Fleet 488 2014 Yearbook Report (covering the 2013 Season)
(3074 words)
By David Thompson, Fleet Captain
Jan Davis, Fleet Secretary
Bill Cabrall, Past Fleet Captain
Fleet Banquet
We started 2013 with the Fleet 488 End-of-2012 Season Banquet on Saturday, January 19 at the
gracious home of Steve and Jan Davis. Twenty Fleet members and friends had a most enjoyable
evening, and lingered well past the scheduled ending time to socialize with members they had not seen
since the end of sailing season in October. At the business meeting, David Thompson was re-elected to
the post of Fleet Captain and Jan Davis was elected to the post of Fleet Secretary. David reviewed the
highlights of the 2012 season, including the awards given at the 2012 DSA End-of-Season Banquet.
Southern Circuit
In March, Three Fleet 488 teams – Davis, Cabrall, and Thompson -- traveled to the 2013 Southern
Circuit. Steve and Jan flew into Savannah and chartered a boat from Laura Jeffers, and sailed with Laura
and Brian Hayes. Bill Cabrall drove the northern route and picked up Raeyane at the Nashville airport
and picked up Jim England at the Savannah airport. Teams Davis and Cabrall sailed the entire circuit.
Barb and David drove to St. Pete the last week in February where they stayed for an entire month in a
rental condo. They headed down to Miami on March 11 to meet up with Rob Merritt who had flown in
from Denver the night before. Team Davis placed 9th out of 26 boats sailing the entire circuit, and Team
Cabrall placed 22nd. Subsequently Bill Cabrall published a poem in the April 1 edition of the ILCA Flash
Blast emailed newsletter. We've nominated Bill to be Poet Laureate for ILCA!
Thaw-Out Series
Five Fleet 488 Lightnings competed in the Denver Sailing Association's Thaw-out series April 6 through
May 4. Unlike last year, we had sailable weather for all five Saturdays. Not surprisingly, Steve Davis
took first place and Bill Cabrall second place in this series. More surprisingly, David Thompson took
third.
Five Lightnings were out in Thaw-out Series # 3 on April 20
Toby Flips His Lightning
New Lightning skipper Toby Hamer had acquired #12015 last fall, and needed to flip the boat over on to
sawhorses in his back yard in order to refinish her bottom. So, on Saturday April 27, ten fleet members
and friends appeared at his house at 10 AM to flip the boat. It only took about 15 minutes, and by the
time that Bill Cabrall arrived, the job was done.
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Fleet 488 2014 Yearbook Report (covering the 2013 Season)
Toby flips his Lightning
Spring Series
Seven Fleet 488 boats competed in the Denver Sailing Association Spring Series, May 9 through July 10,
in races sailed in light air on some evenings and heavier air on other evenings. Bad weather forced the
cancellation of racing on May 9, and high winds kept the Lightnings ashore on May 30. Bill Cabrall took
first place in the series, Steve Davis second, and David Thompson third.
Shootout/Hornblower Regatta
In the interim, five Fleet 488 Lightnings -- teams Davis; Cabrall; Dandy Lion; Stoller; and Thompson -sailed in the 2013 DSA Shootout/Hornblower Regatta on May 18 and 19. We had light and variable
winds on both days, but not so light that we couldn’t race, and occasionally strong enough in the gusts
to cause us to get up on the deck and hike. Sailing on the dinghy course at the southeast end of the lake
we got in three races on Saturday and four on Sunday, all on windward-leeward courses marked by
yellow buoys. Finishes were in the order you would expect, except for the last race on Sunday, when
the Dandy Lions found their secret inboard engine and flashed by all four other Lightings on the final leg
to take first place. Way to go, Dandy Lions! In that race, team Thompson was second around the
windward mark and also at the leeward mark, and had expectations of a second or third place finish
(behind Dandy Lion and Davis), but in the 20 seconds or so before the finish line, teams Cabrall and
Stoller both inched past Thompson on their windward side. As they say in France, “desolé!.” Team
Davis took first place; Cabrall second, and Dandy Lion third.
