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National Long Distance Race Parry Sound * Sunday 25 July 2021 |
A trip to Parry Soundby Mike Codd and Steph Romaniuk; bulked
up by Uncle Al This
was how the weekend as advertised: Details are
evolving for this event, so if interested, send an
email to Sue and Steph so they can keep you up to
date on details. Friday, July 23rd - some boats
arrive. Boats and trailers can be dropped at Sue and
Steph's place if other accommodation cannot hold
them. BBQ Friday night at Sue and Steph's.
Saturday, July 24th - Long Distance Race (LDR).
Skipper's meeting 10am. Probable "Rabbit style" gate
start around Sail Parry Sound at 11am. An
approximate 3 hour race. Potluck dinner at Sue and
Steph's or local restaurant patio if
open/available. Sunday, July 24th -
Contingency LDR if not raced on Saturday due to
weather, etc. OR Cruise flotilla/picnic from a
different local launch (e.g. Snug Harbour).
Little did we know that all the REAL details were in the first line! The rest was just filler to satisfy those who need an agenda before committing. With Saturday storms being foretold as early as Wednesday, a series of e-mails was started. As the regatta drew nearer, there were options for a wide variety of possibilities. Ultimately, four crews committed to getting together and making the best of it. Well, what a weekend it turned out to be! Rocket, W627 Cripple Creek Ferry, and the originator of the saying “One day we should to this regatta thing, without the boats”, would have been proud. The teams agreed that the best we could hope for was the storms to come early and quick on Saturday and for us to be on the water by 2 or 3 PM. Not sure when the David and Anne arrived from Oakville but Kirk and Mike managed to both arrive from different directions - Pembroke and Etobicoke - almost exactly at noon Saturday. We were soon joined by Leo and Joanne from Conestoga. By now the weather forecast was known. Rain starting at noon, with the storm kicking into high gear, 80 to 90 Km/H winds with possible thunderstorms and tornados from 3 to 5pm. It was thus a good decision to postpone the race until the Sunday as Saturday brought about two inches of rain over 12 hours. The wind wasn’t as heavy as forecast but everyone was happy to stay dry and spend some quality social time after a long sailing hiatus. A great day of conversation, stories, and potluck BBQ dinner ensued. We talked of kayak/canoe/SUP Olympics at Sue and Steph’s place in Mill Lake, but the rain kept us in the spacious screened-in garage. Well, what to do? Do what Wayfarers are best known for! The story telling started Saturday at noon and wrapped up near 10pm. Snack, dinner, drinks, and games (never even opened the box, although there were challenges and future dates threatened throughout the day) were all provided in the 2+ car garage. But not just any garage. This one came with the entire front of the garage covered in screening as well as the back door screen. Many tables and chairs allowed everyone to relax in a comfortable socially distanced atmosphere as we watched the storm while staying perfectly dry. This was basically a BYO Everything, but just in case, Sue and Steph had made sure no one would be lacking. As usual, Kirk did a majority of the BBQing. With all the sharing, I can’t think of a thing that we lacked. It would have been worth the trip, two hours each way from Toronto for Mike, just for the company of eight great Wayfarers after months and months of zoom and other even less satisfying ways to communicate. A wonderful reunion. Later in the day, plans were set. After dinner, the skippers' meeting was held complete with maps, rock cautions and the location of the short-turn mark , in case the wind died. The chase boats were notified by e-mail. We would be up early, launch and be on the water by 10:30 and with the rabbit start set for 11:00 near the green mark just upwind from the club. Sunday's forecast was sunny and about 8 knots of breeze. Sue introduced the small fleet to a "Rabbit" Start: The rabbit (Chich) sailed from a green spar buoy close-hauled on port tack three times, sounding three whistle blasts as she began the first pass. After about 200 metres she sailed back to the green buoy. On her second pass, she blew two whistles. On the final pass, one whistle blast marked the start window when competitors could start on starboard, ducking Chich's transom. The wind shifted about 60º during this sequence which made it a bit difficult to get set up.   In due course, we bore off
onto a reach due North toward Three Tree Island to be left
to port.
     After Three Tree Island, the next two legs of the course - Gull Rock to port (above) > R33 to starboard - were to weather, and the three leaders all led for a portion of this very challenging beat - points that should've had a lift, didn't, and holes were found here and there.    After rounding the green spar (R33) at the tip of Wall Island, we again bore off for the gap between Horse and Huckleberry Islands. In the early going, it was a tight reach for the spinnaker which dropped the Pughs and Van Kampens back from the leaders who wisely waited before trying the chute (above).  The Pughs - David and Anne - pass by the mouth of the Hole in the Wall, familiar to us from numerous Killbear Rallies.   The boats all rounded
Horse Island and now had to make a decision on
which side to pass Passage Island. The windward
side resulted in a better line for the long
spinnaker run back, but unfortunately also
resulted in a wind shadow from Mowat Island. The
leeward side made reaching too difficult for the
lightweights, and the 2nd and 3rd place boats were
planing and closing fast.
 The leaders finally got on a better line to pop the chute and away they went, slowly expanding their lead up to the finish. The Van Kampens got caught in another wind shadow - from Parry Island - and the Pughs stayed low, got better wind and made their way to a second place finish. Only a few minutes back were Mike and Kirk. Of course, the 2pm thermal winds came in just after the finish of our two and a half-hour race. from Mike Codd: The finish order arriving back at Sail Parry Sound near 3pm was Sue, David, Leo, and Mike. I can’t tell you where and when the race positions changed, as the rest of the boats left us far behind in the five- to seven-knot breeze that we had for most of the race.  However, shortly after we
lost touch with the others, Kirk figured out that we
would be the “best all male crewed boat”! It
was a great race for all, and as mentioned on the
beach afterward, "the only losers were those not in
attendance”. The breeze built during the race
leading to a fine, close reach under spinnaker back
to the club. Mike was seen to be ragging the main
during the bigger gusts.
The race was supported by a photo boat, with our talented photographer, Jo Bossart, and Wade Perkins at the helm - some of you may remember him as the ATV boat-launching man! Al will post the photo link. Kathy Hick was also out as a safety boat with Jacq Harrison and finished the competitors as they passed between the Sail Parry Sound flagstaff and the day beacon across the narrow channel.  The Gang of Eight: (l to r) Anne
& David Pugh, Steph Romaniuk & Sue Pilling,
Mike Codd & Kirk Iredale, JoAnne & Leo Van
Kampen
All the boats were soon packed up. Some enjoyed the clean, refreshing water for a swim after packing up and then most made a pit stop at Dairy Queen before the drive home. So, just letting you know, if Sue and Steph tell us about another regatta, and the details are a “little” vague, Kirk and myself will be there, no questions. We just want to start later, after the wind comes up!! Thank to all, the chase boats, the photographer, the gang of 6 and especially Sue and Steph. Well done! Mike and Steph
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