1998 North American Championship Reports...Lake George, N.Y., Oct.1
Day Four.....Race #6 and Grand Finale:
Our reports of great wind in the past few days pale in comparison to our Grand Finale today. The statistics speak for themselves:
6 broken masts
2 sheered off booms
3 completely swamped boats (one boat with their bow underwater, sailed it home on only the jib and bailed it dry by the time
they got in the harbor!)
2 men overboard
1 exploded mainsail
10 or more busted vangs, shrouds, etc.
and lots and lots of breaches, broaches, knockdowns, spills and thrills and NO INJURIES!!!
Thirty seven boats started in a gusty west wind at about 18-20 knots. It continued to build until a front came over the western hill blasting in
excess of 30 knots just as they rounded the weather mark the second time. As boats peeled off to leeward, the shifting winds hit the fleet full
force with boats "auto-jibing", breaching, broaching, and bedlam ensued. As fast as we could get a patrol boat to one demasted boat, another
stick would explode. Most of the "survivors" temporarily abandoned the race for about 20 minutes, trying just to keep their boats in tact. Some
even sailed in to the islands to wait it out. When the dust settled, twenty boats finished the race, led by John MacCausland and his crew, Phil
Trinter (Cooper River, NJ.) Rob Maine and Ross Adams, both of Wilmette Harbor, IL hung on for second and third place. Local favorite Rick
Dhein finished 11th. Hank Rowan and Steve Rottier also finished.
Reynolds Pleased with Regatta
Mark Reynolds and Magnus Liljedahl were nąt part of the chaos of the last race of the North American Championships. The winners relaxed and
enjoyed their final day at the Northern Lake George Yacht Club.
Reynolds admits he was originally a little nervous about sailing on a lake, thinking the wind might be light and the weather cold. On the contrary,
"The conditions were really good and the weather was beautiful. Lake George is a very scenic spot," said Reynolds. The first place champion
was impressed with the quality of the regatta. "The regatta was very organized. Everything ran smoothly. Also, it was a great deal for sailors
because we recouped our entry fee in the clothing alone that was provided by Nautica." Regatta Chairman, Bruce Hatfield, was pleased to hear
of Reynoldsą satisfaction. Hatfield commented, "We have a lot of good people at the Yacht Club who worked together to make this regatta
successful. The clothing sponsorship was a nice addition to Noblia, the official sponsor of the Star Class." Reynolds was also very
complimentary of the Race Committee. "The RC Co-Chairs, Jack Lynch and Mark Murphy, and the rest of the committee did great jobs. We
were able to get in all six races, and they all started on time," said Reynolds. "Overall, it was a very good experience."
from Star Class News
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