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Drama to the finish in Malaspina Regatta

Garden Bay Sailing Club
regatta
The Malaspina Regatta, put on by the Garden Bay Sailing Club, took place on Canada Day weekend, with 25 boats participating in the race.

The Malaspina Regatta, put on by the Garden Bay Sailing Club, always takes place on the Canada Day weekend, and has become a Pender Harbour tradition. At registration time for the 29th annual event, 29 boats entered their names, but when it came to Saturday morning, only 25 boats arrived for the race.

This was understandable as the day dawned grey, wet and windy, which had not been anticipated by most. One skipper, however, thought the race was on Sunday and only realized his mistake when he saw boats leaving the harbour.

As the boats milled around the start area between Martin Island and Nares Rock at the entrance to Pender Harbour, one could feel the palpable excitement in the air. In the preceding weeks, a number of boats had been seen out in the straits practising flying their spinnakers and gennakers, in anticipation of using them in the race.

There were a few boats that timed the start perfectly, and although some were caught in the wind shadow behind Martin Island, it was not long before everyone was heading out to the first mark set at Hospital Reef. Conditions were perfect with steady winds around 10 to 15 knots, and a two-foot chop.

The first three boats to round the mark were Isabelle-Marie (skippered by Rick Reynolds), followed by Elua Makani (Sean McAllister), and in third place was Wings II (Andy Paulus). A couple of boats had problems at this mark, and when Raven Lunatic (Brad Lowell) hoisted their spinnaker, they rounded up in a gust and ended up putting their spinnaker in the water.

The second leg of the race, to Ackland Rock, was downwind and should have seen a mass of spinnakers being deployed, but due to the slightly stronger breeze gusting up to 17 knots, only eight boats hoisted them. This certainly was to their advantage, as those who used them were able to gain on boats ahead, and in some cases even pass them.

By the time they reached the second mark, Raven Lunatic had managed to pass the larger Elua Makani and Isabelle-Marie. At this point a number of boats that had used their spinnakers had problems with dousing them, and were overtaken by skippers who had been more conservative.

The final leg was a beat into the strong southeast wind, which resulted in a rough sea state that had a negative effect on the smaller boats. These conditions were perfect for the larger boats and the rivalry between Isabelle-Marie and Elua Makani became more obvious as covering tacks were thrown in by the former to minimize the opportunity for the latter to pass.

The finish line this year had been changed from previous years to a point inside the mouth of the harbour. This caused a number of boats some nervous moments as the wind dropped and boats that were behind were able to catch up with boats ahead. Oh, the joy of sailing!

In the evening 140 people made up of crew, friends and family attended a barbecue held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Madeira Park, where a draw for door prizes was held, and trophies were awarded for the Malaspina Regatta, as well as other Garden Bay Sailing Club Race Series.

Results: First Across The Line Trophy – Isabelle-Marie (Allyson Nelson)

First Overall – Yippee-kai-yae (Diana Valiela)

Division AA – Elua Makani (Sean McAllister)

Division A – Capella (Bruce Morris)

Division B – Friendy (Charlie Park)

Division C – Yippee-kai-yae (Diana Valiela)