2008 Hobie 20 NAC - Day Three

Strong Easterly winds and storms on Thursday gave way to clearer skies Friday morning, however the winds had shifted to the West and were blowing 25 and gusting even higher, kicking up huge swells that looked ominous as they crashed against the rocks on the dam. People could see that going out on the water was asking for trouble as the nightmares from the previous day were fresh in everyone's mind.

Hobie Beach sits back in a protected area if the wind is from the West. The shining sun and protection from the strong winds made several sailors anxious to hit the water; but one look at the middle of the lake through a pair of binoculars made it clear that winds were still very strong and we would need to hold out a bit longer. Around 2:00pm PU became impatient with Mother Nature and decided that it was time to head out.

The signal boat left the marina and drove past Hobie Beach heading to the West. Well, they were trying to head to the West. The spectacle of watching this 32ft Irwan get tossed around by the oncoming waves had everyone on the beach both intrigued and amused.

At approx 3:45pm the postponement flag was lowered, which meant races would begin in 30 min. Cautiously some of the sailors prepared, while others who recalled the previous days carnage wished their comrades luck on their impending voyage. (What we didn't know is that the winds were only blowing 17-22knots.) Half of the fleet left the beach and headed for the start line. Two of those boats went out with the jib furled,...which later came back to haunt them. The first race began and over the course of the next hour the winds gradually let up. There were no capsizes, no carnage, only good fun sailing in the clear blue skies.

Four races were completed, each successive race with less and less wind.

The day ended with the sun setting in the West, lighting up the golden bluffs in Nebraska over the blue waters reminding us that this lake has a beauty all it's own.