Crew Coordinator Program
We started the Fleet 488 Crew Coordination program on May 27. Following a recommendation by Fleet
488 skipper Jim England, our fleet captain filled the role of Crew Coordinator, for the purpose of getting
more Lightnings on the line for our 2013 Spring and Summer series races. Crew candidates were listed
on the Lightning Crew Connection page on our website, to serve as a pool from which to draw for crew
positions on specific Thursday nights. Here is how it was designed to work:
 Any skipper knowing on Monday that he will need crew for the upcoming Thursday will contact
the Crew Coordinator on Monday to explain his needs;
 The Crew Coordinator will canvass the crew pool and work to make a match;
 Skippers who know on Monday they will not be sailing will contact the Crew Coordinator on
Monday to let him know which of his regular crew will be available to sail on other boats the
upcoming Thursday.
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Fleet 488 2014 Yearbook Report (covering the 2013 Season)
Over the course of the Spring and Summer Series we made at least one crew match per racing evening,
getting more boats on the water this year.
Lightning Worlds
Also in the interim, two Fleet 488 skippers traveled to Castiglione del Lago, Italy, to compete in the
Lightning World Masters and Lightning World Championships. Congratulations to DSA Lightning
skippers Steve Davis and David Spira, who placed 10th and 11th respectively in the International
Masters Championship Regatta! Steve sailed with Laura Jeffers and Amy Linton; David sailed with Todd
Whitman and Randy Shore. Subsequently Steve placed 18th out of a star-studded cast of 46 in the
Lightning World Championships, and David Spira placed 23rd. Well done, Steve and David!
Lake level Low and Scheduled to go Lower
We experienced a dramatic drop in the level of Cherry Creek Reservoir, due to continuing drought
conditions and a need to drop the lake level further to satisfy water-rights holders downstream. By the
end of the Spring Series the lake was three feet below its specified recreational level, exposing mud flats
in the harbor where we launch and recover for racing, and exposing fixed-keel racing boats to the risk of
striking bottom on the race course. This required a change in launching and docking strategy, basically
pulling up centerboards and removing rudders once we entered the marina channel, and then paddling
the rest of the distance to the crane dock. That proved to be a difficult challenge when returning on
nights when winds were blowing from the west, straight out the channel we were attempting to enter.
Low Lake Levels, July 8
On a Happier Note ...
On a happier note, on July 6 Fleet 488 members David Spira and Rebecca Bevrit traveled east to sail with
Alister Thomson on July 6 around Fishers Island Connecticut. Here is a photo.
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Fleet 488 2014 Yearbook Report (covering the 2013 Season)
A stunning day, delightful company, and fair winds!
Summer Series
Nine Fleet 488 Lightnings competed in the DSA Summer Series, July 18 through September 19. The
continuing drought and low water put a crimp in our racing activities, as did a couple of strong
thunderstorms. Then rains of epic portions came the week of September 9 - 13, alleviating our low
water problem, turning it into a high water problem on the lake, and causing catastrophic flooding along
the Platte River drainage and the foothills communities north of Denver. On September 15, all boats in
the lower parking lot were removed and sent up the hill to the middle parking lot, where we created a
new, if temporary, Lightning row.
In the Summer Series, Team England took first place; Team Davis took second, and Team Dandy Lion
took third.
In Summer Series Race # 4, on August 8, we noted that in our memory we have never had a race where
a thunderstorm passed directly over the lake — until tonight.
As boats were leaving the marina for the race course, some eyes were focused on a dark cloud
mass to the south, but it seemed like it was moving away, and was not going to be of much
concern for racing. A lighter cloud mass to the north was obscured by the dam, and we did not
pay attention to it. In hindsight, it might have been a good idea to follow it more closely.
Race Committee had in the meantime set a triangular course, and got off the Lasers on their
start after only a slight postponement. While the next group of boats was setting up for their
start, some of the skippers wondered about that lighter cloud to the north that now appeared
to be headed over the lake.
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Fleet 488 2014 Yearbook Report (covering the 2013 Season)
Just as the “P” flag went up for the second start, a bright flash in the sky overhead and a very
loud thunderclap focused our attention on the possibility that we might want to head back to
the docks. After a second thunderclap, RC signaled to abandon all races and head for shore.
