Shark Class Coupe du Quebec 2014 got Wild

Last week end saw Montreal's largest one design class holding its racing climax of the season. The Shark Coupe du Quebec attracted 25 teams from Ontario, Quebec and Vermont for a week end of high calibre racing.

Podium

1. Tiger Niles, Peter Aker, David O'Sullivan, Erik Sorensen
2. Nuisance, Pierre Carpentier, Toby Bryant, Stephanie Boucher
3. Ketchup, George Stedman, Robert Levy, Peter Kelly 

Saturday, plenty of wind was to be had keeping everybody on the edge. Holding the boat down with the larger #1 was manageable during the first two races. Then, the wind blew stink for the 3rd race. We would have been laughing at the wind honk if we had the smaller #3 headsail. Unfortunately, with the RC banging off the 3rd race quickly at the end of the day, we had to live with the 180% #1 genoa (pic, right). Hoowee! What a ride! Apparently, many other competitors struggled too. Chimere (BYC) broached right after rounding the windward mark and launching the chute. We were approaching the windward mark into their path. We both did a dance, and avoided contact. Chimere's spinnaker did not fare well, as the pic below shows!

Sunday, to give contrast, the wind blew light and fickle. In one race, some boats got across the start line immediately at one end while others were stuck for many minutes unable to cross.

Props to Tiger Niles from Bay of Quinte Yacht Club who simply dominated the regatta. Montreal competitors did very well and definitely kept the Tiger on it's toes. Nuisance (PCYC) coming in 2nd overall was the top Quebec boat winning the coveted Quebec Championship. 3rd overall was Ketchup (PCYC) who are perennial top guns at this regatta. It was great to see Blue Moon (BYC) charge into 4th as they have not been able to sail much this season. One of Montreal's finest, Tof crewed on his boat for Dave Raymond and they took 5th. In all 13 Montreal Sharks competed from BYC, CVDM, and PCYC, a great turnout. More Montreal boats are racing a lot of the local stuff, and we have quite a number of new boats just arrived at BYC, CVDM, and PCYC, and prepping for the racing scene. So, I expect the next season to be pretty action-packed. This is a growing fleet with racers at all levels having fun.

Some extraordinary photography of the action on Saturday is available from Luka Bartalovic,and you can view it on his Facebook site.

Kudos to Mike Anderson, Regatta Chair, Tof Nicoll-Griffith for organizing, PRO Chris Paynter, his R.C., and all the great help and labour from host club, Beaconsfield YC.