November 25, 2014

Zhik Flying Tiger Winter Series Week 1 | Ullman Sails

With weather conditions up north keeping our Canadian and Connecticut friends away for the first week of this year's competition, teams Renegade (Georgia) and Solitary (Chicago) got together for a day of racing, good company and old-fashioned Southern hospitality.

Due to wet and cold conditions on tap for
Sunday, the skippers decided to cancel the races for day number two.  Therefore, the race committee had to get in as many races as possible on Saturday!  Pressure started out from the northeast at 10-12kt with higher gusts and falling to 7-8kt by the end of the day.  Additionally, it was oscillating every five to eight minutes sometimes by 30-40 degrees.  Temperatures started out in the high 30s, rising to the mid-50s.  Overall, patience was the name of the game.
Five two-lap windward-leeward races got underway around 11 A.M with the sixth race, a 5-leg course, starting around 3:00PM.  Renegade was out front in the first race only to be reeled in on the second downwind leg by Solitary at the finish.  After that, Solitary found a solid groove and would ride it all day long to 5 more bullets.
Dinner and rum at the LLSC clubhouse followed with a warm fire, football on the TV, fooseball and post-race conversation. Thanks to Cathy Freeman and her helpers for taking care of post race dinner and hospitality!

We'll take December and January off and get back to racing the weekend of the 
14th of February.  Congratulations to team Solitary on their win!  We hope to see everyone from last year back in early 2015 where we'll see if team Solitary will continue their dominance or if another team will claim the trophy for weekend number two.

Remember to encourage all the other Flying Tiger teams you know to come down to Lake Lanier Sailing Club for the rest of the series.

A special thank you to regatta sponsors, Zhik USA and Ullman Sails, we couldn't have done it without you!

See you in February!