Western Reserve Model Yacht Club Saturday September 11, 2021 - at SPIRE: Lawler, Sieloff, win

Saturday, September 11 was a scheduled Saturday race event for the Western Reserve Model Yacht Club; the day was also a date to remember the events of 20 years ago. The club opened its Micro Magic morning racing as well as the afternoon’s Soling 1 Meter program with an American flag displayed on our dock; Commodore Rick Lawler said a prayer and David Steger played “Taps” on his trumpet - a fitting tribute to 9/11/2001.

Following that, racing commenced, with David Steger serving as Race Director (RD) for the day. Winds were very good at 10- 15 MPH, and out of the Southwest, providing constantly shifting wind direction. David revised courses as the day went on- setting courses for good windward racing is a challenge to the RD and to racers. It was a lot of fun to race in the higher winds, and on the longer courses.

In the Soling 1 Meter racing for Saturday afternoon, the winds were actually a little stronger- 12 to gusts of 16 MPH. At times, the boats were surfing offwind and heeled with rails were in the water upwind, yet there was no breakage and very little water taken aboard.

In Gold Fleet, Rick Lawler won, with 13 points after discards, ahead of Doug Rieger’s18. In Third was Mike Wyatt, 2 points down at 20.

This time of year, the Club’s focus changes to the Fall Club Racing Series’ standings. Points from the Fall Series are added to net Points from the Spring Series, to name a season Club Champion. After 4 of the scheduled 7 Fall Series Soling 1 Meter race dates, and the adding in the points from the Spring Series, it is (Gold Fleet) Rick Lawler First with 14 points, David Steger, Second at 23, Doug Rieger Third (25). 2021 Silver Fleet has Ron Sieloff in First (9 points), then Second place Bob Kalman (23 points), followed by Scott Westrum in Third with 29.