SandLk070127

TIYC Race Commitee called for the Greiner Open to be held at Sand Lake. Unfortunately overnight lows were near 40 degrees. The upside was the 1-2" of snow was now gone. But now there was a lot of water on top of the already thin ice.

Race Commitee Randy Baumker had racers draw numbers for their starting positions while his assistant, Nat Kolling set up the race course. We were given about an hour to practice before racing was to start, but within 10 minutes, Dave Zoll wandered a bit too close to the "Duck Holes" that had only frozen over the night before. Dave used his brand new ice spikes that were made by Bob Foeller and given out at the meeting less than a day before to pull himself out. Jay Kramer awaited him nearby to give him a ride back to shore where dry clothes and well wishers (and people improvising new lawyer jokes) awaited him.

Chris Teal located an aluminum boat and led a team of members out to extricate Dave's boat out of the hole. Les Lashaway and Richard Potcova fought the icy waters, gravity, and each other in their efforts to retrieve the soggy DN. Salvage rights may or may not have been acquired by the rescue crew, but the legal fight would certainly be tilted in favor of our own "Spinach Lawyer" Zoll.

Back at the launch site hot dogs, bratwurst and cookies along with other refreshments were provided. Meanwhile many sailors had established some safe routes to speed-reach along the East-Shore. Nat Kolling took the Radar Gun and recorded speeds in the range of 30-47 Miles per hour. Racers took opportunity to fine tune their boats. Mike Deye straightened out a runner alignment problem while Chris Teal and Kent Baker both worked on setting up their rigs for better heavy air control.