Very shortly after the start of Sunday's first race. Macy Nelson/George Saunders are furthest to leeward, with Ali Meller/Stu Kelly (using see-through Kevlar mainsail) to windward, and Rene de la Rie/Merv on port. Check out what happens as Rene and Merv get
the puff and turn on the jets..... Racing in the West River can be quite challenging, as though the waves are smaller, the wind is puffier and shiftier than out in the Chesapeake Bay. Several Jet 14s swamped, and one Flying Scot lost a person overboard and had some trouble recovering them. The International Canoe's were OK, though running aground in a daggerboard boat at high speed is not fun!
Immediately following the previous photograph. Rene/Merv are charging off on port in a great puff, while Nelson/Saunders and Meller/Kelly are about to run aground, as there wasn't any water in the West River! TACK NOW!!! Nelson/Saunders led at every mark, though Meller/Kelly closed rapidly on the run in a puff. Nelson/Saunders won, Meller/Kelly were 2nd, and Rene/Merv 3rd. This was Merv's second time out in a sailboat, the first being the previous day.....
There was even less water in the river for Sunday's second race. One of the many reasons 505s prefer sailing out of the river into the Chesapeake Bay.