A few years ago we were into racing really strong..
One weekend to get away and just goof off, we trailered the boat to a lake in the foot hills to meet up with my son and do some
fishing..
On Saturday after noon we were approched by a couple local folks from the yacht club and invited to do the weekly (sunday)
race.. sure we'd join in..
Sunday morning came around and when the first gun went off, I was working the line and diggin holes.. Our plans were to round the windward mark and
work the bluffs off the far side of the lake, working our way to the other end..
Now experance was something we had alot of that summer and we were primed to the hilt to outsail our numbers along with the other boats..
As we rounded the mark, we wer a good 50 yards ahead of the rest of the boats, so we pulled the kite and headed down
wind.. I remember the wife had asked where the leeward mark was and al I said was it had to be at the upper end of the lake and we'd find it when we got there..
something odd happened as when the rest of the boats rounded the mark, they all, in line headed right down the center of the lake.. I kept thinking of how crazy they were as the
wind was better over where I was..
And then It happened.........As I looked over the all the boats in a line, I noticed the first boat in the line threw an orange bouy out of the boat and all the boats in a line, rounded the bouy and headed back windward...
We dropped the kite and headed across the lake where everybody was hanging out and I asked what type of racing they were doing... and I was told that john over there uasally had the fastest boat so it was his decision as the where the leeward mark would be.. and being in the first position, he would throw out the mark and the rest of the fleet would follow and round up..
And then the real surprise.........they informed me that I was the last boat to round the mark and it was my job to stop and pick it up!!!!!!!!!