(161003) Despite forecasts of cold, rainy, howling winds, a few hardy sailors kept alive the almost 50-year-old Pumpkin Regatta tradition. As it turned out, Saturday brought a pleasant day's sailing in moderate winds (Mark Coile photo above) and only the occasional sprinkle. PRO John Kabel wisely grouped all centreboarders together in one start in each of four Saturday races in easterly winds of 5 to 10 knots or so.

The by now traditional sumptuous turkey dinner again brought competitors together in the nicest possible way after Saturday's racing. In addition, the club provided a most palatable Pumpkin Regatta wine in both red and white, while the Wayfarers contributed Dark and Stormies for all who wanted something a little more refreshing

This year's event came to a very civilzed end early Sunday morning when moribund winds (above) showed no signs of coming back to life any time soon, and the RC blew off further racing by 10 AM. This allowed us to pack up at a nice leisurely pace for what for many was the end of the 2016 sailing season.

The actual racing:

The three Wayfarers, Teams Pilling, Codd and Schonborn, were very well matched, both against each other and with small but capable fleets of Lasers, Y-Flyers and a smattering of Open A boats. With an easterly wind, our RC got us the best beat they could: from a start just south of #4 (below) to a windward mark just off the mouth of Wye Creek. In two pre-lunch races, our course was windward-leeward with #4 mark erving as an offset mark to give us a beat to the finish. After lunch, B became the windward mark, whence we continued along the east shore to #6, across the lake to #4 and then a short beat to the start/finish line. And in the finale, our RC went all out, sending us around #5 plus twice around to complete a beautifully active day.

Race 1: In the first race, the beat was marked by frequent shifts, dead spots and lead changes. Sue Pilling, Richard King and Al Schonborn led the pack around the windward mark. Richard and Sue looked good early near the shore while Al sailed towards mid-lake, following the dictum: if the wind angles off the shore, stay in the middle, but follow the shore if the wind is blowing along it. This strategy paid off for Uncle Al and his fine crew, Bruce Clifford, who won race 1 by about 20 seconds over Richard King with Jacob Hone. Not far behind these two came Sue Pilling and Steph Romaniuk. Not bad, thought Uncle Al post-race, to have two of the top three boats be Wayfarers, who according to the Portsmouth Yardstick, were the slowest-rated boats of our entire 15-boat fleet! 4th and 5th across the finish line were a pair of Lasers, Kevin Biskaborn and Rick Goldt.


Race 2: Same winds, same course but twice around for this one. Again lots of lead changes up the first beat before Uncle Al crept around the windward mark just a head of Sue and a couple of Y's. No way were Sue and Steph going to be caught napping a second time. The followed Al and Bruce down the middle and slowly but surely used their weight advantage (100+ pounds less crew weight) to move into a the lead. In the end it came down to a two-boat race in which Sue and Steph edged out Ed Hone and his young daughter, Jordan, by a mere five seconds. Another Y (Richard and Jacob) was next across the line with Bruce and Al in close pursuit. Rounding out the top 5 was another Y-Flyer, Colin King and Natalie Chaylt. Top Laser and 6th overall was Brad Biskaborn. This was definitely not a wind to gladden any true Laser sailor, I suspect.

Race 3: After a nice, filling lunch, we were soon off in race 3 and a bit of drizzle. Our youngest competitor, Jasmine Jackson (eight going on nine) was a sight for sore eyes, contributing to our regatta coverage in the nicest way. (below)
 

Again, things were close at the windward mark which was now mark B. The middle paid off less obviously this time around and much of the fleet rounded mark #5 at the north end of the lake very close together. Unfortunately, having us round #4 only resulted in a close-reach parade which Sue and Steph, having rounded #5 slightly ahead, used to slowly but surely pull away from the pack. In the end Team Chich did a horizon job, beating the 2nd-place boat, Lawrence Lynch and Lynn Okanski in Y2687, by over two minutes. 16-year-old Jillian Smith of the host club won the Laser division and crossed 3rd overall. Y2794, Richard and Jacob were next across while Calum McKellar sailed his Phantom to a fine 5th place.

