 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
NSSC FIRST ANNUAL LEUKEMIA CUP REGATTA SUCSESS FALL SERIES UPDATE North Star Sail Club held a doubleheader event October 1 st piggybacking their popular Howard Boston Memorial the traditional start of the Anchor Bay Fall Series with the clubs first ever Leukemia Cup fundraiser. Spurred by the loss of both Howard Boston and former Race Chairman Barry Saad to the blood disease club sailors took the event to heart raising $27,000 to help find a cure. On the water the course to victory was as elusive as that cure with an indescribable wind pattern that had boats only yards apart sailing the same direction on opposite tacks. After half the 49 boat fleet sailing in six classes got off the line under sunny skies the light breeze shut off completely for 45 minutes finally filling in from the opposite direction at 8 knots allowing the rest to start. These two winds battled each other all day causing the aforementioned mind-melting minefield of holes and wind shifts. After a great steak dinner at days end the J-35 DOUBLE SHOT owned by another former Race Committee Chairman Bill Jenkins & wife Lisa won overall in PHRF and TERRY LEE sailed by Ted & Terry Toll won JAM. Top Fundraiser on the day was Bill Wildner on MR BILLS WILD RIDE. Event organizer Jim Rodgers thanked all the volunteers and committees that made the event a smooth running success and vowed the club would continue running the event next year.
Week two of the Anchor Bay fall series was scheduled as a two-race windward/leeward day. Once again the wind gods had something to say this time a veil of fog that lowered itself over the lake just minutes before the fleet was to leave the dock. PRO Ron Rabine hoisted a postponement signal on the dock then slowly headed out to monitor conditions on the lake. For over 2 hours the fog clung to the lake as the light wind and sun tried to burn or blow it away. Patience finally paid off when the early afternoon sun along with a seven knot south wind cleared the lake in fifteen minutes allowing one rock steady full distance race to be held. Winning the Meagher Trophy for overall was Bill Wildner's MR BILLS WILD RIDE.
October 15 th saw the weather turn to true fall conditions with frost on the deck and heavy cold air you know the kind that loads up sails in a hurry. Due to the wind direction RC displayed an "L" flag and drew up a new course choice that proved spot on. PHRF B got a bit to aggressive at the start and were thrown a General Recall. Greg Muliett on WIND DOG went on to win this class by one second in the closest finish of the day. Temperatures warmed to the low fifties and the flat water sailing afforded by the close confines of Anchor Bay tipped the scales to decide on starting a second race. After two fleets got off the start line had to be repositioned as a different wind pattern filled the outer lake. Boats had a close reaching lower leg combined with a shifty beat on the approach to the weather mark. In the Asymmetrical PHRF class the top five boats arrived at the leeward mark overlapped on both tacks leading to the first protest of the series. Paul Krutty onboard SEA QUELL came out on top of this hotly contested class.
For full results of all races go here Report by Ron Rabine
|
