| September 1996 | Lake Champlain's Newspaper | Volume 5 Number 8 |
| Front-page | Sports | Features | News | Editorial |
MBBC Long Distance Race
“Espada” 1997 Race Committee
The Race to Willsboro Bay
by the Harbormaster
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| John and Niki Rivolta aboard “Deserved” (C&C 33) |
hose
familiar with the antics aboard “Bark Ode” will smile with amusement at
the thought of “Barky” sailing in a cruising race. Yes all you die
hards.... I said it.... cruising..... and I’m sober to boot..... so there.
J-29’s have a great floor plan, just don’t try to stand up.
MBBC served up it’s annual Long Distance Race to Willsboro Bay. Partly race, partly cruise, and partly party, the Long Distance Race attracted 12 boats. Two divisions, (fast and not so fast) raced from Stave Island, north around Valcour, passing Garden Island and Ferris Rock to starboard and finishing just inside Willsboro Bay. The race was around 20 miles. I’d give you the actual distance of the race, except I lost the racing instructions overboard in the middle of the race. Now normally that isn’t such a big deal, ‘ecpt we were leading and I had no idea where the next mark was.... Fortunately for me, the wind died and the fleet caught us and showed us the way to the finish line. Each year’s winner is responsible for race committee duties the next year, so maybe I was fortunate in more than one way!
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| Dave Ellis...."Espada" is just like the pink bunny, she just keeps on going and going and going..... |
The Race
“Victory” (C&C 34) was the benefactor of a clocking breeze. Having stuck it out on the right side of the course “Victory” reaped the benefits of the clocking breeze. Dick Villamil aboard “Victory” was already opening the champagne when the wind backed and he found himself all alone sailing the big circle around the island. John and Niki Rivolta aboard “Deserved” (C&C 33) kept the heat on, tacking in the shifts and watching for puffs. After seeing my race instructions floating in the water they figured they had the race in the bag. Dave Ellis sailing “Espada” (Columbia Sabre) benefited from a racing background, which in recent years includes the spinnakerly handicapped division, hung with the bigger boats until the wind filled in from the northwest and reached her way all the way to the finish line, ahead of most of the fleet. Several of the boats, including “Prime Time” choose to sail the race towing a dingy. Race Committee Chairman Randy Whitney, awarded 9 seconds per mile for this persuasion. Given the fact that towing a dingy is equivalent to dragging numerous large buckets, several competitors wedged their inflatable dinghies on deck in front of the mast. Although tacking was a challenge, it was the preferred method.
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| "Woof....(roughly translated "I don't need no stinkin' winch handle".) |
The Cruise
Visiting Willsboro Bay is the equivalent to leaving the country without a passport. A fjord like inlet, Willsboro Bay offers shelter from all but the strongest northwest winds. Anchored in the southeast corner of the bay, the MBBC fleet grew to over sixteen boats when those who “don’t race” joined those who “don’t normally race”. After setting four anchors the fleet settled down to some serious partying. (Short cruise huh!)
The Party
We started at 1730 and finished Sunday at 0030. The kid’s boom box, Jimmy Buffet and a few adult beverages is all it took. Parties are like that, you would have to be there to understand.
The Cruise (again)
Sunday morning we arose to warm sunny skies. After breakfast several of the boats made their way up the bay. About a mile north of the anchorage on the west shore there is a wonderful waterfall under a railroad bridge. A cruise, a race and a party all in one. Lake Champlain is a great place to play!
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"1996 Javelin National Reunion "
"July 18-20 Mallets Bay Boat Club"
by Janice Lange
"Say Mr. Piano Player, do you know 'Javlins Race when it Rains?" "No!" he replied, "but if you hum a few bars I'll see what I can do!" he Reunion
started with a skipper’s meeting on Thursday noon, where the schedule was changed due
to a forecast of high winds and thunderstorms on the weekend. The planned Thursday
afternoon practice starts became races and two windward leeward courses were sailed in
light to moderate air. A cookout followed with Gary Coryer as chef and Deb Jacob planning
and making the rest of the meal. Friday morning racing was postponed due to high winds (15-25 mph). After lunch three races were sailed on Olympic courses in the pouring rain. A lasagna dinner prepared by Deb Jacob ended the day. Saturday dawned with even stronger winds( 25-40) and proved to be the most exciting day. After the racing was canceled, Bernie wanted to tow his boat from its mooring at the Beach and Boat Motel to MBBC to haul it out. Janice drove him over in the Whaler. As soon as the towing started, the boat capsized and turtled, moving rapidly through the moored boats. After trying to corral it, Bernie dove in and tried to right it, but the board had fallen in. While Janice went for help, Tom Raub towed Bernie to the beach. Eventually almost everyone from the regatta was at the beach, the mast was down and the boat was pulled onto the trailer at Bayside Park (Did you know there is a ramp there?)
It was a wild morning and as Bernie’s wife, Ruth, said, “This will be a family story for thirty years!” Fortunately, there were no injuries and no damage, so the wild weather will be a fond memory.
The reunion ended with dinner and awards at the Waterworks Restaurant in Winooski.
Many thanks to the race committee Chair: Janice Lange,Mark Gardner,Kathy Manning,Gary Grise, & Kathy Grise.
Correction’s Cup to “High Noon”
Malletts Bay, VT
by Charly Dickerson
"High Noone" skippered by Chris Williams he Agency
of Transportation was out in full force with three of nine entries paving the way for
victory in the State Employees’ Sailing Regatta held on Bennington Battle Day, August
16.The Correction’s Cup (named after the regatta’s founding department) is an annual event hosted by the Malletts Bay Boat Club and is held during the week on the observed state holiday. This year’s victory went to Chris Williams who skippered “High Noon”. Labor & Industry’s repeat winner of the last three events, was nowhere to be found when “High Noon” crossed the finish line and avenging last year’s near miss. Rumor has it, her “ringer” had to work (Woof!).
The day began with a visit from the State Police Marine Patrol presenting last year’s lost trophy to Mary S. Hooper, Commissioner of Labor & Industry. At last year’s regatta, the trophy mysteriously disappeared. The police returned it with some indication that fingerprints were still being analyzed at the crime lab to find the perpetrator.
Leading the non-spinnaker pack was “Bolero”, skippered by the 1992 winner, Charly Dickerson. In all, more than 50 state employees participated from the seven department entries.
Next year’s the handicapping will include an additional five minutes to the last place finisher. Some day Lucenti can legitimately take home the trophy.
Templeton takes “Cheeseburger in Paradise”
Northern Lake George Yacht Club
by Paul Gutwin
"MBBC junior sailors compete in FJ's
unior
Sailors from the Champlain Valley and the Lake George area converged on the Northern Lake
George Yacht Club July 24th and 25th for the annual Cheeseburger in Paradise Regatta.
Junior Sailors from MBBC, LCYC and Brown Ledge Camp were a part of the fleet of fourteen
FJ’s, sailing five races over the two day event.Jeff Templeton and Jessica Payea from MBBC took first place, with NLGYC sailors taking the next five places. Justin Bayer and Andrew Sadowski also from MBBC briefly took the wraps off their championship form and beat Templeton and the NLGYC sailors in race 4 to take a single first.
Classic Lake George conditions prevailed both days, with strong Northerly winds in the 15 knot range. Westerly puffs and the huge wake of the “Monheagen” tour boat gave the sailors plenty to think about while keeping an eye on the competition. This lively group of junior sailors had a great time on and off the water as well, with food and sports organized by the staff and hosts at the NLGYC.
