Alligator Run Regatta
April 17-18, 2021 Lake Waccamaw, NC
The Lake Waccamaw Sailing Club has
launched a new Spring regatta for dinghies,
catamarans, trimarans and some larger mono-hulls
under 25 feet. However, you ask, “Where is Lake
Waccamaw?”
The lake is in the middle of nowhere about 40
miles west of Wilmington, N.C. and near major
roads with a fair amount of cypress swamp feeding
into and out of the lake. Naming a regatta for
alligators was a bit of a put off for some of the
sailors. However, the club secretary assured us
that they mostly hang out in adjacent canals and
marshes. Fleet 15 had eight Wayfarers entered,
joined by another 15 mono-hulls, mostly
Buccaneers, and 20 multi-hulls.
The first of five scheduled races was delayed on
the water as the promised sea breeze from the
Atlantic failed to show up on time. Perhaps
Poseidon should be copied on the NOR. Teasing
zephyrs would creep up and cool us off and then
finally there was enough wind to send the Wetas
and Open Class Multi-hulls off followed by all the
mono-hulls. After two times around the
windward/leeward course, Jim and Linda Heffernan
jibed around the last leeward mark just ahead of
the USWA champs Jim Cook and Mike Taylor and then
stayed ahead to the offset finish line, while
fending off two cats that came in quickly from
behind. Very tricky racing with such a variety of
boats on the course.
We are always reminded to keep a sharp lookout at
all times especially before the race when a
25-footer may be lurking about with the helmsman
on the far side with vision blocked by a large
Genoa jib. Thus, Phil Leonard and Ali Kishbaugh
sailing their Mark IV found out that a big boat
can do some major crunching even in light winds.
Damage was above the waterline, but they
cautiously returned to shore.
PRO moved up Sunday’s starting time to grab the
early morning wind. Good decision since the light
wind only gave us one race again. At the windward
mark, the Cook/Taylor team had a slight lead over
the Heffernans who were followed by the Peter
Thorn/Jeanne Allenby team sailing Impulse II and
new Wayfarer owner Neil Smith with daughter Adele
sailing W449. Everyone kept their spinnakers
stowed while urging their craft on with bits of
wind causing the lead to change constantly. At the
finish, the Smith team, coming from behind,
prevailed followed by another woodie sailed by the
Heffernans. Jim and Linda were happy to finish
well, but then found out they were OCS and so Jim
Cook and super crew Mike Taylor took overall
honors followed by the high fiving father/daughter
Smith team.
LWSC members were perfect hosts using golf carts
for launching and retrieval of boats and providing
line handlers on the dock to assist as needed.
Fleet 15 plans to attend their Indian Summer
Regatta in force to be held in late September or
early October.