Star 2011 Montreal Open
Much thanks to Brian Cramer for passing on this super report, so we can all keep abreast of the news from an important Montreal one design fleet. I look forward to sailing at CNDM next week, a jewel of the Montreal clubs. - Ralph
Every year for the past 7, Star boats
gather at Vaudreuil-sur-le-lac for racing on Lac des Deux-Montagnes. The special nature of the club, the lake and
the local Star Fleet has made the trip one of the good regattas in a summer
season.
This past weekend was no exception.
Friday was a perfect day for setting up
the boat. Boats started to arrive at
noon with the goal of getting the mast up and some practice time on the
lake. Local Star sailor Philippe Hofer
greeted the travelers with an open tool kit, combinations to gates and
washrooms etc. There was a plan to get
on the water as soon as crews arrived for some speed training, important set-up
for any regatta.
Saturday morning started with a
skippers’ meeting on the front lawn of the Club Nautique Deux-Montagnes. Three
races are planned for the day with a start time of 10:30 am. Everyone gets to
the starting area, but unfortunately the wind disappeared for 30 minutes. Like magic, the breeze fills in from 210
degrees and the first race sequence begins.
Sometimes the decision to travel up the
port or starboard side involves wind strength and angle. On this lake, there is a current flowing from
the west to east which also must be considered and for race 1 it looked like a
port side favoured windward leg. Most of
the competitors recognized this strategy and fought for the pin end. A couple of tacks up the first leg and the
leaders were in the left side of the course.
Rick Shousha went the farthest to the left and was rewarded with a first
place rounding. On the first downwind
the pattern of jibing on the shifts began to show its advantages and the
leaders gained some big distance on the fleet.
Two more legs with mostly the same pattern and the first race is complete. Rick hangs on for a fourth place finish, his
best of the regatta.
Race two waits for a shift in the
windward mark but once started it is a repeat of the first. Fight for the pin end and protect the left
side of the course. A much bigger bunch
up at the first mark but again jibing at the right moment paid big dividends on
the first downwind. Race 2 ends with the
leaders enjoying a big lead but Hendershot and Folsetter fight for position 2
and 3.
Still good winds (8-10kts) so a third
race is planned. As the afternoon
progressed the wind shifted to 220 and finally 230 degrees. That changed the starting strategy as the
committee boat became favoured. Again
the fleet recognized the advantage and there was a collection at the right end
of the line. John Draper who was
competing in his first Star regatta had a great start and pushed the fleet to
the left. Once he tacked the rest followed
and waited patiently for the first shift.
One minute into the last race and a right shift hit the leaders. Tack on the headers and the first group
started to separate from the back markers.
With the breeze starting to shift more to the north the downwind winning
formula was to pass on the north side of the course. Folsetter passed Cramer on the first downwind
using the north pressure to his advantage.
Some tacking and covering resulted in Folsetter getting a big lead. Cramer recognized the advance of third place
Hendershot and tacked to the left side to cover. Both these two were close to the port layline
when the wind shifted 30 degrees in their favour. Folsetter immediately started to race to the
left side but arrived on the Cramer/Folsetter line two boat lengths late giving
up the lead for the leg and race.
Saturday night dinner was hosted by the
Hofer’s at their lakeside summer home.
Very good food with all the competitors and some of their families made it
an event highlight.
Sunday was going to be tricky racing as
the forecast was for thunderstorms but the committee planned for two races.
After setting the starting line, it
became apparent that the left side was favoured and again a fight for the pin
end started with about a minute left.
Rick Shousha, Brian Cramer and Doug Folsetter all positioned near the
pin and with 10 seconds left the three powered up and drove to the line. Within 2 minutes a small left shift signaled
the first tack and Cramer gained a small but significant advantage. Twice he protected the left side first
covering Folsetter then Hendershot.
Those two began their own duel as the result of race four was
significant in the overall positions. In
the 10 knots of steady breeze the passing lanes were tough and the positions
held until the end. There was a dramatic moment on the finish line between
Draper and Hofer with a jibe, jibe and twirl maneuver perfectly executed by
Draper for the enjoyment of the watchers and with Hofer winning the duel. At this point overall positions first and
second were settled so Cramer and Folsetter left for the dock.
Race 5 repeated the pattern of left
side for the first leg and cover the fleet on the downwind. Two groups separated and Will Hendershot
scored his first race win with Philippe Hofer close behind.
A short award ceremony wound up the
regatta. Special thanks to the Quebec
Star Fleet for providing great races on a great summer weekend.
Sail # | Skipper | Crew | Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 3 | Race 4 | Race 5 | Total |
8143 | Brian Cramer | Rick Burgess | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | DNS | 4 |
8024 | Doug Folsetter | Chris Danner | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | DNS | 8 |
8361 | Will Hendershot | Gary Soules | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
8236 | Philippe Hofer | Olivier Teisserenc | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 14 |
8401 | John Draper | Larry Scott | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 16 |
7506 | André Marcotte | Xavier Marcotte | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 22 |
4 | Rick Shousha | Stéphane Barbeau | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 23 |
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