Despite unco-operative weather and the absence of half a dozen regulars (who were sailing in the World Championships at Hayling Island), 32 Wayfarers participated in the North Bay Cruise Race and Series held on Trout Lake, August 3rd to 5th.  It looked for a while as if the local fleet would run away with all major prizes, as Scott Holloway (W.851) and Jeff Pearce came from behind to take the Long Distance Race, but a win in the final race was enough to propel Mike Schoenborn (W.276) and Panos Kalogiannides past Rolf Vassbotn (W.417) and Grace Chapman for first overall in the five-race series for the Hill Crawford Memorial Trophy.

There were the usual number of campers and it was picturesque if not encouraging to arrive at 3:00 a.m. Saturday in the fog and rain to see about twenty tents all around the hillside next to the chalet. We decided to brave the elements and pitch our tent on what later turned out to be the intersection of two small rivers running down the hillside. Everything went smoothly and we settled in to a comfortable but short sleep with rain drumming on the roof of our tent.

Saturday morning was grey but at least the rain had stopped.  We were starting right in with the Cruise Race.  The rainy weather had brought an easterly wind, which meant there would be two long spinnaker legs down to Crawford's Marina, and then any number of windward legs to Garbage Island, Payne Island, back across the lake and still further up the lake, followed by a spinnaker run to the finish.
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The start presented a problem, as one had to choose between the windward end of the line that promised to be nearer the South shore (the wind seems to be stronger along the shores) or a leeward start that would mean you could sail a higher, possibly faster, course (at the risk of being blanketed).  To complicate the choice even further, it looked like about 20 boats were going to start at the windward end and only 5 or 6 on leeward.

Soon after the start, it became obvious that the majority had been right and that even in the more crowded situation, the fresher wind along the shore was a big advantage.  Linda and Pat Sweet (W.2265) moved into an embarrassingly large lead while most of the other windward boats, like John Gierl (W.3130), Hugh Thomas (W.701), Eric Stubbs (W.1134) and Scott Holloway (W.851) were still well in front of those that started on leeward. I am sure that Hans Gottschling (W.421), Fred McNutt (W.855), Milt Bider (W.283) and others that were down with us (W.276) consoled themselves with the thought that bigger leads had been lost on Trout Lake.  The second spinnaker leg provided little change except for Mike Schoenborn (W.276) who moved from nearly last place by staying right along the south shore, passing about 15 boats.

The real test came on the long windward leg from the Marina to the mark near Garbage Island.  Linda Sweet (W.2265) appeared to be holding her long lead, and only John Gierl (W.3130), who was moving up with steady sailing, appeared to be a real threat. Hugh Thomas (W.701) was very impressive at choosing the right tacks and improved his position in the fleet, as did Per Furst (W.2479), Hans Gottschling, and Fred McNutt. Eric Stubbs (W.1134) was a solid second for a good part of this leg but then appeared to falter in the lighter wind near the mark. Scott Holloway and Joel Truckenbrodt (W.616) sailed consistently enough to remain in contention as well.

It was very fluky going behind Garbage Island, but the leaders made it through in
about the same relative positions: Linda Sweet and John Gierl a good ways in front, and then, Hugh, Hans, Joel, Fred and Scott.  Mike Schoenborn slipped by Eric Stubbs and Per Furst, and it looked like it would be a "parade" to Payne and Louisville Island on a close reach.

All those who have sailed on Trout Lake know that there can be no such thing as a parade.  A short way across the lake, the wind headed a little and we now had a weather leg that was mostly on port tack.  Scott Holloway surprised everyone by tacking off at right angles onto starboard and going a considerable distance.  His judgment was fully justified as he picked up a much better breeze and succeeded in passing close under the islands in third place behind John Gierl and Linda.  Eric Stubbs made up what he had lost behind Garbage Island with a similar move, and Per Furst also gained on the leaders, along with Rolf Vassbotn (W.417).

The leg back across the lake was similar, only on starboard tack. Once again, Scott Holloway tacked across at right angles to find a better breeze, followed this time by Mike Schoenborn, and once again they were successful.  John Gierl finally outdistanced Linda Sweet at the mark, and Hugh Thomas also rounded with the leaders, followed by Scott, Hans, Fred, Mike, Joel and Rolf.  The race had become quite tight except for John Gierl who enjoyed a lead of maybe 300 yards. This leg was another beat, mostly on port tack, with a lift to be expected as we rounded the land.  Anticipating this lift, Linda Sweet tacked toward  shore, but got becalmed to finally drop out of contention.  John Gierl held his lead and rounded to the final spinnaker leg with what appeared to be a solid margin.  Hugh and Scott came next in what looked like a good fight for second, and then there was another gap to Hans, followed by yet another gap after which Mike Schoenborn, Fred, Linda, Joel and Rolf rounded in quick succession.

