2010 Lauderdale - Key West Race

Bill Bollin and his team on the Badfish enjoy medium distance racing.  Throughout 2009, they posted some amazing finishes on Lake Erie, including the destruction of the Trans Erie Race record by over 5 hours. 

Every few years they hitch the boat up and head south for the Lauderdale-Key West Race.  They are past class champions with their previous boat Stand Aside and no stranger to the route down to USA's most southern point (in the lower 48).

This year's team consisted of a lean 6-member cast.  Bill Bollin is the team's leader and skipper.  His son John Bollin played the role of navigator.  Steve King knows the boat inside and out and was the back-up helmsman for much of the race.  Brad D'Archangelo was the primary Spin trimmer and Corey Wisniewski was the mast/bow.  Skip Dieball ran the mainsail and openly discussed tactics.

The forecast for this year's event was for a nice 7-12 knot breeze starting out of the North and going Northeast throughout the night.  Pretty ideal for a Melges 32 and the race started according to the forecast.  

For the first 35 miles the forecast was true.  Badfish had a nice battle with Meridian, a Farr 36.  Many gybes and tactical decisions by both teams made the sailing fun as they raced side-by-side for a long time. 

Just south of Key Biscayne the wind went hard to the Northwest.  This caught both Meridian and Badfish offguard as they go the auto lift on starboard.  This direction held for nearly all of the balance of the race. 

The race wasn't without its excitement.  Before the boat left the dock, the pesky engine on the Badfish decided not to work.  This caused a delay and unexpected sail out to the racecourse.  Then, about 50 miles from the finish, Badfish's headsail got washed back and pulled the Harken Luff Foil clean from the headstay.  After picking up the pieces, it was clear that a plan had to be made to utilize the headsail for the 5 mile finishing leg.  Bill and Corey did a great job of prepping the headsail for lashing around the forestay and the jib worked (not 100% efficiently, but worked!). 

In the end, the boats that finished early didn't fair too well.  The wind slowly backed and increased in the morning hours, thus giving the higher rated boats some great rides into the finish.  Check out the scores.

Thanks to the team of Badfish for continued support of Dieball Sailing.  All the best for a great 2010.