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By Michael Cenname
Twenty-five Lasers turned out Thursday, August 12, for the second-ever Seattle Laser Fleet Laser Domination Night. This marks the biggest Thursday night of racing for the year and what a night it turned out to be. The fleet was treated to sunny skies, temps well into the 70s, a light breeze that increased slightly as the night continued, and a spectacular sunset as everyone sailed back to the dock after four races.
Photo by Susan Weiss
CYC PRO Kevin Cunningham counts down time as 25 Lasers head for the start.
Our regular CYC PRO, Kevin Cunninghan, turned control over to RC volunteer and Laser Fleet stalwart Mark Orme for the night. The first two races were sailed at the tail end of a big flood in a light Northerly. The usual SLF aggressive starts didn't come into play during either race since the fleet had a challenge just getting up to the line on time against the current. Most of the fleet opted to tack shortly after starting and battle for the right hand corner, trying to get out of the current, hoping for more wind off the beach and a favorable shift.
The third race saw the tide turn, and immediately we had a normal Laser start, general recall! On the restart the fleet got away with only two boats OCS. The fourth and final race of the night saw another start riddled with boats over early, but the fleet got away, and all the scoundrels went back and started fairly. With the sun setting and the sky bright with red, pink and purple it was a spectacular end to a great night of racing.
The names are too numerous to mention here, but we had a few brand new faces on the water, and several folks who have been away from their Lasers for a while. As I looked up and down the fleet everyone had someone to race. We will be continuing the Laser Domination Nights in 2011, they will be the first Thursday night of the Interim, Summer and Fall series. Hopefully many of you will join us on a regular basis, we are out here every Thursday night through September 9.
Thanks to the CYC Race Committee for their exceptional work and CYC at large who make Thursday night racing something we all look forward to every week. And a big thanks to Laser Fleet Captain Kurt Hoehne for his tireless work getting the word out about how much fun we are having on Thursday nights!