NAs unbeaten streak extends to 10 years for Uncle Al in closely fought series at TSCC

Competing crews travelled from as far away as Ottawa, Ontario and Traverse, Michigan. Heider Funck and Tom Wharton had been doing horizon jobs on the tough Wayfarer competition in the TSCC club races with Heider's freshly tweaked, "home made" Wayfarer sails. Mississauga's speedy brother act of Mark and Paul Taylor were in top form and ready to challenge. Canada's National Team Coach, Tom Wharton Jr., and top crew, Stefan Larson, had borrowed a fast, well-rigged Wayfarer, and were all set. But in the end, it was defending champions, Al Schonborn and Marc Bennett (below), who overcame three poor starts in four races to retain the title in a healthy 16-boat fleet. The victory saw Uncle Al's record North Americans unbeaten streak reach ten years, in two of which he and Heider Funck finished tied for the Henry Croce Trophy.


George Blanchard and his Race Committee gave us four fast Saturday races in winds of about 4 to 12 knots before the easterlies brought the usual threat of rain. The decision to finish for the day was finalized when lightning was seen on the western horizon. With limit committee resources available, George had to give us two-lap windward-leeward courses with downwind finishes that were pretty exciting, given the closely bunched competitors in all four races.

Everyone was looking forward to three Sunday races but even before our first start, west winds gusting to 20+ knots began to capsize boats faster than our one available safety boat could keep up with. George wisely sent us back to shore to await the forecast lighter winds. Alas, these never materialized and by 1 p.m. it was blowing harder than ever. Regretfully, George abandoned further racing, a safety-conscious decision that was heartily endorsed by most competitors.

In winning the four-race, no drop series, Uncle Al and super crew, Marc Bennett, had to call on all of their veteran savvy as they began three of the four races well buried. In the first race, they fought back with fine speed and pointing in light 4 to 6 knot winds that were barely enough to push our boats through a substantial swell and an overlying chop. Mark and Paul Taylor had taken a nice lead onto the first run with Heider Funck and Tom Wharton in hot pursuit. Rounding 3rd and having a couple of hundred yards to try to make up  on the leaders, Marc and Al decided to pull out all the stops. They lowered their jib to help the spinnaker fly better, and actually gained considerable distance. Near the leeward mark, they had passed Heider and were closing in on the Taylors when their jib ell off the deck and became a most effective sea anchor. By the time the problem had been rectified, Heider had re-passed Al. Al ended up winning a downwind duel to pass Heider but the Taylors were long gone and won convincingly (see photo below).


The RC's only questionable move came in race 2 where the wind backed 40° from SE to E about two minutes before the start and made the first leg into a virtual one-tack beat on port. This was our only good start. Near the pin end, we tacked to port at the gun - a tack that left Alastair Ryder-Turner grumbling but not mad enough to actually protest. Thanks, Alastair! (photo below) Once boats got onto port tack, it was a "foot" race to the windward mark, a race which SHADES seemed very well equipped to handle on this day. The RC moved the windward mark in time for beat #2 and did provide the fleet with some fine upwind challenges but Marc and Al took first by a considerable margin.


With the wind settling into the east for the rest of the day's racing, the George Blanchard Memorial Shift became an important strategic factor. Since the 1960's when George used to wipe us all by heading straight for Ontario Place in the far left corner of a beat into an east wind - before Ontario Place was even built! - TSCC sailors have known that you need to go far left on such a beat. Thus, the pin end was understandably crowded for both races 3 and 4.


In neither race did we get a decent start (see 3854 in race 4 start photo above), but we remained patient and slowly unburied ourselves. With Marc practically forcing me out to the hated lay line far too early in order to benefit from the George Blanchard Shift, we got good shifts and better winds on both race 3 beats to pull out a win. Similar strategy in race 4 saw us get back into contention at the end of the first beat.


A second-beat battle with race leaders, Tom Wharton Jr. and Stefan Larson, became much closer after we had again hit the port lay line early and rounded onto the final-leg run a mere boat length astern of Stefan and Tommy (above). In the most exciting race finish of the series, we nipped past these two just before the finish.

