Wayfarers were once again the biggest fleet at the June Bug Regatta, held June 12-13 at London’s Fanshawe YC. 18 Wayfarer crews enjoyed a fine weekend of sailing. The hot weather was a good match for the hot fleet which saw most of our top seeds racing in a good variety of winds and sweltering sunshine. All of us who raced owe a big thank you to PRO’s, Scott and Grant Town. The Towns once more gave up their racing so that we could have good racing with water-based starts instead of the less flexible courses dictated by the use of the race hut on the cliff near the club. And as predicted by Scott, we had great winds since Scott was not going to be sailing! Other Wayfarer contributions to the quality of sailing came from RC volunteers, Roger Shepherd and Genna Goldt. Thanks to all who helped!!
Although we missed Grant and Scott as competitors, the gap was very ably filled by two Boston brothers: Tac sailing his own boat, and his younger brother, Brad, sailing the Townmobile. What with the presence of Scott Bamford and Brian Jeffs, the fleet was filled with “yacht” sailors who added lots of talent to our fleet.

Race synopses:
#1 (Sat.): start near #4-0(near A)-4-5-O-5-B; winds SE, 2-5 knots
Robert Kennedy sailed a super first leg showing great speed and fine strategic judgment to round just ahead of Uncle Al. Unfortunately for the leaders, the wind chose this time to have a bit of a rest, and soon Robert and Al were ghosting along in the company of Peter Rahn, Tac Boston, Scott Bamford, Brad Boston and Rick Goldt among others. Uncle Al had gybed at the mark to try to escape the potential wind shadow cast by the Race Hut cliff and was trying the great circle route to #4. After a nervous 10 minutes or so during which the inshore group got the best puffs first and pulled ahead several times, Uncle Al’s willingness to be nervous was finally rewarded with some extra breeze. He and Steve Graff rounded #4 ahead of the inshore group who ended up getting more dead spots.
The run to #5 was more of the same. It was essential to stand in your boat to look which of the boats astern were bringing the best wind. Uncle Al made the right choice by staying between Fanshawe guru, Rick Goldt, and the mark, as these two rounded 1-2. Just behind was a large group of boats, and Al, for one, felt fortunate that his small lead was just enough to escape the slow mess at the mark.
The long beat that followed saw Al, Rick, Tac and Peter, all take runs at the lead, depending on the shifts. Al decided to try to make the maximum distance down the lake while keeping a wary eye on Rick, and this strategy paid off as he held first over Rick down another long, slow run and a final beat. The race for 3rd between Peter and Tac came down to the final seconds of the race where Tac cleverly pinned Peter on starboard until Tac could comfortably lay the finish line to nail down 3rd. Long-time Wayfarers, Steve and Barb Graff, did well in their “new” Wayfarer, #5625, and ended up in 5th just ahead of Brad Boston.

#2(after lunch): similar course: same windward leg-4-6-O-4-B;  winds SSE, 4-8 knots
Things looked good for Uncle Al who started well and rounded O and 4 in the lead. The slightly veered wind should however, have warned Al to stay off the leeward shore. Even though it was possible to sail almost straight up the lake on starboard, this wind direction leaves the wind prone to lifting over the land nearer the shore. Tacking around the mark and getting into the middle of the lake and away from the shore effects permitted Steve and Rick to get a more consistent breeze and move into the lead at the second windward mark. Still in the hunt though, was Uncle Al who learned (briefly!) from his experience, played the middle down the run to #4 and got better winds while Steve and Rick fought each other up to windward. Rick finally passed Steve, but in the end, Rick, Al and Steve rounded onto the final beat virtually even. With SHADES going at top speed, Al was able to split tacks and come out ahead when the boats met again a short time later. With Al keeping a close eye on Rick, the leading trio of Al, Rick and Steve crossed the line in that order. 4th place went to Peter who edged out Brad and Jens. Pinning his spreaders into the magic 38” between tips had no immediate magic for Tac who fell to 7th.

