How do you run a regatta when the Chief Organizer falls off his bike, there is a major flood, and the NSC calendar is running late? Simple, you call on volunteers, who step up and make things happen. That’s the wonderful part about being a member at NSC!
The annual Ottawa Skiff & Catamaran Grand Prix, held at NSC June 3 and 4, turned itself into another successful regatta. Friday, June 2, saw an International – 14 clinic, as typically, this is the first time out in the season for many sailors. This led to much tweaking and looking for lost and missing parts. Great to see such a large representation from the Toronto I-14 fleet, with a total of 8 boats.
Many thanks too for the out of town catamaran sailors ; LDSC, Prince Edward County, Cuba!!
Early Saturday morning, with winds from the East at 15-18 knots with one sustained gust in the 30 knot range, PRO Rick Nelson was concerned whether we had enough support boats. No worries, Rick, I-14 sailors love to swim, and swim they did! It certainly was tough leaving from the dinghy docks directly into that Easterly wind, but then the challenges mounted up as the waves built nearer to course. Several capsizes on the way out to the first race didn’t bode well, but thankfully the river had warmed quite a bit compared to normal.
A slightly delayed first start to get the marks set in the ever oscillating easterly, we had a windward leeward course of about 1 nautical mile. This did mean downwind apparent wind angle sailing took us close to Blue Berry reef. Thoughtfully John Gardner (Head Boatswain) had set up an active “defense” with support boats stopping us sailing in to tragedy. After 4 races and 716 capsizes, sailors returned tired and wet, some with broken boat bits and pieces. I heard high speeds in the upper teens (kts) and the foiler got to 22.4kts. Quite sporty indeed.
Sunday saw sunshine, more gentle winds and the final 4 races. However the gentle winds proved challenging because they never stayed in one direction long enough to figure out favoured sides etc., sometimes auto-tacking boats, or port and starboard boats going in the same direction. And then for good measure, occasional high wind gusts allowing twin wire planning and foiling. Some would say a typical Ottawa wind day.
Thanks are due to the NSC Staff, the volunteers, and to the brave competitors, most of whom traveled from Toronto to be with us.
Congratulations to the Winners.
| Place | Name | Boat | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catamarans | |||
| 1st | Peter Zutrauen | Dart 17 | LDSC |
| 2nd | Dave Bradly | A Class | NSC |
| 3rd | Joaquin Fayat & Codie Lonsberry | NACRA F18 | NSC |
| International 14s | |||
| 1st | Eric Tulk & Ingrid Merry | Spanish Kiss | RCYC |
| 2nd | Peter Haywood & Birdman | Something Rude | RCYC |
| 3rd | Greg Loffree and TBA | G Force 3 | RCYC |
