 Lake Townsend Yacht Club 44th Annual Mayor's Cup Regatta September 24-26 Report and Results |
Thirty-one teams (15 Flying Scots, nine Wayfarers, six 420s, and one Sidewinder) competed in the 44th Annual Mayor’s Cup Regatta at Lake Townsend. The regatta attracted the area’s top Flying Scot and Wayfarer teams. High pressure brought a spectacular fall weekend of bright sunshine and cool temperatures. Unfortunately, the high pressure also brought fickle winds. The competitors dealt with wind shifts, puffs, and lulls. Fortunately, there was enough breeze to get in five races over two days. On Saturday, racing was postponed ashore for 90 minutes allowing, the wind time to decide its intentions. Race one was interesting as it revealed that several sailors did not study the course in the sailing instructions. They quickly recovered by rounding the last mark and finishing, but lost several positions in the race. During the last minute before the start of Race 2 for the Flying Scots a 90 degree righty caused Race Committee to postpone with just 30 seconds to start. The wind came back and the Flying Scot fleet got off with a very competitive, perhaps aggressive, start. The Wayfarer fleet was compressed coming into the reach to finish, making it exciting. For Race 3 the windward mark was moved 90 degrees to the right, then picked up and moved 45 degrees back to the left. At the end of Race 3 just one point separated first and second place in both the Flying Scot and Wayfarer fleets. A wonderful Greek feast welcomed the competitors in after a long day of racing on the water. The wonderful meal was salve for their wind wounds. Sailors were heard swapping stories and experiences from the day’s races. Sunday morning brought calm winds and again racing was postponed ashore, another 90 minute delay. And when the breeze did arrive it was from 340 degrees, making for a short course. RC posted the six leg WD2 course and Race 4 got underway. Again the competitors experienced a range of wind conditions. The first Flying Scot coming to finish honored Bernard Moitessier by starting a seventh leg. Hearing line honors for the second, now first place team, they were convinced to come finish, losing only one place. The 420 fleet, high school students, were not at all perturbed by the fluky winds as they all competed very well. The wind did not hold steady for Race 5 as again "postpone" was signaled with 30 seconds to start for the Flying Scot fleet due to a 50 plus degree wind shift. The wind did eventually offer a window and Race 5 was completed. The prizes were given, with the Flying Scot team of Dave Rink and Joe Blade, Lake Norman Yacht Club, winning the Mayor’s Cup and the Wayfarer team of Uwe Heine and Nancy Collins, Lake Townsend Yacht Club, winning the Bryan Cup. 420 Fleet First Place - Logan Hayes and Elizabeth David Second Place - Jack Mcarthur and Molly Lovvorn Third Place - John Loflin and Abi Robinson Wayfarer Fleet First Place - Uwe Heine and Nancy Collins Second Place - James Cook and Ellee Orlovetz Third Place - Richard Johnson and Michele Parish Flying Scot Fleet First Place - Dave Rink and Joe Blade Second Place - John and Sharon Wake Third Place - Robert Bouknight and Nancy Torkewitz Principal Race Officer – Jerry Thompson Scorekeeper – Pat Backus |