The Monday Night Laser Series got a late start in light winds this year.

The scheduled first Monday evening of single-handed sail racing was canceled because of lightning and thunder, as was the second, but the hardiest turned out June 8 for hot competition in the still chilly waters.

Eleven boats competed fiercely, even though the skippers were more in shape for skiing than sailing. In medium winds and not much sunshine, their boats performed even when the sailors didnand#8217;t. Former Canadian National champion Nick Pullen would agree with that, after his boat was disqualified on a technicality (crossing the start-finish line when he was not finishing) in one race.

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His first- and second-place finishes in the other two races were still good enough for the third-place trophy awarded at Jakeand#8217;s on the Lake restaurant after the racing.

Doug Pierini, who learned the same lesson at the April Ski-Sail event, benefited from Pullenand#8217;s mistake and took first-place honors. Second place in the A-Fleet went to Matt Clark, who couldnand#8217;t quite keep up with Pullen, and Danny Pavel in the third, lighter-wind race.

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In the B-Fleet and#8212; for juniors and others new to Laser sailing and#8212; Roger Lancaster took the honors ahead of Drew McMillain and Rick Raduziner, who took second and third, respectively. Lancaster is coming back to racing the Laser, a 130-pound single-sail racing dinghy, after a long absence.

There was even more excitement for the second week of racing, even though the little wind that showed up was from the northeast. Exciting because Justin Casey, who is once again in charge of the Tahoe Yacht Cluband#8217;s Laser series, talked Race Officer Stacey Conner into running an unusual four races for both fleets.

Conner and her assistants set up and further adjusted a reasonably fair start line, despite light rain and sometimes very light winds. No one complained even though three of the four races were started at the far end of the starting line and on port tack, because of very shifty wind and under-staffing on the committee boat.

Yes, her young but dedicated children hoisted the signal flags.

When asked why we were able to sail four races that day, Conner said, and#8220;Well, I was already wet (from the rain), so why not?and#8221;

The A-fleet leaders that day were Collin Brochard, a Bay Area sailor who comes here whenever he can, and Pullen, who lost the tie-breaker to Brochard. In third was Dan Hauserman sailing just a little slower than Brochard and Pullen.

In the B-fleet, Lancaster won again, finishing no worse than second in the four races, followed by Hayden Hauserman and Drew MacMillain. Trophies were handed out at Gar Woods restaurant at the after-sail party.

The wind was even lighter the third evening, so sailors waited on shore for almost an hour for enough breeze to sail out to the starting line. There wasnand#8217;t any wind at all until a cloud came over and produced maybe 3 to 5 knots. Finally, two races were somehow sailed, again with Conner and the kids doing an excellent job from the committee boat.

Among those who showed up and waited for wind were top-three finishers Pierini, Hauserman and Buff Wendt, respectively. Trophy glasses were handed out at Sunnyside Restaurant after the racing.

In the B-Fleet, Lancaster won again, followed by McMillain, who lost the tie-breaker with Lancaster, and then a respectable third-place finish by Raduziner.

The Tahoe Yacht Club has just announced a make-up race for Tuesday, July 1, to make up for one of the cancellations. The wind can be forgiven for one no-show, but not two, according to Casey, who is again doing a fabulous job of organizing the Monday Night Laser Series.

Racing is open to anyone who owns or can get a hold of a Laser sailboat, and turns up in time to sail out for the 6 p.m. warning signal.

A-Fleet

Week 3 June 8

Place, Skipper

1. Pierini

2. Clark

3. Pullen

Week 4 June 15

1. C. Brochard

2. Pullen

3. Hauserman

Week 5 June 22

1. Pierini

2. Hauserman

3. Wendt

B-Fleet

Week 3 June 8

1. Lancaster

2. McMillain

3. Raduziner

Week 4 June 15

1. Lancaster

2. Hauserman

3. McMillain

Week 5 June 22

1. Lancaster

2. McMillain

3. Raduziner