A Day at the Lake Text and photographs by Jay Rendall Imagine spending a summer day splashing through the waves in a sailboat race. A day at the lake starts early. A golden glow reflects off the tanned face of a sailor named Pat as he rigs his boat. Then Pat, his dad, and a friend carry the boat to the water, being careful not to scratch the smooth surface of the fiberglass hull.
More boats are already on the water.
Soon the race will begin. From a distance, the boats look like water bugs scooting around on a pond. When they race, Pat, Lisa, and the other seasoned sailors will be on their own. They must steer their boats, trim the sails, choose their course, and outsmart competitors. The start is one of the most important parts of a race.