Etchells Black Magic Sailing at Elephant Butte Lake

Images of the International Etchells sloop USA 125, "Black Magic", sailing in the single-handed Joshua Slocum race at Elephant Butte Lake, May 9, 2009. Photos courtesy of Gerald R. Byrnes, 2009 (c).

Etchells Constellation and Caliente Sailing at Elephant Butte

International Etchells USA 38, "Constellation", with Zorro at the helm enjoying spirited sailing conditions on Elephant Butte Lake.


International Etchells USA 438 "Caliente" with "Penzance" at the helm during the Joshua Slocum single-handed race, May 9, 2009.

Hot Flash and Pyrat at Elephant Butte Lake

The J/24 sloop "Hot Flash" fills her colorful spinnaker during the downwind run during the Jack and Jill his-and-hers race sponsored by the Rio Grande Sailing Club, May 9, 2009. Photos courtesy of Gerald R. Byrnes 2009 (c).


"Pyrat" sails his MC Scow during the Joshua Slocum single-handed race on May 9, 2009.

Joshua Slocum single-handed race, Saturday May 9, 2009 at the Butte

J/24 "Oso" before the start of the Joshua Slocum single-handed regatta at Elephant Butte Lake.




Constellation next to capsized MC Scow. A little later, the sailing club's motorboat and race committee crew helped the scow skipper recover.

For me, the race had its ups and downs and oddities. Before the start of the regatta I managed to bonk a port-tacker I didn't see coming. Just before the start, a big puff of wind made things a little too exciting and confusing, and hoisting the spinnaker in the puffy conditions for the downwind leg was "educational".