Write an entertaining commentary on any short subject
you find interesting. (10 points)

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Example

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2003 Etchells Pacific Coast Championships

by Vince Brun

Vince Brun with Tim Lynch and Matt Cassidy as crew, won the
2003 Pacific Coast Championship in Richmond, by one point
over San Francisco Craig Healy. Current fleet 12 "high point"
leader was third overall. The regatta was decided on the last
race, with Healy dominating most of the race but loosing to
Vessella near the finish line. Top three boats finished within
10 seconds on a 12 miles race. For wind conditions, we were
blessed with the usual Berkeley Circle strong breeze most of
the times.

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Here is an example of a regatta of west coast fleets, run in
the Olympic Circle, directly downwind of San Francisco's
notorious "Slot", which will host the Etchells North
American's in 2004, and the Etchells Worlds in 2005.

The Etchells Pacific Coast Championship, is a feeder
regatta to the bigger regattas. When held in San Francisco,
participants are guaranteed a windy series.
..
To prepare for a regatta like this, you would need to feel
comfortable sailing in 35 knots of wind or more. Trying to
get a spinnaker down in winds like that--I find my hands
can't move as fast as my mind wants them to work. One
screw up and you will find yourself in last place.

Many Etchells sailors outside of San Francisco are weak in
these wind conditions. I feel the Fleet 12 sailors have an
edge, hardened by these conditions on their typical schedule.

After getting comfortable with those wind conditions, being
relatively predictable, you might want to study the bay currents
to develop your race strategy.

"The Bay Model--when its working, or even when it is not, is
an entertaining 1.5 acres.

http://www.baymodel.org/images/thumnail.htm pictures
http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/bmvc/ text

Fleet 12, San Francisco, was my old fleet, when I lived on
the "left" coast, and raced Etchells as middle-guy.

When I joined Fleet 12, I was told about an Etchells PCC a few
years earlier where nine boats lost their rigs, and they later cut
back the August race schedule. 35-41 knot wind reports would
not surprise anyone in August.

http://www.sfetchells.org/

Check out what they have for a crew page.

http://www.sfetchells.org/fleet/crew.cfm

To crew in this fleet means you don't miss any races. That sort of
commitment is the foundation for being a top racer in the worlds
toughest fleet.
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