Race 4: What would turn out to be the final race of the regatta bypassed the long, fluky slog to #5, much to my, and I suspect, most others' delight. Instead we gybed around #6. The race was marked by a shower or two plus a few wind gusts that barely hinted at what the wind was supposed to be providing all day. This race saw Sue and Richard battling it out for the top spot, with Richard and Jacob in Y2794 were the first non-Wayfarer to win a race in the Pumpkin of 2016, as they won a fairly close race over Sue and Steph. Ed and Jordan (Y2795) were next in 3rd as they beat out Al and Bruce (W3854), while Kevin Biskaborn won in Lasers as he completed the top five.

That Kevin win in Lasers, left three Lasers tied atop their standings with 9 points from their four races. Having the "juiciest" drop enabled Kevin to win the series with 5 points to count. One point behind were Kevin's brother, Brad, and Rick Goldt, with Brad taking series 2nd on the tie-breaker.

It was also close at the top in Y-Flyers where a win in the finale by Richard King and Jacob Hone gave them series victory over Ed and Jordan Hone. Lawrence Lynch and Lynn Okanski lost to Colin King and Natalie Chaylt in three of the four races, but their Y win in race 3 was enough to give them series 3rd over Colin and Natalie on a tie-breaker.

While the racing was often close among the Wayfarers in all four races, Sue and Steph won their series decisively ahead of Al and Bruce who in turn were pushed very capably by Mike Codd and Kirk Iredale.

Open A went decisively to Phantom 1202, Calum McKellar who beat out Conestoga's David Von Wahl and John Kuntz in the Astus 18.2 trimaran, a very sharp-looking creation.

A CL-14, piloted by two enthusiastic recent sailing school grads, James Scudamore and Shawn Ellison, not only won the second race in the Open Keelboat division, but also placed 2nd overall. Well done, guys! Winning that division were Mike Morris and Ted Doholis in their Edel 540, while Bob Magill single-handed his Tanzer 22 to a series 3rd among 5 boats.

Sincere thanks from all us competitors to the following:

From: John Kabel [mailto:jjkabel@rogers.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2016 8:36 AM
Subject: Volunteer List - 2016 Pumpkin

 

Here are the volunteers who gave of their time to bring you the 2016 edition of the Pumpkin Regatta at Fanshawy Yach Club, London, ON:

 

The most important people, those behind the wall in the kitchen!

Saturday Lunch: Anita and Roy Elworthy, Mike Wareing

Turkey Dinner, Saturday Evening: Carlene Hone, Faith Hone, Helina Henshaw, Nancy MacKenzie, Jim MacKenzie

Sunday Leftover Lunch: Sue Goldt, Colleen Ellison-Wareing

 

Registration was handled by Brian Hurst (Past Commodore).

 

Safety Boats were manned by: Paul Chesman, Mike Van Wiechen, Riley McCluskey, Kevin Adrian, Dave Smith, Brian Hurst, Jim MacKenzie and Hans Schaffner

 

The Race Committee (Barge) were Assistant Race Officers Bill Scott (Flags), Jack Blocker (Horns) and Mark Cole (Line Judge and photography), and Principal Race Officer John Kabel (Treasurer of FYC), who also handled Scoring.

 

John Kabel

Treasurer and Race Officer, Fanshawe Yacht Club

PS from John:

I hope you remember the correct Gosling’s order of the making of a Dark ‘n Stormy: Ice in glass or cup, float ice with Ginger Beer of desired alcohol content or flavor potency, layer rum of chosen darkness or spice content onto beer above ice. Drink carefully, as the alcoholic burn of the rum is gradually replaced with the ginger burn of the beer. Best fall or winter drink ever invented.

 

Except for grog on the Boat Show Bus: One of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak. I leave the choices up to you! I favour lime juice, dark or black rum, sugar syrup and room temperature water in mine.

 

Have a great winter.