2008 Last Two Races

by John C Powers

Seven boats ventured out of Megansett harbor on Sunday for the final series racing of the season. Conditions were blustery with gusting northwest winds and there was an unusually low tide which made setting the course difficult for the race committee. Jim Powers, taking note of the previous days racing, was single-handing the race committee boat Pure Bluff and did an exceptional job of setting up and getting the fleet off on time.

A short course had to be set because of these unusual tide and wind conditions so the more challenging “M” course (finish to windward) was used with 3 times around the marks just to make it interesting.

It was “fasten your seat belts” as the fleet blasted across the starting line on the final signal. In spite of the gusting conditions there were holes in the wind with plentiful lifts and headers! Positions changed frequently as the seven boats charged their way to the weather mark. Spinnaker work on the downwind leg was tricky as the unpredictable zephyrs shot through the course. There was no time to make mistakes as the downwind mark was approached almost as soon as the boats were settled down after their spinnaker sets.

Each leg of the race was different as the wind built up and then moderated. Shep Halloran had Late Show II ahead of the fleet for most of the race and was being closely pursued by the pack of Yanqui, Finally!, Megansett Time, and Mae Win III. Shep managed to hold on to the lead until Andrew Gallagher poured on the heat on the final beat to the finish and took the win by 28 seconds. Shep took a comfortable number two spot with John Powers 68 seconds astern in 3rd place. Powers managed to hold of the fast approaching Web Collins in Mae Win III by only 9 seconds. Web had Anthony Julian and Bruce Eldridge hot on his tail by 27 seconds and 90 seconds respectively.

The first race was so much fun that the fleet would not leave the race course and an encore was being requested from the Race Committee. As soon as the seven boats were organized a starting sequence commenced for a second go around!

Race 1 Results

  Skipper Boat Name Number
1st Andrew Gallagher Yanqui #351
2nd Shep Halloran Late Show #370
3rd John C. Powers Finally! #200
4th Tom Reilly Megansett Time #405
5th Web Collins Mae Win III #424
6th Anthony Julian Obsolete #309
7th Bruce Eldridge Cob Web II #422


The second race was equally as challenging as the first with a slightly abating wind making for some interesting tactics out on the course. Conventional wisdom would not work in these conditions and lessons from the previous race could trick the skippers into a false sense of confidence. It would be crucial to read the wind and play the lifts and headers.

This race found the top positions equally distributed among the fleet as the crews picked their way around the seven legs of the course and worked through three spinnakers sets. Andrew Gallagher, Tom Reilly, and John Powers emerged in the first three positions as the final leeward leg was started. Powers had the lead and was being closely covered by Yanqui and Megansett Time. Downwind tactics were critical as the three boats charged for the mark. Yanqui managed to take the lead to weather of Finally! and Powers then had to concentrate on holding off Megansett Time.

Gallagher really poured it on for the final weather leg to the finish and almost immediately jumped into a safe lead. The second place Finally! concentrated on holding off Megansett Time keeping a close cover as the two boats tacked for the finish. Powers managed to pull closer to Yanqui for a second place finish by only 22 seconds and was able to hold off Tom Reilly who was just 11 seconds astern in 3rd place.

Race 2 Results

  Skipper Boat Name Number
1st Andrew Gallagher Yanqui #351
2nd John C. Powers Finally! #200
3rd Tom Reilly Megansett Time #405
4th Brenda Halloran Late Show #370
5th Bruce Eldridge Cob Web II #422
6th Web Collins Mae Win III #424
7th Anthony Julian Obsolete #309


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