Weather beckons D.I. Race sailors

The days leading up to last year's Dauphin Island Race were filled with weather concerns as gray as the skies on race day.

All told, only about half of the 100 or so boats that started last year's race actually finished.

"That was a survival fest last year," Jim Haley, race chairman from the host Lake Forest Yacht Club, said of the 2006 event that was dampened by high winds and seas.

This time, the marine forecast for Mobile Bay calls for variable winds of 5-10 knots and a mostly smooth surface, which is welcome news for the 127 boats registered as of Thursday for today's 49th annual race, the nation's largest one-day point-to-point sailboat race.

"We've seen a flurry of registrations this week," Haley said. "It's shaping up to be a beautiful weekend."

The Dauphin Island Race runs about 18 miles from the northern end of Mobile Bay to Dauphin Island. Fans planning to attend the race are invited to watch from the water or the island.

The first of three starts will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the sailing of the PHRF Division, while the Portsmouth Division will move at 9:45 and the One-Designs will get going at 10.

Any boats still on the water after 5 p.m. will not be scored.

As always, race officials say weather will play an important role. It won't be nearly as overwhelming as last year, they said, when wind gusts hit 44 miles per hour and swells reached as high as five feet in some areas.

"A lot of boats got knocked over last year," Haley said. "If the wind's blowing as hard as it was last year it's absolutely miserable, but if it's down around five (knots) it's also miserable. You don't have enough wind to make your boat go.

"From what I understand, it won't be a slow, slow race this year but it won't be a fast one either. It'll be a lot more comfortable. Most everybody will finish."

After today's race, onshore activities begin at 4:30 p.m. on Dauphin Island and conclude with the trophy presentation at 7:30.

This year's race is dedicated to Lake Forest Yacht Club member Brenda "Missy" deAngelo, who passed away in February after a lengthy illness.