Another Good Year For the MBA Star Regatta

Thanks to Alain and Philippe for sending along this report. 13 Stars competed in this event!


by Alain Vranderick

top photo - Trophy time for Brian Cramer and Tyler Bjorn, 1st overall.
lower photo - Hans Fogh and David Ceasar, 2nd overall.

13 teams of sailors from the US, Ontario and Quebec gathered at Club Nautique Deux-Montagnes for the second installment of the Montreal Bi-Annual Star Regatta.

Out of town teams showed up on Friday at CNDM to rig the boats, and practice in the beautiful south-westerly breeze. The field was pretty deep with talent with the 3 representatives of the Canadian Sailing team (Brian Cramer sailing with MontrealÂ’s own Tyler Bjorn, and David Ceaser sailing with Hans Fogh) and 3 former Olympians (Hans Fogh double medal winner, Ian Bruce, and Larry Scott). The fleet was rounded up with the usual suspects from the Montreal Fleet.

Racing started on time at 11 on a 1.2 nautical mile (to windward) windward-leeward course, in a westerly breeze of 8-10 knot. The team of Cramer/Bjorn sailed solidly to take first place, followed by Fogh/Ceaser in second and the local team of Marcotte/Vranderick rounding up the top three. The Race Committee started a second race promptly after the first in a dying breeze. This race was abandoned, to the joy of everybody on the water, after the expiry of the two hour time limit. The fleet headed to shore for refreshments and steak dinner. The talk at dinner revolved around which channel game 6 of the Stanley cup finals could be viewed on, and which place was more appropriate to view the game.

Sunday morning started with a steady 8-10 knot south-westerly, and the forecast was calling for increasing breeze all day. Good times ahead. Local fleet champ William Hendershot joined the fun on Sunday after missing SaturdayÂ’s racing. The day called for two races, with an earlier start at 10:00. The first race started in 10 knots of breeze, on a slightly shorter windward-leeward course than the previous day. The team of Cramer/Bjorn topped the fleet again followed by Fogh/Ceaser in second and Line/Scott in third. The RC started the 3rd race in a building breeze (now at 12 knots). There were some close calls on the first windward leg with everybody fighting for the left side of the course. Close racing all around the course, with the final windward leg slightly skewed because of a veering breeze. Fogh/Ceasar won the last race, with Cramer/Bjorn in second and Line/Scott in third.

Lake of Two-Mountains built on its reputation by throwing some great conditions at the fleet, and great Race committee work. All in all, a good regatta, great fleet racing, and we hope to see even more people attend in third holding of this event in 2008.

_____________________________