Bill Symes of Portlland, Oregon, once again claimed a championship at the world championships just completed in Barcelona, Spain. (ILCA is of course the class formerly known as the Laser, and there was an entertaining mix of Laser and ILCA logos in the sails!) Symes did it with 10 firsts and a third. He opted out of the last race, which gave fellow Oregonian Rob Hodson a chance to win the final race. Results here.
The ever humble Symes was interviewed early in the event, where he cited “a lot of good breaks” for some wins. Well, 10/11 firsts is a bit more than good breaks.
Other notable US finishers included “Legend” Peter Seidenberg, who again won the Legends class (aged 75+, Seidenberg is in his 80s), Robert Hallowell who won the ILCA 7 Grand Masters class, and Ernesto Rodriguez, who won the ILCA 7 Masters Class. For more information, and plenty of pictures of older ILCA sailors still sailing at a very high level, check out the web site.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
It doesn’t quite roll of the tongue like Laser North Americans, but the ILCA (née Laser) Class is coming out of Covid-cancelled activities with strength and numbers. In the PNW, the ILCA 7 (Standard rig) 6 (Radial) and 4 (4.7) fleets are being buoyed by a talented bunch of youngsters. One of them, Alex Zaputil, recently competed in the ILCA North Americans in San Francisco and has served up this report.
ILCA North Americans 2021
By Alex Zaputil
Alex working upwind.
I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to compete in the 2021, ILCA (Laser) 4.7 North American Championships in July at St. Francis YC in San Francisco. There were many nations represented over the classes including: USA, Canada, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Mexico, BVI, St. Thomas, and Chile. I car-topped my Laser down arriving to a temperature of 60 degrees: a little bit cooler than I was expecting, but with warmer water than Seattle, I quickly acclimated. I was lucky to join the Alamitos Bay YC Race Team (and friends from Opti days) with coach Paul Didham, for training and the regatta. I learned many tricks and tips for sailing in big breeze! Most days the racing strategy was pretty similar: short tack up the sea wall as it was a 20+ knot westerly and a building flood tide. However, by the last day, an ebb began earlier on with a slightly lighter westerly (12- 15 knots) which mixed things up a bit. This was a 4-day regatta, but I had 2 training days before to get all tuned up and gather local knowledge- thank you also, Andrew Holdsworth! The courses were much longer than around here, as it was a championship regatta, so my months of fitness training paid off! As there were so many boats there were two alternating groups: one from about 11-2:30 and the other from 1:30-5:00. My best race in the regatta was a 5th, with a few times 2nd around the first weather mark. I was happy with my finish of 10th overall in a very competitive fleet. I found San Francisco to be the coolest place to sail ever with Alcatraz on one side of the course and the Golden Gate Bridge on the other: I hope to go back again soon!
Thanks a bunch, Alex, for this report and heartfelt congratulations on the 10th/25! There were several other PNWers in the 75-boat 6s fleet, but apparently none in the 24-boat 7 fleet. Scuttlebutt ran a report on the event, and the results are here.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
Seattle singlehanded sailing is booming. The Frostbite series, run by the Seattle Laser Fleet, now dubbed the Seattle Dinghy Fleet as it’s split between Lasers and RS Aeros (plus a few Optis share the course), has short courses, competitor-led race committees and some great competition. The ascendency of the RS Fleet has attracted both new sailors and highly experienced sailors looking for a new challenge.
Lasers, in turn, have become the boat of choice for many younger sailors, with the Radial and 4.7 rigs enabling smaller sailors to compete. Parents often attend the races in RIBs and Whalers, and act as shore crew for their kids.
Four Frostbite days have already been sailed, the Most recent being this past Sunday when it was blowing 20+ at West Point off Shilshole Bay Marina. For the last two Frostbites, it’s safe everyone went home tired and satisfied after some challenging conditions. Here’s a recap of the December 6 event from none other than Hanne Weaver, who has competed, and won, at the top levels of the Laser fleet:
Another fantastic day sailing on the Puget Sound. I was able to participate in the 3rd Frostbite series race. I was impressed by the number of sailors who came out. The wind came from ESE about 5-12 knots with some good current pushing us back. While racing I would ask myself two questions: do I hug the shore and get away from the current or go toward the middle and get better wind? What I found that worked best for me was just tacking when the wind shifted. I knew I wanted to finish on the top right of the windward mark because there was always a right shift. I made sure I have a plan for each race before it even starts.
