Thistle Midwinters East - 2010

The Thistle Midwinters in St. Pete is a class tradition dating back many decades.  It is a good balance of solid racing and unmatched camaraderie.  For Dieball Sailing, it again is a great destination for the delivery of dozens of suits of sails!  This year we delivered a record number of Thistle sails and thoroughly enjoyed our time meeting, greeting and helping our many customers and friends.

This year is an El Nino year.  The term refers to a weather cycle that comes every 4-5 years and creates unseasonably cool and windy conditions throughout the southern states.  This blog doesn't have to go into the detail that many of you have witnessed directly or through the images on the Weather Channel.

The Dieball Sailing van was put to the test as it made its way south.  Through horrible white-out conditions that had temps under 30 as far south as Gainsville, the anticipation of warm weather and sunscreen would have to wait a few days!

Saturday - Sunday pre-event
The early arrivals found some tough conditions.  Rain and wind ruled the day on Saturday as folks started to show up and left their covers on their boats.  Tom Hubbell started to get the Coach TCA program together.  Again this year, the popular series of talks and training enticed folks to come to MWE and not only experience the fun, but also learn along the way.  For a modest donation, participants get the help of many of the class experts, including Greg Fisher, Greg Griffin, Skip Dieball, Paul Abduallah, Scott Griffin, Jack Finefrock and many others.  It is truly unique and much anticipated by both participants/players and coaches.

Sunday serves as the practice day...and this year a number of folks found great sailing.  The frontal system took the winds from the west to the northwest.  This is one of the shiftiest directions, but in an El Nino year, it also produces unsteady weather patterns.

Monday
The term "Feast or Famine" comes to mind as we look back on Monday.  There was no wind...all day long!  At the same time, a huge storm system was making its way across Texas and Louisiana.  For this reason, the Race Committee decided to have everyone reconvene after lunch on Tuesday.

Tuesday
The breeze was up through the morning hours, but looking back probably was the best breeze of the week.  The front hadn't moved through, though it was very much anticipated.  The RC sent everyone out and as everyone converged on the starting area, the front moved in and produced some heavy puffs from the Northwest.  As a result, two boats lost rigs and many more capsized.

Doug Laber got one boat fixed up with a rig that he brought down.  Craig Koschalk set up the other.  It was nice to see so many people jump in to help these sailors get ready for the next day's racing.

The racing on Tuesday was called off before there was a start.  Racing on Wednesday was scheduled early, but the breeze was still forcasted to be in the upper teens.

Wednesday
One race was sailed in a strong Northwesterly.  The RC decided to take the waves out of play by setting up the starting area just to the east of The Pier.  This made for smooth water, but the puffs were fast and furious.  Many had their hands full and many capsized.  As a result, only one race was completed. 

Dieball Sailing customer Paul Abdullah with crew Scott Griffin and Sarah Paisley won comfortably.  Greg Fisher with Jeff Eiber and Jo Ann Fisher were 2nd.  Dieball Sailing customer and Midwinters West Champ Craig Koschalk was running a comfortable 2nd, but suffered from a capsize at the bottom of the 2nd lap.

Thursday
Two races were completed in a very cold Northerly.  Boats again suffered from capsizes.  Paul Abduallah's team got another victory in the 2nd race, but suffered an OCS in the 3rd.  This opened the door for Greg Fisher's team to take charge.