We use a clinic format for beginning windsurfers. The races/heats are a chance to have fun, improve skills and develop confidence on the water. Novice Fleet is also called C-Fleet because back in the day, there was A, B and C-Fleet, A-Fleet is now Open (or a named Fleet like Kona), B-Fleet is now Sport and C-Fleet is Novice. 

  

Typically, a more experienced windsurfer sails with the Novice Fleet to show them the best way to sail the course. We call this sailor the “rabbit”. Charlie Yontz (previous rabbit) called me that morning offering to be our rabbit, but I told him that Bill Olson had volunteered and that he and his lovely wife, Teresa, should go on their fishing date. However, I learned later that Bill had majorly stubbed his toe (yep it was purple) the day before. He did it walking around his car in the parking lot when he and Kristen were purchasing breakfast food for the regatta. No good deed goes unpunished!!  Anyway, Novice Fleet sailed rabbit less for the event.

 

Saturday started with wind, rain and lightning. The rule is to wait thirty minutes after a strike before entering the water. So, we spent most of the afternoon in the training trailer watching the weather and the rescue of a runaway Hobie. There was so much lightning that racing did not start until almost 4pm.

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Novice Fleet consisted of three women: Ava Voss (who took her first windsurfing lesson with us last year), Laura Myers (a local beginning windsurfer whom Bob Graves recruited Saturday morning) and Debbie Baber (from the Atlanta area and only windsurfs at our events, her Shell Point name is Barbi). All three used club equipment, a benefit we offer registrants to encourage participation.

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They were able to get two heats in on Saturday. The course was a broad reach to marker 10. It was their choice to round the mark port or starboard. At our skipper's meeting we discussed strategies and they were off!  Ava took first place. I waived Laura and Debbie-Barbi in as they both ended up way downwind. I was relieved when they made it back to shore. Before the second heat we chatted about rounding the mark on the upwind side. This would allow them to tack around the mark and sail back in a timely fashion. All three racers rounded the mark, finishing like pros.  Ava took her second bullet, Laura took second (her best heat!) and Barbi came back to shore for third. By this time dinner was right around the corner, so we were done for the day.  

At the skipper's meeting Sunday, our strategy talk centered around sailing past the mark, waiting until you can see it looking over your shoulder, then tacking around it. This was handy as the wind shifted and the mark was now an upwind reach. This was the only heat that I considered sending the chase boat out for rescue. It looked like Barbi was sailing to Live Oak Island! Turns out she was sailing out that far on purpose so she could tack then round the mark. She knew what she was doing and took first place. Ava finished second and Laura third. Before they sailed the fourth heat, we had another chit-chat, this time emphasizing the use of the centerboard to assist with sailing upwind.  Barbi nailed it, with another first place finish. My horn malfunctioned and when she finished, I stood there and yelled "HORN!". Ava followed taking second and Laura, smiling all the way, finished third.

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The women bonded and looked out for each other on the course. After each heat they talked with each other about their performance and how to do apply their skills. They were supportive of each other and had a great time.

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Scoring:

1st place = 1, 2nd place = 2, 3rd place =3, DNF= gave it a heck of an effort but did not round the mark=number of racers plus 1= 4 & the number in parentheses () is the order returning to shore