By mixing up how we start keeps me on my toes. Since we got in the way of the shipping channel, the race community wanted to race us back down to the Meadow Point buoy. This meant a downwind start; the goal is to have clean air. I have worked on my down winds for many years. What I look at while I go down wind is the wave speed, angle and how close they are together. This helps me determine when to pump and carve.
Once down at Meadow Point buoy, another race course was set up. Great wind, great weather and great sailors, what more can you ask for. It was wonderful to see new faces and old ones too. I cannot wait to get back out on the water and race against you all again.
Following are some of John Beaver’s photos. The rest are here.
Two 4.7s chasing a standard rig
This past Sunday, the big breezes kept some people off the water, and chased others home early, but it was certainly great sailing. There’s nothing quite like sailing a lightweight singlehander in big winds.
Mark Ross submitted the following report:
Our appreciation to volunteer race committee Giancarlo Nucci and Andrew Loe for running Frostbite #4 races on Sunday, January 3, 2021. They did a superb job of clicking off the races in difficult mark-setting conditions. Approximately 15 Aeros, 8 Lasers a handful of Optis participated. What a great way to start off the new year.
Fantastic winter sailing conditions with warm temperature (upper 40’s), wind shifty (predominantly from the S and SSE), and wind strength hovering in the mid to upper teens and puffing into the mid 20’s. There were some good waves for planing downwind and also a lot of chop. It looked to me like quite a few boats went upside down at one time or another. When sailing by the lee downwind the waves were rolling into the leeward side. My death roll was a result of getting hit simultaneously by a hard gust and a nice rolling wave. Looking at the pictures provided by Giancarlo Nucci and John Beaver you’ll see some awesome dark threatening clouds and others with blue sky-I don’t remember seeing any blue sky but the pictures don’t lie! And no rain.
The following photos are from Giancarlo Nucci. The rest are here.
The Frigid Digit Regatta is coming up January 23/4 (Seattle Dinghy Fleet and Corinthian YC-Seattle) and there are Frostbite events February 7 and 28th and March 14. Check out seattlelaserfleet.org for more information. To register for Frigid Digit, please go here: https://cycseattle.org/event-3801728/Registration.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
The ongoing Laser Performance vs the International Laser Class Association dust up seems to have taken a bit of a break during Covid 19. It’s probably not lost on the everybody that there’s (dare we say it) a growing demand for ILCA dinghies (think Laser) amid the pandemic. It’s certainly not lost on Sailish sponsor and all-around good guys and gals at West Coast Sailing. They’ve been hard at work securing parts and new boats. Their announcement, below, is definitely worth reading. Not only have they chosen the builder to work with carefully, they’re also working with other distributors to coordinate supply. Imagine, working together!
I’m hoping to get the inside scoop on what, if any, controversy remains between ILCA and Laser Performance. In the meantime, a container of new ILCA dinghies is coming to the Pacific Northwest. See West Coast Sailing’s press release, below. -KH
Ovington ILCA : A New Era of Winning Boats
West Coast Sailing Partners with Ovington Boats to Offer ILCA Dinghy & Spare Parts in North America
PORTLAND, Oregon - West Coast Sailing is pleased to announce a partnership with Ovington Boats to offer class approved ILCA dinghies. Ovington Boats, the UK based builder specializing in high performance sailboats, was approved by the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) and World Sailing in August 2020. A long time supporter of the class and its sailors, West Coast Sailing carefully considered all new builders and sought to find the best ILCAs available. This expansion of a decade-long relationship between the two companies will allow West Coast Sailing to offer race-ready boats, spare parts, and top tier support, while providing Ovington Boats with a leading partner for their North American distribution.
The ILCA landscape has evolved quickly in the past year with several new builders approved by the class. Chris Brown, West Coast Sailing President, is confident the Ovington ILCA will become the boat of choice for sailors looking for high quality spare parts, reliable support, and a strong track record of success. “Ovington has been building high performance and Olympic level dinghies for many years and has applied the same level of craftsmanship and attention to detail in how they build their ILCAs,” Brown said. “After careful analysis and a factory visit, working with Ovington was a clear choice for us.” Beyond building a top quality ILCA, Ovington Boats is backed by a great team and a commitment to ongoing support. This is a key part of the equation every sailor should consider given issues with previous builders. Ovington staff members have an average of 20 years of boat building experience, and Chris Turner has been a stable hand at the helm of the business for the last 15 years. Robust warranty and support systems give dealers the latitude to solve problems and keep sailors on the water so they can focus on what they do and enjoy best. Ovington is committed to success from start to finish.
