| This years
Interlake and Flying Scot regatta at Portage Yacht
Club was moved back two weeks to garner more participation from club
members who would have chosen to attend the Michigan – Notre Dame
game. With this move the competitors were greeted with 20 mph winds on Saturday
and temperatures in the 50’s and nearly the same conditions on Sunday.
Of course
with such a windy environment it was only a matter of time before someone
went for a nice swim. As a matter of fact four Interlakes and two Flying
Scot skippers and their courageous crews battled the elements getting
their boats back up and sailing. For Interlake skipper Loren Newton and
Flying Scot skippers Skip Schmidt and Todd Moore, upon conclusion of their
“experience” each were able to answer the question “How
much water does your boat hold” by answering “a whole lot!”
For the Todd and Suzanne
Moore it turned out to be more than just your normal turtling experience.
A first for the regatta and the club having a competitor carted out in
an ambulance. Suzanne survived the entire ordeal (even without her lipstick)
in which she obtained a mild concussion, to return for the trophy presentation
on Sunday.
Speaking
of Sunday, what would the HTT be without a little controversy or a lively
protest. It has been a few years since anyone decided to take issue with
an on the water matter. Apparently there was a little problem with the
communications system between the service boat and committee boat on the
first race (race #4 of the regatta) which delayed setting the finishing
line for the nine legged race. Adding to what became a very confusing
race was a general recall in the Scot fleet (a very aggressive group they
are) which ended up putting both fleets sailing together for most of race
#4.
Now depending upon
whom you talk to there were either a) too many legs sailed or b) not enough
sailed by either fleet. There wasn’t general consensus among any
of the sailors. The writer of this article will tell you with certainty
that the Interlake’s sailed 11 legs while the Flying Scot’s
only 7.
What ensued
after the racing for the day was two-hour hearing trying to sort it all
out. Participants from both fleets filed protests. Those of us waiting
for the final word enjoyed pizza and pop in the park and spent the time
reminiscing about the races and our up coming fall adventures since for
many this was their last sail of the season. When the dust settled race
#4 for the Interlake’s was thrown out (to the advantage of 1380
and the chagrin of 836) while the Scot standings remained unchanged (sorry
Fritz but we did enjoy watching you sail the extra legs just for the fun
of it).
Congratulations
to Tom Ehman Sr. and his crew Barb Johnson for winning in the Interlake
and Paul and Denise Lee for winning in the Flying Scot. Kudos to Dan O’Haver
in Flying Scot 4529 for over coming his Friday evening at “margartaville”
and its lingering effects Saturday morning (the three sheets to the wind
look and the inevitable, well you know) to take 3rd place. Hmmmmmm….maybe
quite a few of us will visit this destination the night before next years
event.
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