Second place in our shortened series went to another veteran team, Heider Funck and Tom Wharton of TS&CC, who scored an extremely consistent 3-3-3-3 for 12 points and a two-point edge over our fleet youngsters, Mark and Paul Taylor of the Mississauga SC. The Taylors started their series in great shape with a 1-2 but fell to 5-6 when they tightened their jib halyard settings as the winds increased. They were all set to re-set on Sunday but never got the chance when we were blown out.

TSCC's Alastair Ryder-Turner and Annelies Groen took a close 4th, scoring a very consistent 5-4-4-4 and edged out Tom Wharton Jr. and Stefan Larson whose 4-5-8-2 gave them 19 pts. Stefan and Tom did very well, considering that this was their first time in Tim Bider's W3613. They showed us some interesting new approaches both up- and downwind, and we may have something to learn from them, in the to-be-hoped-for event that that they grace us with their presence more often.

Kit Wallace and David Weatherston of the host club again showed excellent speed, especially in nearly winning the third race. But they still need to work on their consistency as they only managed to add 8-7-7 to their fine 2nd from race 3. Still, their series 6th was a fine two-place improvement over their 8th seed.

TSCC Commodore, Peter Kozak, and his wife, Linda, were no doubt disappointed that Sunday brought us no races, since even one more race would have allowed them to delete a 13th from their otherwise very sound 7-6-5 résumé. But alas, it was not to be and they had to settle for 7th overall, which was nonetheless a fine two-place improvement over their seeded position.

Also up two places above their seed by placing 9th, were Hans Gottschling and Bastian Pfannkuche. This TSCC began their series with a fine 6th but slipped further back as the winds picked up, and ended up two points behind the Kozaks.

Our lone U.S. entry was the team of Nick Seraphinoff with his daughter, Julie Price. Despite having travelled all the way from Traverse, Michigan, Nick immediately cast his vote for having the North Americans at TSCC again next year. Nick probably spoke for all of us when he said he had really enjoyed the winds, the waves, and above all, the close, exciting competition.

Rounding out the top ten, a mere one point behind Nick, was the local team of Mike Codd and Kirk Iredale. Unlike the previous weekend when Kirk and Mike had it all together as they placed 3rd of 18, Mike had trouble getting George Blanchard's Red Top into the groove on Humber Bay.

The veteran TSCC team of Geoff Edwards and George Waller had a good series. Their 11th overall was two better than their computer-predicted 13th, and George and Geoff finished off their North Americans with a nice single-digit finish, a 9th.

Three local boats ended up within one point of each other in the fight over series 12th. In the end, it was 15th-seeded Ed Tait and Chris Walroth who took 12th and also Most Improved honours for the 2006 North Americans with a +3 record. Tied for 13th overall, only one point behind Chris and Ed, were Graham Armstrong with his dad, Gary, and the team of Fred Black and Michael Kachkovsky. We hadn't seen Graham since the 2000 Midwinters, and he sailed very well, considering the long layoff!

Our very enthusiastic newcomers, Lori Beehler and Jason Hassard of Ottawa's Lac Deschȇnes Sailing Club, once again livened up our regatta with their very presence. Jason and Lori scored series 15th and very much enjoyed their first open water and big waves experience.

Rounding out the fleet was Ted Lacelle of TSCC who was introducing a junior sailor, Colin Schwarz, to Wayfarer racing. Both Ted and Colin enjoyed their series, with Colin even getting to have a go at the spinnaker until the winds got up a bit too high. And while some were swilling beer after the racing, Colin was enjoying a good book! A fine lad who we'll be happy to see more of!!

On behalf of all of us participants, I thank the incomparable George Blanchard who, along with Tom Wharton, organized a fine regatta with minimal resources. George and his committee did an A1 job! Special thanks to Derek Griffiths and his bar and kitchen staff, not to forget Marc Bennett who finished off a tough, four-race day by being our barbecue chef for Saturday's night's delicious steak or chicken dinner.

All of us and of you can thank Gord Nikaido, Boris Kuzmin and Rob Williams for getting such great pictures under challenging circumstances. Gord used the new CWA digital camera to good effect while on rescue duty, while Boris and Rob not only used their cameras unasked but also got CDs of all their fine works to me in Oakville. Thanks, guys! Your work and artistry are much appreciated!