Looks familiar, doesn’t it?
Apparently Ovington ILCA boats roll tack and gybe just fine.
“This is an organized, experienced team that is used to being held to the highest standards of Olympic sailors who demand the absolute best,” Brown continued. “We have chosen to work with Ovington because we believe all sailors should expect the same.” The first container Ovington ILCA dinghies will arrive at West Coast Sailing the last week of December. Sailors can place a preorder deposit now to reserve a boat, with shipping available across the country starting in early January. A full range of Ovington ILCA sails, spars, blades, and upgrades are available for immediate purchase via the West Coast Sailing ecommerce website. Zim Sailing of Bristol, Rhode Island and Vela Sailing Supply of Dallas, Texas will join West Coast Sailing to collaborate on regional distribution. Through all the changes with the class and availability of boats and parts, the team at West Coast Sailing remains committed to helping sailors get out on the water and is looking forward to this new era for ILCA sailing. Additional information about West Coast Sailing, Ovington Boats, and the ILCA dinghy, including boat package details and a full list of spare parts, can be found via the link below.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
There are few, if any, more Covid-friendly, appropriately socially distant activities than dinghy racing. Especially for kids desperate for some kind of sporting activity. That reality, and the Seattle Laser (and RS Aero!) fleets’ ongoing organizational efforts, helped make CYC-Seattle’s Turkey Bowl a big and successful event last weekend. Even with cancellation of Sunday’s racing because of too much wind, the event was a tremendous success. While there are a lot question marks regarding upcoming social events and regattas over the coming months, one thing is certain: The Seattle singlehanded scene has provided great sailing throughout this troubling year and is well set up to do so moving into the future. Seattle’s RS Aero fleet continues to thrive and attract the very best talent, while the Seattle Laser Fleets - 4.7, Radial and Standard rigs - have become the place of choice for youth you develop their skills while having a great time, and a haven for some of us oldsters.
There were other fleets as well. Seven brave Opti sailors were on the course, four 505s and a lone Vanguard 15.
More than 20 RS Aeros turned up, and Dalton Bergan dominated with two firsts, a second and third. In the biggest Laser fleet, Hannah Weaver made a triumphant appearance winning in the Radials. There are excellent pictures from Jan Anderson (above) and John Beaver.
I put out the call for input about the youth fleet, and immediately got this back from Alex Zaputil, skipper of Zap, the winner of the Laser 4.7 class:
Turkey Bowl , as you know, was a one-day event. It was great to have a 10-boat fleet- the largest so far this year. Despite the forecast for Saturday, it turned out to be a generally lighter day. The first two races were a southerly of 12-15 and pretty puffy. On the first race, the fleet bunched up at the committee boat so much that I found it faster to start at the pin with speed, port tack the fleet and tack back to consolidate. Tacking back to starboard fairly quickly was important, as the chop early in the day on port tack was not very fast! Hiking hard upwind was key. As the wind lightened for the last two races, the fleet became closer and going to the middle/right upwind paid off. — Alex Zaputil
And the following report came from Mark Ross:
Singlehanded fleets competing included RS Aeros (21 competitors), Laser Standard (5), Laser Radial (11), Laser 4.7 (9) and Opti (7). Double handed fleets included 505’s (4 boats), FJs (4) and Vanguards (2).
One of the Aero sailors described the sailing as follows: On Saturday four races were sailed with a mix of wind conditions. The first two races were medium breeze and the last race was light. The wind and current were going opposite directions throughout the day, so keeping the bow above the chop and the boat dry was important. The pin end of the start line was being pushed up the course with the current resulting in several general recalls in the very aggressive Aero fleet, and the RC worked hard to keep the line square. The pin end of the start line was still generally favored. There were shifts on both sides of the course with longer lasting left shifts. You could go left or right up the windward leg as long as you maximized the time on the lifts and covered the fleet when there was an opportunity to do so. On the downwind legs it was important to have a good visual on the mark and it usually worked to sail close to the rhumb line while taking into account a few degrees of offset for the current.
Unfortunately on Sunday morning racing was postponed and competitors remained on shore as the wind was consistently blowing around 30. Shortly after noon the race committee canceled racing entirely for the day as the wind remained strong and there was no expectation that it would drop. Thus the finishes on Saturday resulted in the following regatta winners….Dalton Bergan (RS Aero), Owen Timms (Laser Standard), Hanne Weaver (Laser Radial), Alex Zaputil (Laser 4.7), Barrett Milne (Optimist).
