Homer Yacht Club launches racing season

In spite of less than perfect weather — fresh snow, wind and choppy water on Kachemak Bay — four captains, crews and sailboats crossed the start and finish line of the Homer Yacht Club’s first race of the 2013 season, the Cheechako Cup.
“We were all just standing around the dock, moaning and griping for half an hour and then I think Mark Hemstreet said ‘I want to do it’ and everyone else said, ‘OK, let’s do it, man,” said Ron Downing, captain of the Morning Star. “We went out and had a nice time.”
Preliminary results are:
First place: Morning Star, Capt. Ron Downing;
Second place: Dawg’s Life, Capt. Kevin Walker;
Third place: Nereus, Capt. Erik Pullman;
Fourth place: Duit, Capt. Mark Hemstreet.
The club’s next race, the Sourdough, is this Saturday. Captains meet on the P float of the Homer Harbor at noon, with the race to begin at 2 p.m.
For a schedule of upcoming races, visit homeryachtclub.org.