Good Turnout and Close Racing at Woolie Boolie '05

Story by Mark Barr

This year's Woolie Boolie Race was held at Oroville Lake on April 9th. It was forecasted to be a breezy day with highs in the mid 60s. For once, the forecasters got it right. Even better, there was a total of 9 BSC boats sailing (7 racing and two cruising).

Mike Peavy and Jody Christopherson served as race committee. They were the creators of this race 4 years ago, and have run the race every year since. This year, the boats all shared the same starts for 3 races, but results separated them into three fleets, certerboards, catamarans and keelboats. Since Mike and Jody were racing a Nacra 5.8 cat, they were able to start and finish long before any other boats, and could then heave-to and take finish times as the rest of the boats finished.

The lake level was up to 830 feet in elevation, only 70 feet from full. The lower parking lot and ramps were completely submerged, so we launched from the 3 docks on the upper ramp. This gave everybody plenty of room and minimal motor boat congestion (see photo).

Race one started from the 5 mph bouys near the dock area and went between the permanent orange buoys (the gate), back to the starting line bouys and finished through the gate a 2nd time. We started out with light, swirling northwesterly breezes, but there were big windless "holes" to avoid and windshifts galore. Mike and Jody were first to finish in that fast Nacra catamaran. Wade and Bettie Ann Hough finished 2nd in their Thistle about one boat length ahead of my Thistle (a pattern that persisted all day). Just on my tail (and minutes ahead on handicap) was Dave Neilsen in his Laser. The rest of the catamarans finished in rapid succession and Paul Ritchie brought up the rear in his Hunter 216 keelboat.

New member, David Melcon did not race on this day, but fun sailed his Prindle 18-2 catamaran all over the lake. Lloyd Lee was also out fun sailing for a while, single handing his Coronado 15. For those who do not want to race, this is a great option to get in some tiller time. It is also an easy way to watch the racing up close. If you choose to take this option, just be careful to stay out of the way of the racers.

Race two started at the A gate, went downwind to a 5 mph buoy along the south shore, crossed to another 5 mph buoy on the north shore and finished back at A gate. Predictably, Mike Peavy finished first with the rest of the cats in hot pursuit. Wade & Bettie Ann smoked away from my thistle to finish first in the centerboard fleet and Dave Neilsen (always close on our heels) won the centerboard fleet on handicap. Nice job Dave and Wade!

Race 3 was a slightly different course, but the results were almost exactly the same.

Afterwards, everyone de-rigged together in the upper parking lot, with a nice 10 mph breeze to keep us cool. Mike and Jody conducted the award ceremony with skippers and crew relaxing in a semicircle around Mike's van. Ten pairs of the coveted Woolie Boolie sailing socks were awarded as prizes. Thanks goes to Mike Peavy, owner of Chico's Cyclesport bike shop for providing these great socks at cost. If you didn't win a pair and you want warm, comfortable feet in the cold months of the year, you can purchase a pair or two at Cyclesport.

The perpetual trophy, two toy stuffed lambs, is normally awarded to the racer with the lowest overall handicap score when all corrected times are compared. This year's overall winner was Dave Neilsen, but he insisted that he has had the trophies in the past. Since Vice Commodore Paul Ritchie's wife Gesela seemed to enjoy having the lambs last year, Dave suggested that Gesela keep them again until next year's Woolie Boolie. Funny things can happen fast in the BSC. You never know exactly what might happen.

If this day is any indication, spring has "sprung". Let's get out there and have some fun on the Forebay for next weeks event on Sunday, April 17th. It doesn't get much better than this.