SCIRA Canada

After some very successful training sessions at Mississauga Sailing Club, the Snipe Canadians/Ontario Open have been confirmed for June 20-21. Registration will be at the club Friday night and Saturday morning. PRO will be none other than Irene McNeill. Saturday BBQ dinner and Sunday after racing lunch will included. This will be a great tune-up for the Snipe NA’s in Hamilton two weeks later.

Thomas Fogh’s view of the recent training session out of Missisauga Sailing Club, the site of next years Canadian Nationals/Ontario Open.

The NOR for the Snipe Canadians/Ontario Open at Royal Hamilton Yacht Club July 5-6 is now available here. Canadians NOR

Just one week before the 2015 Pan Am Games Regatta the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club, SCIRA Canada and Fleet 877 will host the Snipe North American Championships July 3-5, 2015. This promises to a great event with the likely participation of the Pan Am teams. NOR will be posted in late 2014. 

After ten races one point ended up separating Harri Palm and Molly Kurvink from Chris Hains and Barb Mann at the 14th Annual Palm D’Or Regatta. The most sought after trophy in all of sport was again a tough battle on the fickle waters of Guelph Lake.

The tradition continues as Harri Palm signs the back of the Palm D’Or Trophy.

Five star conditions at Guelph Lake.

The Snipe Class has officially been invited to the LSSA Regatta at Oakville Yacht Squadron June 28-29. A training day on the Friday June 27, with Thomas Fogh, is also offered. This will mark the return of Snipes to OYS after the demise of fleet 321 Oakville. Details and NOR will be posted here shortly.

2014 SCIRA Canada dues are now due. Rates are the same as last year:

Members – $30

Juniors – $25

Each boat – $20

Simply click on the Regatta Schedule and view all events that are relative to SCIRA Canada members.

The famous Irondequoit Bay Thermal came in for five of the seven races of the Briody Memorial Regatta this year.  Canadian skipper Gord Richards made good use of it to win the regatta, followed closely by Gene Soltero, John Korkosz, and John Dentinger.  Ricky Trauscht was fifth.

Two boats were of special interest: #19119, Woody, had been rebuilt by Steve Lee and was returning to the regatta scene after a long absence.  Also, #29090 was loaned to Dallas skipper Gene Soltero by Newport YC sailors Maureen McDonald and Steve Mickel.  Gene had sailed the Briody once before, in 1979, when he won his first SCIRA-sanctioned regatta.

Bill Topping did his usual masterful job as PRO, and thanked Harbormaster Phil Morse for having all of the power boats working — a feat not easily accomplished.  Dan Groth posted his regatta photos on the club web site at newportyc.org.

The racing was very close, with tacking and gybing duels, crowded mark roundings, and split opinions as to the favored end of the start line.  Four different boats won races.

After Dinosaur Barbeque on Saturday night, guitar teacher John Wiesenthal sang us some sailing songs and we joined in as needed.   Breakfast Sunday morning was ham and eggs cooked to order by Commodore Paul Riordan, supervised by wife Dorothy Drahzal.

We had welcome visits from Bud and Ellen Booth and from Kevin and Zack Haller.

The 2013 Canadians/Ontario Open were held July 6-7 at Royal Hamilton Yacht Club and the conditions were at the extremes for Snipe sailing.

Day one gave the sailors extremely light wind from the west/southwest and PRO Ross Cameron wisely held of a start until an easterly thermal filled in mid-day. The thermal and the gradient battled throughout the race making for tricky racing. Jno and Karen Disch from Cleveland were on fire and walked away with the race. It would be the only race of the day. After five hours on the water, the exhausted sailors were glad to return to RHYC for the traditional Cook Your Own Steak Dinner.

Sunday was the opposite of Saturday. Starting at 10-12 knots from the southwest and building all day to gusts in the 18 knot range, the racing was thrilling and eventful. Gear failures and capsizes did not dampen the competitiveness of the fleet. Andy Klein and Jessica Claflin were consistent with no finishes worse than a second in the entire regatta. That included going back to re-start after being called OCS in race 3. They win the Ontario Open with an impressive effort.

Snipe newcomer Evert McLaughlin from RCYC and Mooredale’s Anna Sepko were the top Canadian team with consistent finishes. Sailing “The Old Battleaxe” 28045, McLaughlin showed great form in only his second Snipe regatta. With a good boat and some more training, he will be a force in future events. Guelph’s Harri Palm and Molly Kurvink overcame a rough day one to end up second Canadian boat with Chris Hains and Barb Mann only a point behind.

Results-Canadians 2013

Due to rising catering costs, the price of the Canadians/Ontario Open regatta has been raised by $15 to $145. Extra dinner tickets are still $25 and bagged Saturday Lunch is still $5. A few other minor changes have been made to the Canadians NOR 2013:ver.2.