Yes, I was at the Florida Masters, but it was so taxing a weekend for me that I can barely remember the racing for the challenges I faced.
Before I come to that, however, it's important to say something about the sailing ability of Ernesto Rodriguez, the winner of this year's Royal Turkey Award and wearer of the famous Green Jacket. He simply "sky-jobed" all of us in every race, so much so it was hard to tell sometimes if he was a participant or a spectator who had rambled onto the course.
He showed truly remarkable speed throughout the weekend, and humbled the fleet with straight bullets. As he slipped on the famously monikered green jacket to become the latest addition to a long, august line of excellent sailors who have won the Florida Masters, I couldn't help thinking, "It wouldn't be so bad if he was at least ugly!" Yes, I am afraid that Ernesto is not only talented, his genetics have tweeked him into a god-man that, I am sure, never lacks for dates. But would he be so lucky with love if his prospective amours knew that he spent his days kicking wrinkly old-man butt? I think not. I'll start the rumours…
But let's talk about me. We were on the Atlantic both days, with big waves and a solid enough breeze to warrant the Radial for the Little Guys. From my experience last year, I believed that the right side of the course would be favoured and lined up at the boat end. I started well and, though rusted by a harsher than usual Canadian winter, felt like I was in the hunt.
And then I tacked to port. Not a felony in itself, but a move that every sailor knows requires a weather eye and some boat handling skill in breeze and traffic to avoid one. The beginning of my decent into madness came in the form of Amnon Gittleson, a fine sailor from Cedar Point Yacht Club with which I have a good friendship. He was a builder in Canada for some years before turning his attention to home building in Connecticut and I, as the editor of a Canadian construction magazine, have had occasion to seek his valuable input when researching stories.
May I offer a lesson before I continue? Here it is: successful sailboat racing requires confidence, decisiveness and wisdom in balanced measure. Confidence is wonderful, but becomes insanity with too much decisiveness and too little wisdom. Decisiveness short of wisdom is a car wreck, and wisdom lacking confidence spits you to the back of the fleet.
Continued: My dear friend Amnon was approaching on starboard. Could I cross him? I was not confident. Should I duck him? I was not decisive. Should I duck him now that my mainsheet was paid out, my boat was heeled, my boom was hitting the water, and my rudder pulled up to my earhole without effect? I was not wise.
I think collisions happen in slow motion to so they can more easily be replayed over and over again in one's heads at 3:00am. Amnon's boat is new. The creamy white of his deck loomed. My hopping bow hopped up, then crashed down on his aft quarter, and hopped and crashed again, this time neatly slipping between his traveler and his deck, grabbing the lower traveler block, and exploding it to pieces. A handy bit of knitting, but not very good sailing.
I was crushed, and Amnon, understandably, was angry. I could have done my turns, waved him good luck, and been off, but frankly, it never crossed my mind. I luffed, pounded the deck of my boat in disgust and frustration, and did nothing. "I'm sorry," I cried across the water, then used words not fit for children. Amnon boat was unracable, and I was the cause. His regatta was for all intents over, as it would have taken a hour to go ashore to fix it and return and he would have had to carry at least one DNF, if not two.
That would not do, and so I offered my boat to him to race while I brought his in for repair. The race committee agreed to the swap, and Amnon raced three of the four that day, and was given redress for the other. And I? I came out best. I retained a friend.
So that was my first day. In the mean time, Ernesto was busy being a spot on the horizon, while Ari Barshi from Cabarete and Eric Oetgen (North Carolina, I think) did a good job of chasing him. Though the competition was extremely good (the top 12 were all name brand sailors from across North America and all capable of winning.), it was clearly Enersto's time.
Last year, the second day blew so hard we sailed inside. This year, the day was a little lighter, so we went outside again to a blue sky, big waves and beautiful breeze. It was a better day for me, and could have been a great day, but for a second place finish that turned into an OCS. Ernesto was up to his usual tricks, while Ari Barshi allowed second place to be passed among three sailors; Eric Oetgen, Terry Neilson and Will Glenn. Ari did, however, end up tops in the Masters division, with Terry Neilson (World Open Champ in 1982) second and Mike Matan third. The kids (Apprentice Masters) led by Ernesto of course, filled third spot overall and with second Apprentice Eric Oetgen and locked up fifth overall by placing Will Glenn as third Apprentice.
The Big Bus, Jorge Abreu from Cabarete, won in the Grand Master category (the guy could be a linebacker). Behind him, the more slender Peter Branning and Alden Shattuck.
And yes, we are getting a little tired of genuflecting at this one: Peter Seidenberg mastered the Great Grand Master list with an eighth place overall, with David Hartman, the one-man brain trust behind the Florida Masters circuit circus, second GGM and another great, Dick Tillman, third GGM.
After five years of this, it amazes me that the race committee of the Palm Beach Sailing Club could be so consistently good at what they do. I don't exactly wait for them to hook one into the deep rough, but like most racers, I steel myself against the occasional bogey. As yet, it has been birdies and eagles all the way. And the score extends to the general hospitality and friendliness of the club as well. When you realize that they don't have to put up with 70+ 70somethings trodding their lawn and drinking their beer, you understand what a privilege it is to have such a pleasant bunch of Floridians to take care of us. Thanks WPSC. See you next year.
Rob Koci races in both the Laser Full-Rig and Laser Radial fleets around District 3. Currently, Rob is the District 3 secretary and maintains a frequently updated race diary on D3Laser.com. Rob's home port is St. James Town Sailing Club in Toronto, Ontario.
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