Thanks to CYC for putting on a great regatta.
-Mark Ross
The next frostbite is scheduled for December 6. Register here and dress warmly.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
The Seattle Laser and RS Aero fleets were the first local groups to counter Covid with the “It’s not really a race but we’re out there” kind of racing events that became the norm in this very strange year. It turns out that singlehanded sailing is one of the, or possibly the, most socially distanced sport one can do in a pandemic. So now that fall is here and with renewed interest in singlehanded sailing the Seattle Laser Fleet/RS Aeros are enjoying even greater participation in their already successful Frostbite series.
Laser 4.7s
RS Aeros at the start
Laser 4.7s
Laser 4.7s
This past Sunday, 36 sailors (19 RS Aeros and 17 Lasers of various rigs) enjoyed perhaps the ideal “frostbite” conditions. 5-12 knot northerly winds, balmy temperatures and bright sunshine gave racers a beautiful day of sailing. A handful of Optis joined the fun. The winds dropped during the day, but never enough akento diminish the racing. The race committee provided ample racing, and stood by for the occasional capsize. Coach Cam was on hand in the SYC Whaler.
There are no results to post, because none were recorded. A quick glance at the Aero fleet made it clear that it’s competitive enough that the same sailors were not always at the front, and in fact some excellent ones found themselves “back in fleet” on more than one occasion. In the Laser fleet, the disparity between the Standard, Radial and 4.7 rigs became more pronounced as the day wore on and the winds lightened. Generally speaking, going right after the start toward Golden Gardens seemed to be the right tactic. Occasionally, holding off from hitting the beach seemed to work. There were waves to be worked, and some real gains could be made carving turns on the runs.
Perhaps the biggest news was the prevalence of young sailors in the Laser fleet. There were healthy numbers of 4.7 and Radial rigs and in fact there were only a couple of Standard rigs. Young faces were everywhere, having fun and enjoying the outdoors and fellowship at the same time.
In the end, everyone was a winner on what may be the best sailing day of the year of really good singlehanded sailing. The next Frostbite is December 6, but before then the CYC Turkey Bowl on November 14-15 should be a great event. Check out seattlelaserfleet.org for more information. Frostbite registration is here.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
We don’t have regatta reports from the dinghy racing on the Columbia River Gorge this year, but once again the Gorge delivered and we have pictures to prove it.
CGOD was notable for three Laser fleets (4.7, Radial and Standard, with the Standard fleet the smallest!) and the prevalence of youth in that class. The 15-boat Tasar fleet shows that class is healthy and a great two-person boat for the Gorge! The RS Aero PCCs were a veritable who’s who of Northwest Washington sailing. It’s worth noting that many of the names (Dalton Bergan, Jay Renehan) could be found on the leader boards of both regattas.
Dinghy sailing has been one of the sports that can remain active throughout the pandemic. It’s great to see sailors out there making it happen.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
In a bit of a throwback to days gone by of racing, the singlehanded dinghy sailors came out in force on Thursday off Shilshole in Seattle. Yes, Virginia, there IS racing while simultaneously social distancing. The Seattle Laser Fleet - which includes the RS Aeros in town, dotted the water on a perfect, sunny May evening. There were very good fleets of both boats with about 30 boats dotting the Sound.
Photos courtesy of Doug Frazer and John Beaver who between them had 4 kids on the Laser course! The fleet was split about evenly between RS Aeros and Lasers (Radial and Standard rigs combined).
The Aero sailors have been at it for a while this spring, meeting multiple times a week and working on their speed and technique. The World Championship, after all, had been scheduled to run this summer on the Columbia River Gorge. This fleet boasts some of the region’s best sailors and is likely the strongest Aero fleet in the US. So it’s no surprise they’re out there.
The Laser fleet, however, has not been as active. That all changed Thursday night when 14 Lasers, about evenly split between Radial and Standard rigs, were out. About half of the fleet were junior sailors which bodes well, not just for Laser sailing, but sailing in general. Fleet captain Mark Ross had worked with Corinthian Yacht Club to have one person in a Whaler on hand to set the course and run starts.
Five races were run with the boats returning in the fading light and a building northerly. Only smiles were seen on the sailors’ faces.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
For those who bemoan the decline of dinghy racing in the Northwest (I know I do in my darker moments), take this from this past weekend’s Turkey Bowl Regatta in Seattle: There were seven classes, eight if you count the lone FJ on the water. Depending on the class, 5-10 races were sailed.
