I started this year's Lower Huron Solo awards presentations with the phrase "you should have been here last year." Last year was one of the fastest races we have ever had and this year was another test of will power. But, that is what solo racing is. A test of mind over body, in my opinion. "What the mind can conceive and believe the mind can achieve." I think I read that on a fortune cookie.

This is where one should describe what the clouds looked like that morning. But, I agree with Dennis Miller. Why does every blankety, blank story about sailing have to describe the blankety, blank clouds? All we really care about is, if there is wind, what direction it is coming from, likely to be coming from later and how much it might be blowing. I am rambling, let's get to the facts so everyone can get back to work and get off of the Internet.

We had 23 boats registered and start this year's race. John and Jean Chorestecki again provided the starting line boat. Thank you, John and Jean and your most able crew! We started with enough wind to do the long course to Kettle Point and back to the Sarnia Yacht Club. It was a spinnaker start, without any mishaps, almost. We had one premature starter. He had not taken in consideration we had a small postponement to allow the stragglers to get to the starting line.

About halfway to our first mark it was becoming obvious that the wind was dwindling away to near zero. Boats were scattered up the first leg trying to keep their chutes full. I got on the VHF radio and tried to talk to several veterans about shortening the course. The die hards, of which I am proud to be one, wanted to go long. We had several boats make the long trip up the St. Clair River to participate in our event and a short course seemed like a bad deal. What I was really trying to do was to share the blame. If the wind did come back halfway to the short course mark at Blue Point I would have looked a little foolish. My local knowledge gave me the impression that the wind was going to be light and very variable. I bit the bullet and made the short course call. I then tried to inform all competitors of the change in plans by VHF radio. Luckily almost everyone acknowledged the change in course. Dave Evans and Phil Rubright might have answered and might not of in protest. But I knew they were listening. These gentlemen are very sharp and don't miss much when they are on the water.

So off we went to Blue Point.Some faster than others. I can safely say I on Gutsea was the fastest. I was even ahead of Cheryl Cameron on C Spray. That was only because Gutsea was to become the turning mark and I was motoring. At one point I was afraid I wouldn't get to the co-ordinates first and asked Cheryl to do a navigational rounding if Gutsea wasn't in position. Fortunately or unfortunately, it depends on your situation, the wind continued to abate. Gutsea got to the mark a good hour and a half before Cheryl and the other boats arrived. I had time for a swim and to wash the deck of the boat.

When the boats did start to arrive they came in bunches and it was quite nice from my spectator's viewpoint. I was able to have a brief conversation with each person as they rounded the mark. As Dave Evans rounded I asked him if he had any beer on board because I didn't have any on board Gutsea. A rarity, I admit. He replied that he did. I asked him to come back and give me just one. His competitive side won the battle over his compassionate side and he replied, "NOT BLOODY LIKELY!" So I informed him that I wasn't sure he had passed the mark on the correct side. He knew I was bluffing and continued on his merry way trying to overtake the boats that had rounded in front of him. The later boats got a bit more wind but it turned on their nose and they had to tack to the mark. A further test of inner strength.

I hoisted the anchor on Gutsea after the last boat rounded the mark and proceeded to catch up to the fleet. I had a running conversation with the finish line committee who are also my dear friends and sailing companions Bob and Julie Acker. I was crying the blues about not having any beer. As I got closer to individual boats in the fleet each individual offered to help me in my plight and offered me a beer. I did accept a couple but will withhold their names for fear that their competition might protest their lightening the boat weight by 24 ounces. If I had taken a couple beers from each person who offered them to me I would be up a case or two.

After docking I went to the finish line race shack to help out. By this time boats were finishing at a fair pace. Jo Buckingham's sister Kate was anxiously awaiting the arrival of her sister. It was her first solo event. After Jo finished Kate jumped up in the air and pumped her fist in triumph.The last boat finished just before 10 PM. Jack Whyatt provided the computer for the results, again. Word is that Jack would like to charter a boat for next year's events since his boat has been shipped to Florida.

A group had assembled at the SYC bar to wait for the awards ceremony and have Harold Beaton's BBQ'd sausages and hamburgers. Many of the wives of course helped out as usual and I thank them for their help.

When the last competitor reached the clubhouse we started the awards ceremony. Many of the veteran sailors finished in the top spots but there were also some surprises. Steve Stoll on Bayonet finished second in his class. Steve, learn to fly the chute solo, it's not that hard. Pete Irland on Salt N Pepper and Pat Hoy on Little Bean finished one, two in their class. This was their first solo event. Jo Buckingham finished fourth in her division.

This year we had 23 boats entered. Three boats dropped out. One boat dropped out because of darkness. The head of the St.Clair River can be a scary place at night with the fishing boats and freighters. Tim Baeten made a good, prudent decision. He will be back. I retired to become the turning mark at Blue Point and Steve Styles had a commitment he could not break. Most important is we had seven new competitors in this year's event.

I invite anyone who participated to share his or her experience with others. You can post an article on the GLSS website if you wish.

Thanks to all who participated and all those people who helped stage this event.

Chimo,

Mark Gutteridge.