Hey HSA:

It's Monday. Yesterday was Sunday. The result? Finger cramps, sore thighs, aching muscles, and twitchy sleep last night. We also have broad smiles. 

We got in five races in wind that stayed pretty much in the 10 to 15 range with spikes to 18 mph. It was nothing short of marvelous, especially since it is still July, the month of heat and anemic wind. 

It was not a light air drifter that would test the souls. It was not a heavy air hike fest that tested strength and endurance. It was the pitch perfect wind that, if we could, we would order each Sunday from a wind menu at the Buenos Aires Racing Restaurant. 

Who would win in such conditions? Jerry Callahan predicted the top four finishers before racing started. He was right. What he did not predict was the order. In the end, it was Ms. Consistent who mastered the field, a good bet for anyone familiar with the skills of the Sunfish fleet.

Laura Peters only won one of the five races, but it was enough as her male rivals,  each of whom grabbed a bullet of their own, faltered a bit in their other finishes while Laura kept threatening to take all five. (Brian Callahan actually had two bullets but it wasn't enough.)

Callahan finished second overall, succumbing to some bad starts that he almost always recovers from.  He mostly did that again. Yours Truly had designs on that first place trophy but succumbed to a silly foul in race four and had to do two circles fifty yards from the finish. Bill Molleran had good finishes but an uncharacteristic 8th in race three to eliminate himself from the winner's circle. 

Still, despite domination of the top spots by the usual suspects, there were some shiny moments for others who figured out the starts and the shifts. One particular shiny moment belonged to Bob Fletcher, a relative newcomer to Sunfish racing. He took off in race three from a nice start and rounded the windward mark in first, a position he held throughout the Olympic course until the last downwind leg when he somehow fouled Brendan Draper who was coming upwind. 

Bob did his circles but the incident robbed him of a chance at what would have perhaps been his first regatta race win. He did his circles and managed to do so without losing third place due to a large gap between him and Brian Callahan in fourth.  

Another bright moment belonged to youngster Draper who struggled through the first three races but finished strong in races four and five with two top five finishes. Jerry. Brewster, despite early tactical questions, found some golden moments in race four and led that contest for a good portion before Bill Molleran chased him down. 

Jackie Guntle prepared a great after racing meal. Those who tasted it were universal in their praise. Thank you, Jackie. The race committee spent their time on the water well with new member David Howell (O Day 222) joining regatta regulars Roger Henthorn and Bobbie Bodie in officiating the event. Fred Guntle was his usual helpful and cheerful self as he once again mastered the dolly deliveries.