We had glorious weather on Wednesday afternoon for the poker race - an OMDA event that appeals to members of all ages!
The skippers and crew received their sailing instructions on the beach, and were paired up with a partner boat. Each boat had to sail to all three checkpoints (in whatever order they chose), obtain a playing card, and return to the Harold Point beach. At the end of the race, the partners pooled their cards to make the best poker hand.
Aleid and Ynskje set out in their kayaks to the checkpoint at the Granite Saddle beach so they can
give out cards.
The poker race isn't usually run according to the strict guidlines of the current ISAF Racing Rules. For the poker race, some competitors prefer to be armed, something that probably contravenes rule 2! Merideth had selected her preferred weapon from her personal arsenal (the first thing she packed).
The poker race begins with at running start: one crew member holds the boat ready in the water,
while the faster crew members line up on shore.
No flags and five minute warning signal: just a simple "ready, set, go".
The crew run for their boat, and as soon as both crew members are in the boat, they're off.
It was crowded with all those boats starting together.
Once back at the beach, taskmaster Terry assigned a silly stunt, and made sure each team shucked their ration of corn before counting them finished and recording their poker hand.
Once the results were tallied, she kept them secret until it was time to announce them at the corn
roast that evening.
Thanks to the poker race competitors, we had a big pile of shucked corn. Fortunately there were lots of hungry people.
The poker race winners get first crack at choosing something from the prize table. Don't worry, there is lots to go round!
Thanks to Randy Beaumont, John and Danny McCulloch, and Janet Steel for the photos.
© 2006 Ontario Mirror Dinghy Association