We had had steady wind too long.  After all, this was Trout Lake... sure enough, the wind died to almost nothing.  For a while, Mike Schoenborn who was outshore appeared to gain on the leaders, but then the inshore boats began to move slowly toward the finish.  Scott outdrifted the other leaders and won a close decision over Hugh for the trophy, while John had to be content with third place right behind.  Hans was fourth, and Joel displayed some excellent light-weather spinnaker work to take fifth ahead of Mike Schoenborn, while Rolf closed quickly for seventh ahead of Fred and Linda.  It was a typical tong Distance Race, with fortunes changing many times and excitement right to the finish line.  Scott had gambled successfully to overcome inferior boat speed on the weather legs, as any winning racing skipper must sometimes do, and both John and Hugh had sailed excellent races from start to finish that in other years might well have been good enough to win.  Others had sailed very well only to find out that all it takes on Trout Lake is one little mistake…

Five course races were scheduled for Sunday and Monday, but Sunday morning began with everyone bailing out of their boats the generous supply of rain that had fallen during the night.

The first race began with light wind and most of the fleet heading along the shore. This worked out very well as the wind came up and simultaneously lifted the tack across the lake to the mark. Unfortunately, I was down in "coffin corner" with Hugh and Scott (after all, they did come 1-2 yesterday, didn't they?) so we were too far behind to see the leaders. I do remember being immensely pleased to see Fraser Farlinger (W.860) and Barb up there in second place. The positions of the leaders soon became irrelevant, as we were hit by thunder and rain on the last leg, but no wind.  As we drifted about aimlessly trying to sail a beat in a calm with visibility 20 feet and soaking wet wind indicators, not to mention clothes, lunches, etc. several enlightened souls headed more or less across the lake.  When the flood finally stopped, the wind came up to a reach, and there were Rolf Vassbotn (W.417) and Scott Holloway (W.851) (from about 3Oth place!) sailing home first and second.  The rest of the fleet must have finished in about two minutes and the race committee performed miracles in recording all the finishes. Third was Don Paine (W.1338), followed by 'Legs' Romano (W.2480), Fred McNutt (W.855), and Roy Risely (W.3574).

This race was enough to send us all home for an early lunch break and a change of clothes.  After lunch, the second race began in a drifter.  Mike Schoenborn (W.276) and Wendy "Legs" Romano (W.248O) were off to the best starts, but were soon passed by a cluster of boats that caught the wind from the other side.  What had begun as a windward leg became quite a respectable spinnaker reach, and Scott Holloway took full advantage by flying a good spinnaker to join the leaders.  After Linda Sweet (W.2265), 'Legs' and Scott, the buoy roundings became pretty hair-raising as groups of five and ten boats were arriving at the mark together.  Mike Schoenborn went extremely well on the second (now windward) leg to move into the lead, only to be outmanoeuvered by "Legs" as these two boats seemd to be the only contenders.  John Lilleberg (W.3131), Bob Ward (W.733) and Hans Gottschling also went well on this leg, as Scott and Linda both had trouble with their boat speed.  All the excitement seemed to be in the battle for first, as "Legs" led Mike down the reach home by only a boatlength.  Then Trout Lake stepped in with another great equalizer (the third in three races), as the wind went calm again and changed to a beat (the third in three legs).  Bob Ward seemed to enjoy these conditions the most, and closed rapidly on the leaders, followed by Per Furst, Fred McNutt and Rolf Vassbotn.  While 'Legs' and Mike (perhaps a little panicky) tacked several times, Bob just kept sailing his boat and eventually came home a slow but solid first, with 'Legs' second.  Mike barely edged Per for third and Rolf rounded out the top five.

With all these drifters, it was getting a little late in the day, and for the third race, it was decided to sail only two legs across the lake and back.  This seemed an ideal solution until the ten minute gun, when a fresh breeze came up at about 15 knots  The race was going to be a 'sprint', with a close reach over and a beam to broad reach back.  The handful of boats that started at the leeward end of the line, especially Walter Spademan (W.1185) and Eric Stubbs were in excellent shape in clear air, while the best starters at the other end, Scott (W.851) and Hans (W.421) were also doing well.  It was very tight at the first mark, and all the leaders headed up onto a beam reach to keep boats close behind from blanketing them.  Eric moved into a very favourable position by sailing for the finish line and staying some distance to leeward of this pack.  Mike Schoenborn tried the same move but was trailing by more.  Part way down the leg, Scott decided to head down and raise his spinnaker. This move paid off very well as he took the lead.  Perhaps concwerned about Scott, Eric decided to head up and lost the advantage he had gained on the windward boats.  Some very strong gusts broke some of Scott's spinnaker equipment and Mike Schoenborn moved up close behind.  As Scott perforce downed his spinnaker, Mike and Panos raised theirs, and just before the finish line, it looked as though they had taken the lead.  Then their spinnaker, too, blew out, and it ended up a virtual photo finish with Scott edging out Hans, who in turn barely beat Mike. Rolf and Eric completed the top five as about the first seven boats finished within ten seconds of each other. 

