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An unusual North wind is blowing on the pond as the sailors saunter down to the Boat Dock after Saturday’s sleep-in breakfasts. There is barely a breath of wind in the little cove, sheltered as it is by the point. The sailors range in ability from an Admiral who had just returned from sailing in stiff winds on the Sixth Great Lake, Champlain, to a skipper who had just learned to sail this summer. As they rig their boats, the wind begins to come out stronger, and the sailors who had been able to get by with confidence start looking at the diagrams on the board, thinking about the points of sail. Before getting out there for the first heat, Chuck Steiner, skipper’s cap resting jauntily on his head, explains the course and goes over racing rules.
 Sailing in the first heat are Tusky Chief Lex Artuso and SHL star Alex Schade in the Missy Livsey Boat, Poko’s Most Improved Sailor Jon Dresnick and another talented rookie, Jason Vietch in the new Laser from California, and in Old Red, Eliza Blum, fresh back from Lake Champlain, and Teresa Puch from Madrid who has been a vital crew member all summer.
The boats are tacking back and forth behind the starting line, or just hanging out in irons, perhaps thinking about how they will get upwind to the first mark. The warnings are over and Chuckie in the committee boat counts down to Go. Missy gets the best start but stalls. Cali gains on him, but all boats are having trouble beating -20 knots is almost unheard of on Long Pond. Old Red makes it through a tough start and begins to catch up. They all seem to understand what beating means, and make good tacks. Old Red is more off-wind than the others and is slower in making upward progress. Missy, then Cali round the first buoy and make good time towards the second, then both stall as they near the shore. Cali, on the inside, passes Missy, but Missy get it back and rounds the second buoy, followed closely by Missy and Old Red who has learned from her competition and has stayed away from the shore. All boats are fairly equal for the home stretch, but Cali soon pulls ahead, and will cross the finish line a good 250 feet before her competition. As she crosses we hear form the shore “C-A-L-I Cali, Cali, C-A-L-I, Cali, Cali.” Dresnick and Vietch are thrilled with their very respectable victory. Meanwhile, Old Red has passed Missy and is running in thank to porky-maccrazy crosswinds. Blum and Puch seem to have learned by trial and will be joining Dresnick and Vietch in the last heat. Missy comes in soon after them, complainng of rigging problems early in the race.
In the second heat, Admiral Cavers came through the start first, but Sam and Chris gain the lead. Robin and Julia are also going strong. Sam and Chris round the first buoy first, Ty and Doug right behind them. Eventually, Sam and Chris stall out in tricky Long Pond waters, but maintain lead heading to finish line. Sam and Chris begin battling crosswinds and lose time. Ty and Doug, anticipating this, are already on a tack and catching up. Sam and Chris maintain the lead and win by three boat lengths.
FINAL HEAT: Wind was 35 knots from there north. Robin and Julia take their place but capsize just before the race. Lex and Alex also capsize and Jon and Jason are stuck in Irons, leaving Ty and Doug to start well. Ty Royce and Doug Cavers boated expertly and win the heat easily, as Robin is just passing the first marker.
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