05/27/2013
Greetings everyone! Well the 2nd Annual Lakeside Inn Soling Cup Regatta is completed and locked into the memories of all the skippers and spectators. By 0630 the final arrangements for the regatta commenced and by 1030 the setup, registration and skippers meeting was complete and the first races began.
Fifteen skippers showed up out of 16 registered. While the winds may have seemed a bit shifty throughout the day, competitors had breezes ranging from 3 – 7 mph with an occasional 10 - 12 mph gust. The start line was especially long to minimize the general clustering and barging that can occur on a start line and the skippers tended to "mind their manners" too!! This regatta was designed to really be was a fun event and RD did his best to keep them, the spectators and skippers, engaged, talking and focused on their boat handling; also drinking plenty of water as it was rather warm in temperatures the mid 80’s or so. The skippers were challenged with a modified olympic triangle. We're not exactly sure how long the legs were mainly because it was very difficult measuring and painting the lines on the water! For the most part the heats were run in groups of three with approximately 5 breaks for relaxing, tuning, water (hydration) and potty breaks.
After completing 10 heats, the skippers and their wives were able to take a relaxing group lunch break from 1230 to 1330 in the Inn's restaurant. The menu was a' la cart so everyone was able to enjoy and feast as they desired. Also, the results were readout just to add a bit of "flavor" to the meal! Around 1400 or so we resumed sailing. With the concurrence and agreement of a few of the better skippers, the RD changed the course a bit, adding two additional legs. At that point, the skippers sailed 5 more heats and completed the last heat at 1502 thus ending the day on a top note. Throughout the event, there were no major incidents or arguments but I did incorrectly penalize the score of one of the skippers for an infraction involving an entanglement of two boats before a start. I don’t believe it would have made a major change in it the final placement.
Scores were recorded in the low point system and the top three places were awarded to Jack Ward with 35 points, Brian Engle with 47 points and Martin Gray with 59 points. These skippers displayed some very consistant, smooth sailing and for that great skill, each received some very nice gifts from the Lakeside Inn, not to forget that the winner, Jack Ward, will have his name engraved on the Lakeside Inn Soling Cup Regatta Perpetual Cup which will reside at the Inn for future guests to see and admire. Full regatta results can be see below and at the page "Soling One Meter Masters Championship Regatta".
I would like to extend a special thank you to Chris Hubbard and his wife Susan, our Canadian friends, who came over from Titusville. Chris was a great help with the scoring and monitoring the start and finish line. I also extend a huge thanks and deep appreciation to the owners and staff of Lakeside Inn without whose support this event could not and would not have been realized. To Alexandra and Jim Gunderson and to your staff, on behalf of all of the participants their families; Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!! We hope to see everyone again in the fall for the 2nd Soling Master's Cup!!
Skipper Posn. Score
Paul Newfield 6 60
Chris Wright 9 86
Frank Novak DNR DNR
Joe Russell 13 100
Gerd Peterson 5 57
Donald Keyser 8 85
Kent Burgess 10 95
Gary Dodson 4 55
Brian Engle 2 35
Tom Engle 7 72
Bob Chappell 11 96
Jeff Hawley 14 103
Gary Schwarting 15 162
Martin Gray 3 48
Jack Ward 1 28
Glenn Prunyi 12 98