So after the first three races, only Rolf (1-5-4) had three good races, while the other top contenders were Scott (2-20-1), 'Legs' (4-2-20), and Mike (13-3-3).

Sunday night afforded a fine Chinese dinner, a dance at the chalet with a group who came prepared for an 'outdoor' concert (but adapted enough to give a most enjoyable performance) and a lot more rain.

Monday gave a few hints of clearing, as the sun fortunately came out for about an hour on a cold morning.  As the races began, things clouded over again.  It was a virtual drifter, and Mike Schoenborn got away toward the west and moved into a sizeable lead.  As the wind arrived in various places, different parts of the fleet moved up - first "Legs" and Richard Paine (W.1338), then Per Furst (W.2479) and Fraser farlinger (W.860).  There was completely different wind in different parts of the course, and eventually those boats that had stayed to the west had the better of it.  Joel Truckenbrodt came from nowhere to round the mark first, followed closely by Mike Schoenborn, and a little later, Fraser Farlinger, Scott and Rolf who always seemed to know where to be.

As W.616 and Mike headed out into the lake a bit, the other three boats made good gains by following the shore.  Things remained pretty bunched up until halfway down the leg, when everybody ran into more holes and various "exciting" windshifts.  Bob Ward (W.733) and Fred McNutt (W.855) were closing from behind, and Mike and Scott had passed Joel.  Mike was beating to windward and talking to himself as Scott passed 20 feet away under full spinnaker.  Meanwhile, along the shore, Hank Bout and Milt (W.283), and John and Linda Lilleberg (W.3131) had a wind of their own and had closed perhaps a quarter of a mile of the half mile that separated them from the leaders.  Eventually, Scott, Bob and Rolf all passed Mike, while the "outshore" group was rounded out by W.616 and Fred.  Inshore, Milt Bider and John Lilleberg continued to enjoy their private breeze and had pulled even with the leaders.  Just before the mark, the outshore boats moved away, with Bob Ward rounding first, followed by Mike, Scott, Rolf and Fred. Milt, John Lilleberg and Joel were close behind that.  There was wind for a while on the weather leg, and Mike Schoenborn again opened up a lead on Rolf, Bob and Scott.  Finally, it ended up being another drifter, and a windshift just before the finish moved Rolf ahead of Mike for first place and what appeared to be a solid hold on the series. Bob Ward continued to excel in drifters, finishing third, while Eric was fourth and Per was fifth.

Once again the fifth race was to be two legs only, and once again the wind piped up to create the same two reaches as in the third race.  It would be another starting contest.  Rolf could lock up first place with a finish in the top three, while Scott needed a first and Mike a first or second to keep any mathematical chance of winning the series.  Mike and Bob were off to good starts near the centre of the line, while "Legs" and W.600 (Al's note: Where the heck did he come from? I don't see him in the results???!!) were doing well to windward, and Hans (W.421) to leeward.  For a while, it looked like Hans might squeeze up over the fleet, but a slight knock ended up forcing him to tack for the mark.  Mike rounded first, followed by W.600, Hans. Bob and "Legs".  Again, the parade headed a little to windward to keep clear air, but halfway down the leg, Mike risked his spinnaker and some snappy work by his crew, Panos, salted away the win despite shifty winds.  The next few boats played it safe, and finished with Paul Grose second, Hans third, followed by Bob and 'Legs'.  It was a disappointment for Rolf and Grace in W.417, as almost any other order of finish would have won them the series on the strength of' their previous four fine races.  For Mike, it was only the second race he had won and his first series win in almost three years.

At the presentations, it took three speakers to replace our Honorary Commodore, George Blanchard, who was spreading Wayfarer good will at the World Championships in England.  All the speakers were most sincere in their thanks to the many people who had worked so hard to make this regatta, despite the bad weather, into the big success that it was.  The North Bay Weekend always has been, and remains, the premier event of the Wayfarer season, combining good racing with good fun.