Lightning 15228 was one of the first boats to break away, and as they rounded mark 7 heading
into the channel, it started to rain — and then almost immediately, to rain harder. And then it
was like sailing under a waterfall, with a few hailstones thrown in for good measure. Lightning
15228 had dropped her sails and was drifting down the channel towards the bait shack when
winds stated gusting in the 20 – 30 MPH range. They were able to tie up and head for the patio
under the Yacht Club deck and take shelter, and although sopping wet, they were unharmed by
the ordeal. Other boats making their way to the crane had to deal with the gusting winds with
sails still up. All survived, although Curtis Rist’s Finn gybed twice in wild succession, and Kurt
Robinson’s Laser, still out on the water in the lee of the dam, started planing on a waveless
section of the lake.
The rain, thunder, lightning, and wind continued well past 9 PM, while skippers and crews
secured their boats as best they could, with boats and people all cold and wet. Everyone made
it in successfully, although two of the Lightnings opted to sail to the west launch ramp and haul
out there.
That's how it sometimes goes in the Mountain West!
North Americans
In the meantime, three DSA skippers and crew headed out to the 2013 North American Masters and
Lightning Championships at Nayak, NY and Westport, CT.
Bill Cabrall packed up his boat on Sunday, August 11, and hit the road later in the week, meeting up with
Raeyane in Cleveland, and arriving in Westport on August 16. Christine Merritt, Bill's third crew flew in
on the 17th to complete the team. Jim England flew to Nyack this weekend to meet up with Bill Mauk
to crew in the Masters, along with Fleet 488 crew Rebecca Bevrit. Rob Merritt headed out to sail as
crew on another boat in the Masters, and with Bill Mauk in the North Americans the following
week. Steve Davis flew out on the 17th to meet up with Brian Hayes to helm Brian’s boat in the North
Americans. Bill Mauk placed 21st out of a fleet of 32 boats in the Masters. In the North Americans, Bill,
Raeyane, and Christine placed 13th out of a fleet of 22 boats in the President’s Cup division, while
Rebecca Espinosa and Rob Merritt, sailing on Bill Mauk’s Lightning, placed 36th out of 36 boats in the
Championship fleet.
Bill and Raeyane Tie the Knot!
The high point of the year for Fleet 488 was the wedding of Bill Cabrall and Raeyane Farrell on
September 7.
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Fleet 488 2014 Yearbook Report (covering the 2013 Season)
Bill and Raeyane tie the knot
Bill and Raeyane were wed at 4 pm on a warm, sunny September Saturday at the historic and elegant
Brown Palace hotel in downtown Denver. Their nuptials were witnessed by 70 guests, including a large
contingent of Fleet 488 members. Their romance owes a tremendous amount to our beloved hard chine
boats – Bill & Raeyane first met over a broken Lightning mast in a thunderstorm 8500’ in the Colorado
Rockies, an early date involved a romantic drive (Denver to Buffalo and back in 4 days) to pick up a boat,
and they became inseparable campaigning Lightning’s across North America. They got engaged on a
moonlit beach surrounded by Lightnings quietly covered and keeping watch, and the requirements for
their new home together included (of course) a kitchen large enough to feed a fleet and a garage deep
enough to hold both the boat and a car to tow it!
Following the wedding, everyone enjoyed an evening of cocktails, dinner and dancing in the Brown
Palace’s famous Onyx Room. The next day Bill & Raeyane headed off to a canal boat holiday in England
and Wales for their honeymoon, while the rest of the fleet enjoyed 4 days of biblical rain and once in a
century floods.
Governor's Cup Regatta
Five Lightnings registered for the 2013 Colorado Governor's Cup Regatta, September 20 - 21.
The first day of the regatta gave us sunny skies, 80-degree temperatures, and generally southerly winds
with some lulls and no-wind holes, but steady enough to allow the Race Committee to run 4 races and
still get competitors back to the dock by 5PM. Day 2 was a slightly cooler day, with clouds moving in
gradually over the course of the afternoon, bringing us very nice southerly winds at 10 – 12 MPH, with
some lulls, but generally steady in strength and direction. RC was on station promptly at 11 AM, and got
off four nice races and got competitors back to the dock before 3 PM.
As competitors were securing their boats and gathering around the kegs of Dry Dock beer while the
scorekeeper was scoring and the protest jury was hearing, the clouds overhead thickened and we knew
that a cold front, bringing rain, was on the way. Pizzas arrived promptly at 4 PM and we wolfed down
slices of pepperoni and cheese pizzas, and finally gathered for a raffle drawing at 4:30 PM and started
the awards presentations at 5 PM.
