High winds didnt' stop 
Marti Ottenheimer, in his Sunfish, winning race 1
and T.J. Ciafone and Vlasta Kunc in a Hobie 16  - race 2

by Ken Conrow
Race Director

Another brilliant, though windy, day saw the running of the third pair of races for the fall race series of Blue Valley Yacht Club on Sunday, October 7.

Although 11 boats had registered, the report of winds at 22 to 28 mph or difficulty reaching the starting line in those winds led to participation by only 6 boats in the first race and 3 in the second. A long triangular course was used to keep things as simple as possible under the conditions.

In the first race, the finishers were, in order, Marty Ottenheimer (Sunfish), Vlata Kunc and T.J. Ciaffone (Hobie 16), Harriet Ottenheimer (Sunfish), Richard Bailey and family (Mariner 2+2), and Robert DuTeau (Hobie 16). Chris Ross (Sunfish) started but did not finish.

In the second race, again in order, Vlasta and T.J. (Hobie 16), Richard Bailey and crew (Mariner 2+2), and Henry Otto with a crew of Sea Scouts (Ranger 26) made up the finishing yachts.

Each Hobie 16 distinguished itself by a capsize and a successful self-rescue, no mean feat in those winds. Vlasta Kunc and T.J Ciaffone capsized in the third leg of the first race, and still scratched ahead of all the other boats, though finishing second on corrected time. Robert DuTeau capsized prior to the start of the second race and retired without starting after getting his boat righted.

A single date, October 21, remains in the fall series of races.