The 2010 racing season got off to a great start on Saturday, July 3, in a stiff, southerly breeze between 17 and 24 miles per hour. Seven boats showed up at the starting line, but one lost its mast (TM11, Tom Siqveland with brother, Bob) and the second flipped (A38, Dave Pasley with Alex Schmidt).

That left five boats for the start of two exciting races that featured several lead changes. Pete Roberts (TM23, with Martha Ross and David) won the first race in his new boat, Dread Pirate. Bob Crabb (TM5, with daughter Mariah and Raymond Stonacek) was second and Grant Moos (I88, with daughter Megan and Jim Detweiler) was third.

Byron Hoffman (sailing Pete’s old boat, 55, with Barry Tonning and Oliver Ross) were in fourth, followed by Andy Nelson (TM2, with Rick Becher) in fifth. (Two more boats were planning to race but the stiff breeze persuaded them otherwise.)

The second race was won by Bob Crabb, followed by Pete Roberts, Grant Moos, Andy Nelson and Byron Hoffman.

Special thanks are due to the Committee Boat (Jeff Manlove, Dick Staunton and Ed “Pete” Crandall) for helping the Pasley boat up, for towing the Siqveland boat home, and for rescuing the Roberts boat from crashing into the rocks while Pete fiddled with his sail.

A special commendation is also due to Dave Pasley and Alex Schmidt for driving all the way from Iowa just to sail in the race, and to Becca Lundberg for finding the Moos cabin and attending the kick-off party.

Becca and her friend, John, are welcome additions to the Ten Mile Lake sailing community. On Sunday, they served as instructors on one of four boats loaded with young sailors who participated in clinic.

In all, eight new or young sailors -- Rick Brown, Emily Brown, Mariah Crabb, Jim Detweiler, Megan Moos, Amy Robison, Martha Ross and Oliver Ross -- learned some sailing fundamentals during the clinic. The next clinic will be held Sunday, Aug. 1.

The next race will be held Saturday, July 17, at 1:30 p.m. Jim Reents (MaryAlice Ackerman’s husband) will be the celebrity Committee Boat starter.

We'll see you then.