] Sunday afternoon. For race results and more pictures see pages AIS, 16 and 17. 19& 20 4 ¥ Lonsdale bveryone agreed that our placing five siaths of the way down the list was very respe. table PAaRTCPAaCTION bry tb AGE Piwgs ated (grt then rotor with Genuim bord Parts 984-0374 ADIUSI timing mis tore and betts 879 Marine Dr. mth. teas eivacegich on MA ne » en a: Vt TS Wawet aero My Te MNS SOUT A OOF RA APTI! 4Cyl thectroan Ign Distrthutor Cap cooling system hoses spark plug wires cotl att filter gas filter and all belt hoses Van. 980-2411