Lunenburg
Yacht Club
One
Design Regattta
7-8
August 2005
Close racing among close friends
The Lunenburg Yacht Club One Design Regatta, supported
by real estate agent Claussen Walters, concluded Sunday, following two days of
spectacular racing for eleven evenly match J29 yachts.
The waters of
With Andreas Josenhans as Principal Race Officer, the
regatta got off to a precise start on Saturday at 1300. Having moved back to
Generations of Lunenburg Yacht Club sailors were on
hand to race and support the regatta. From Head Instructor, John Whynacht who was trimming the main
aboard Scotch Mist IV to local legend
Stewart Hebb (
‘Lunenburg Yacht Club has always had a strong sailing
history. Over the last few years,
although some members have moved away or from sailing to power boats, it is
great to see world class sailors such as Andreas Josenhans return,’ said
Commodore Richard Cluett.
Saturday
was all about boat speed and smart tactics around the race course, with the
wind blowing a warm and pleasant 8 to 12 knots from the northwest, calling for
very different sailing skills from the eleven teams competing off
Over the two days, there was a very close three-way
battle for first place between Painkiller, Scotch Mist
and Jaeger. Larry Creaser commented
‘Great, close racing. The fleet is getting tighter and everyone is getting
better.’ Not surprising coming from an owner whose boat’s name is Jaeger, Creaser was quick to add that ‘Everyone
is on the hunt at all times!’.
Unlike prevalent handicap racing, one design racing
demands the very best in boat handling skills, as it is not the boat, nor the wind
that makes the difference, rather it comes down to pure sailing skills. Having raced all over the world, PRO Josenhans
proudly stated that racing today, with the consistent breeze out of the
Southwest was ‘ As good as it gets. With these
identically matched boats, this is what sailing should be.’
‘This is the first pure one design regatta that
Lunenburg Yacht Club has hosted since the 1950’s when the S boats, built by
famous local builder David Stephens, raced here,’ commented Commodore Richard
Cluett.
‘It was a well run regatta, great on the water
competition. First
class racing and very shifty conditions. We’ve had so much fun racing
here this weekend. Our crew have sailed
together for more than 22 years.’ Chris MacDonald, owner of Scotch Mist IV commented ‘This is
sailing how it should be, right here, one of the best
places to sail.
Rear Commodore Scott Covey presented the daily and overall
winners with awards at the prizegiving ceremony, held at Lunenburg Yacht Club
following Sunday’s racing.
It was J29 Painkiller
from Chester Yacht Club who took home the overall trophy, with three firsts on
the second day of racing. ‘Sailing
aboard Painkiller is a team sport’
said J29 owner Dr George Sapp, the overall winner of the regatta. Getting ready for Chester Race Week, crew
member Jill Sullivan added that George is ‘ the glue’
that has kept the crew together over the last twenty years.
Consistently promoting properties with good sailing
and water frontage, it was a logical choice for local real estate agent,
Claussen Walters to support the One Design Regatta. Sales Associate Richard Cluett added that the
event embodies exactly what their properties represent, ‘ the
most beautiful sailing in the world’.
Commodore Cluett went on to comment that the idea to
host a one design regatta first arose in this winter but added that he hoped
that ‘based on the success of this event, the regatta it will expand to include
other classes in years to come’.
Overall
Results
1- Painkiller, Dr George
Sapp,
2
– Scotch Mist IV, Chris MacDonald, Lunenburg Yacht Club
3
– Jaeger, Larry Creaser, Lunenburg Yacht Club
Andreas Josenhans
andreas@prg.northsails.com
Jennifer Hall
Jennifer.hall@nautorswan.com