Most importantly, a lot of the faces on the water were young.
Here are some of Jan Anderson’s photos. The rest are here.
Optis downwind
Surveying
Opti Racer
Seattle Laser Fleet Captain Mark Ross
Sailing it flat and fast.
Laser Radial Start
505s
505s
Libby and Jonathan McKee
Tasars
Close Racing in RS Aeros
Scott Malone
It’s about intensity.
Kaitlyn van Nostrand, coach of the Mount Baker Rowing & Sailing Center, and who also coaches in New Zealand, was impressed. “It was the best run Turkey Bowl regatta I have been to! This was my 4th year coaching this event. The race committee did 3-minute starts and wow, the races went off fast with seven fleets.”
“It was a great showing by the 505s, RS Aeros and Lasers. Coaches did their best to stay out of the way of sailors racing. Big current on Saturday ebbing, so no general recalls. Great dinner on Saturday night too. A job very well done by CYC! Our parents felt welcomed, kids sailed and had a blast. “
Mt. Baker was represented with 9 boats, 10 sailors. SYC was there with their youth fleet and eight Opti kids managed the bigger breeze on Sunday. The Royal Van laser team showed up and said it was a great event.
Laser models: 4.7, Radial, Standard.
Perhaps the most significant turnout was 7-boat Laser 4.7 fleet. This class, which is extremely popular in Europe, features a smaller rig with a different mast bottom section and a much smaller sail. It gives kids and small adults (approx 110-130 lbs.) high performance and provides a good stepping stone to other Lasers and dinghies. With used Lasers widely available, it’s an affordable and accessible racing platform, and with coaches embracing it as well, it is becoming a great tool for growing youth sailing. Alex Zaputil won the 4.7 class this time around.
With a total of 21 boats on the water, the RS Aero class was the biggest and arguably most competitive. Dalton Bergan won by a large margin, chased by John Renehan and Andy Mack. Hanne Weaver trounced the 18-boat Laser Radial fleet, Ian Elliott got by Ali Fuat Yuvali in a hard-fought Laser contest, Jay Renehan won in the Tasars and Miles Johannessen won in the 505s and Dieter Creitz won in the Optimist class. Results.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
Bellingham
Bay saw 23 Laser standards and 41 Laser Radials from mostly BC, WA and OR plus
one brave soul from CA line up to race on a weekend that proved to have most
wind ranges to contend with.
Saturday morning started sunny with 10-12kts out of the south dying as the day went on to finish in about 3-5kts, the Standards got 4 races off and the Radials 3 as they had to re-start several times due to general recalls. Races were championship length running around 50-60 minutes which favored the fit when the wind was up.
Standard rig start.
Working the Bellingham breeze.
Sammy Farkas, working hard and loving it.
The Radial podium with Hanne Weaver, Maura Dewey and Al Clark.
The requesite 505 planing under spinnaker photo.
505 action.
Radials rule.
Sunday started with a weak easterly, never a good thing in Bellingham Bay but as competitors arrived the expected sporty southeasterly kicked in and we had 18-24kts with quite bumpy sea states for most of the day until the last Radial race where it eased to around 10kts. Standards raced another four for a total of eight races and Radials four for a total of seven.
In the standards the Canadians swept the podium with Ian Elliott from RVYC dominating the fleet with six bullets a 2nd and a 4th place throw out for eight points, Mathew Stranaghan, WVYC, 2nd (Also first youth) with 22 points and Tony Martin, JSCA, in 3rd with 29.
In the larger Radial fleet, which was also packed with the region’s strong youth contingent, Maura Dewey, RVYC, Al Clark, RVYC and Hanne Weaver, SYC/RVYC could be seen swapping leads and racing bow to bow around the marks both days. The final points showed how close the competition was as they finished with 12,14 and 15 points in total. Cameron Holland, RVYC came in 4th overall and also the first youth racer.
The BYC operated two full race courses over the weekend as we also had the annual Dale Jepson One Design regatta happening with a fleet of 15 505’s and 6 FJ’s. With over 30 volunteers and 10 support vessels on the water it was a large undertaking for our club, which was handled well. PROs Mick Corcoran (DJOD) and Blaine Pedlow (PCC’s) managed both race courses.
A
big thank you to our event sponsors; Samson Ropes, The Port of Bellingham,
Stones Throw Brewery, West Coast Sailing, West Marine and the host Bellingham
Yacht Club.
