Franklin Lane Trophy Team Race

After postponing ashore due to lack of wind for the better part of the morning, the fleet finally launched in 2-4 knot westerly breeze. Although the angle was stable throughout the first flight, breeze began to soften on the right during the first race of the second flight, and on the other side of the glassy band a northerly puff started building off Shannon beach. Soon, the northerly filled onto the second beat and top reach, but never filled all the way to the starting line. After a relatively brief postponement on the water, the westerly stabilized and racing resumed, With square first beats and occasional blasts of northerly skewing the second beat. About half way through the rotation, a puff filled due south, covering the course but failing to reach the north end of the lake. RC decided to call the breeze's bluff and postponed, anticipating that the westerly would return before the course could be shifted. The westerly indeed returned, but by the time the fleet was off the dock, the breeze collapsed and a due south puff filled, this time all the way to the top of the lake. The course was rotated, and the breeze eventually settled into a SSW pattern, with some puffs as far as SSE to the left and WSW to the right. Although the angle was less stable that the morning's racing, the wind range was also larger, and some gusts up to 7 knots got crews momentarily into the hiking straps in the Larks. Facing stiff competition from the runner up BC, Tufts 1 ultimately carried the day, thanks to home-field and home-boat advantage. Thanks again to competitors for making the trek to Tufts despite the dubious forecast, and to the undergrad RC squad: Kiana Beachy '28, Grant Schmidt '28, and Brayden Benesch '28. And apologies to Tufts 2, who by quirk of the rotation were forced to spend the day in FJs.