#3: start (O) about 100m NW of B-2-1-O-2-O-2; winds veered to SSW, about 6-15 knots
With this wind direction, it usually pays to get over towards the moorings early. Al entered the fray at the RC boat end and got off the line in perfect position. For Al, the beat went as planned, as he rounded with a narrow lead. 2nd-place Jens, and then Rick, were the only smart ones however. They gybed to port right at #2 and made sure they got out from the cliff right away. While Al and the others headed straight for #1 but wallowed in lengthy dead spots, Jens and Rick romped into the lead. Scott also moved well in this leg and rounded 3rd over Al. But the latter had decided to douse his spi before rounding and was able to re-take 3rd when a windshift forced Scott to bear off into Wye Creek (see chart) to keep his spi full. The moorings were good again to Al and Scott on beat #2 as the shifts they provided gave this pair a solid grip on the lead. With Al and Marc nursing a 20m. lead over Bamford/Jeffs in lovely hiking breezes, disaster struck Scott and Brian near #2. Their jib tack pin gave up the ghost with a loud bang. They jury-rigged a replacement but the misfortune cost them 8 places as they fell to 10th at the finish. The beneficiary of all this was Rick who cruised to his third 2nd of the day. A nice recovery for Brad who took a solid 3rd just ahead of a group of 4 Wayfarers who met at the finish line. A port tack approach for Peter looked good for 4th. Unfortunately, he couldn’t quite cross the starboard boats, and finished behind Tac and Steve but did manage to edge out Jens for 6th. Educational note: Tac Boston’s newly fixed spreaders were great once the winds came up, says Tac.

Saturday night: A fine dinner once more in the chalet. The many Wayfarer, Dart, Hobie, Laser, etc. sailors that attended, not only enjoyed a fine meal but good fellowship as well!

#4 (Sun.): start near B-2-4-6-2-6-O; winds SSW, 5-10 knots
Tac Boston was off to a fine start and led around the windward mark with Al just to leeward and ahead as they approached the mark on starboard. The buoys to starboard rounding meant that Al not only had to wait for Tac to tack (ho! ho!), but also the next two boats. One of those, Rick, held his course past the windward mark and made Al tack two more times before Al finally limped around the mark in 4th.
With the wind angling off the west shore rather than blowing straight down the length of the lake, the moorings were a risky place to be. Al again opted for the middle and had moved into 2nd place by mark #4. After sneaking in a few shifts on the second beat, Al took a lead he would hold to the finish over Tac. 3rd went to Rick over Peter Rahn. Scott and Brian continued their good speed and smart sailing and took 5th just ahead of Steve Graff.

#5: start near B again, then 2-6-2-6-O; winds SSW, 6-12 knots.
Was Al’s string of firsts going to end? It looked like it when Al rounded #2 behind Tac, Brad, Scott, Rick and Peter and lost more distance by trying to sail along the east shore to #6. But SHADES’ upwind speed came to the rescue on beat #2 where Al recovered to round 4th - only about 100m behind Rick and Brad who were fighting for the lead, and only a few lengths behind Tac. It must have been exciting for those watching from the cliffs as both Tac and Al brought better winds from behind until all four leaders got to #6 virtually overlapped. Al wisely decided to stay back from the likely mess at the mark, and was able to round with full speed and tack immediately for the middle of the lake where a better wind and wind angle had soon given him the lead. Tac went even further into the middle and got even better winds. As the leaders passed the Race Hut cliff on their way to the finish near mark#2, Tac had moved bow to bow with Al but 100m. to windward. Since both boats could lay the finish line, it became a foot race. The leaders took turns getting puffs and taking small leads. Al nursed SHADES to windward while judiciously avoiding Tac’s wind shadow. Finally, the boats were side by side with the finish only 100m. away. About 50m. from the line, a slight header put Al’s nose in front of Tac’s and the latter had to tack for the unfavoured end of the line while Al clinched the June Bug with his 5th straight win. Scott had another fine race, scoring a close 3rd over Brad, while Rick and Erika’s 5th over Steve had Tac dreaming of series second with one race to go.

#6: start between #1 and #B-O-1-B-O-1; winds SW, 8-12 knots
Scott Bamford and Brian Jeffs put it all together in this one. They led most of the way to win their first big Wayfarer race. Congratulations, Brian and Scott! Brad took 2nd, just ahead of Rick who held onto the series runner-up spot with his 3rd. A fine race also, for Conestoga’s Dwight and Pat Aplevich who edged out Tac Boston for 4th. 6th place went to Marc Bennett who was helming SHADES for the finale. Marc got off to a great start but lost a fair bit on the second leg when his crew, Uncle Al aimed him at mark O instead of #1.