2008 Konocti Cup
Parking Lot at Mark Seven

The Konocti Cup at Clear Lake is a great way to open the Northern California season for the local Ultimate 20 fleet. This year the race didn't disappoint, with perfect weather, temperatures about 75 degrees, and winds ranging from light zephyrs up to about ten knots. As often happens, the breeze took its time showing up, and a windline hung half a mile above the starting line. The intrepid race committee moved the start line up to the breeze, and the 26 mile Full Cup got under way for the six Ultimates, competing in both one-design and PHRF in a total fleet of 25 boats that included a Henderson 30, Thompson T650 (last year's defending champion, Ben Landon), Melges 24, seven Wylie Wabbits, an Express 27 and an assortment of Catalinas and other casual cruisers.

The U20s got off to an even start and sailed upwind to the windmill point, where Too Tuff’s mainsheet parted, sidelining Tom Hughes and his crew for a quick repair (note: Too Tuff has been getting a lot of upgrades and new gear, and is looking great and going fast. Tom is getting the boat dialed in and would have been a threat but for the malfunction). After a ragged spinnaker set onboard Layla, and more professional work on Babe and Cinderella Story, these three took off down the first offwind leg, with Salsa close behind, Too Tuff and MoJo in pursuit.

Down the run, Cinderella and Layla gradually legged it our, separating from Babe and Salsa. This established the theme of three Ultimate pairs match racing for the remainder of the 26 miles. At Mark One, Cinderella Story, with John, Jennifer and Bill Andrew, rounded in the lead. Layla managed to find some extra pressure on the right shore, and snuck by for the weather mark rounding at Mark Two. They then managed to again foul up their kite set, catching the edge of their asymmetric on the end of the second mainsail batten and tearing a 9" triangle in the ripstop nylon before freeing the kite and getting under way. Meanwhile, Cinderella Story sailed past into the lead, and Layla doggedly followed for the next four legs, with neither boat gaining or losing.

Closing on Mark Seven at the bottom of the lake, the U20s encountered lightening breeze. Layla briefly took the lead, staying left and in stronger pressure to jibe across in front of Cinderella. The Andrew boat sailed behind Layla into the stronger wind, jibed back to Mark Seven on a hot angle, and powered through the parking lot to lead by about 100 yards for the final reach to the bottom mark.

This parking lot at Mark Seven allowed the first-to-finish Henderson, the Thompson and the Melges to all save their time, as all three had previously negotiated the lower part of the lake with stronger wind. Meanwhile, Cinderella Story began the long final beat with a lead, which dwindled rapidly as Layla immediately found better height and pressure. A sequence of relatively tight covering followed, but Layla was able to split tacks a couple of critical times and keep between Cinderella and the north shore, where there was added pressure and a favorable continuing shift.

Team T, T & T on Layla (Tom, Trish and Terri White) gradually closed distance, as a Soverell 33 rolled past and disrupted Cinderella’s flow. Layla eventually found a lane with slightly more pressure and sailed past near the finish. After the first pair of U20s, Babe and Salsa finished about 30 seconds apart, and Too Tuff rolled over MoJo on the final tack to the line. The six Ultimates finished in a pack, 4th through 9th overall on PHRF. The well-sailed Thompson repeated their victory of 2007, followed by the Henderson 30 and the Melges 24. Great racing! Results and photos at http://kbsail.com.

Written by
Tom Burden
Layla #92