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Fleet 488 2014 Yearbook Report (covering the 2013 Season)
The cold front arrived 10 minutes later, bringing gusty winds and cold rain, so we hurried under the tent
to finish the awards and then dismissed everyone so that they could make it out quickly before getting
soaked. The clean-up committee donned their foulies in order to quickly do a rough clean-up, with a
vow to return tomorrow to finish.
Team Davis won handily, with 6 bullets, a 3rd, and a thrown-out DNF. Team Dandy Lion was a solid
second, with two firsts and five seconds. Team Ulatowski was farther back, in 3rd place, and team
Thompson was just one point behind, in 4th place. Team Cabrall had registered for the regatta, but
were jet-lagged after returning Friday night from two weeks in England and Wales, and elected to stay
ashore.
Fall Frostbite Series
Six Lightnings sailed in the DSA Fall Frostbite Series, under a warm October sun and blue skies for all five
race days. Steve Davis' boat took first place, with Swift Solo skipper Philip Ryan at the helm and
Lightning skipper David Spira on board. Philip and crew were practicing for the 2013 Championship of
Champions regatta held the last weekend of October. The last race day of the series, October 26, was
the Pumpkin Bash regatta, and some competitors were in Halloween costume.
Blue Two Bananas - photo Credit Christine Merritt
2013 US Sailing Championship of Champions, October 24 – 27
To qualify for the US Sailing Championship of Champions Regatta one must have won a national
championship and additionally been invited by the regatta organizing committee to compete. DSA's
Philip Ryan did that, by winning the Swift Solo National Championship in June!
This year the Championship on Champions Regatta was sailed in Lightnings, at Lake Murray near
Columbia South Carolina, the 4-day weekend of October 24 – 27. And what better crew could Philip get
than DSA sailors David Spira, himself a highly-placed finisher in the 2013 Lightning World Championships
last June, and Rebecca Bevrit, who has gained much experience in Lightning national-level regattas over
the years. Boats and sails were borrowed and provided by US Sailing, so all the competitors needed to
do was to show up and sail.
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Fleet 488 2014 Yearbook Report (covering the 2013 Season)
Eighteen races were sailed over the course of two and a half days, with the 20 competitors switching
boats after each race, rotating from boat to boat so that the results came exclusively from good
seamanship and not from boat condition differences.
The DSA team placed 17th in a field headed by some heavy-hitting national champion rock stars
DSA End of Season Awards
Seventeen Fleet 488 Members and friends joined forty eight other DSA members and guests for the
67th annual DSA awards banquet at the Cherry Creek Yacht Club on November 9. Steve Davis was
honored with the O. C. Quatelbaum Award for the skipper with the most enthusiasm, participation, and
consideration of notable competitive sailing achievements; Lucas Armstrong was honored with the
Wetback Award for the most notable capsize during the season, and Christine Merritt was honored with
the Ronnie Hegel Memorial Award for the individual named as best crew of the year. Steve Davis, Bill
Cabrall, Lucas Armstrong, Jim England, and David Thompson were awarded trophies for their first,
second, or third places in the four DSA Series Racing events.
All in All, another good year for Fleet 488.
488
Rocky Mountain
Sailing in Metro Denver and the Intermountain WestColorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming
Fleet Officers:
Fleet Captain:
David Thompson
Fleet Secretary: Jan Davis
Boat Number
1477
Boat Name
Skipper
Heliotrope
Ben S. Beall
9688
Tom Doroff
9809
Tim Ostrander
11138
Beater
David Spira
11446
11457
James McGorry
Evenstar
Evan and Mary Ann Morris
11795
Community Sailing of Colorado
12015
Toby and Mika Hamer
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Fleet 488 2014 Yearbook Report (covering the 2013 Season)
12428
Strata-G
Stephen Saunders
12871
Dandy Lion
Lucas A Armstrong
13857
13858
Martin R. Mulhern
Grey Goose
Al Gawthrop
14030
14041
Steven H Davis
Family Affair
Jacob Vargish
14681
Jim England
14713
Eric R Mayer
14769
North Star
Bob Stoller
15026
Lively
John Hutton
15103
Steven H Davis
15104
Scott Hathcock
15228
Blue Two
David Thompson
15265
Steven H Davis
15315
Quest
William F Cabrall
15405
Odyssey
David Spira
9