Coming Home

This week was “Star Week” at the Lake Sunapee Yacht Club in New Hampshire, kicking off with the Jr. Western Hemisphere Championships, followed by the Sunapee Open, and culminating with the 12th District Championships. I was happy to find the time to make it home for the Open and take the helm against friends who had traveled from Annapolis, Michigan, Toronto, and other points north.

Growing up on Lake Sunapee was a special experience where I was exposed to an enthusiastic group of sailors who happened to comprise the largest inland fleet of Olympic Class Star boats in the world during the 1980’s. Lake Sunapee is surrounded by mountains - known for its fickle winds, and is certainly a difficult place to sail. Growing up I use to find the highest vantage point possible and watch the puffs fill across the lake, bend around points, and die out under the hills.

The light shifty winds on Sunapee taught me patience, perseverance, and above all, no matter what happens, you always have a shot a coming back. This was demonstrated on Saturday in the second race when my crew John Corrigan and I had a beautiful start, two boats down from the pin, and lead the fleet towards the weather mark. A few boats tacked out behind us as we continued straight towards the mark and fell into a gaping hole (area with no wind). John calmly gave me the play by play as the rest of the fleet sailed around us on both sides. We did everything we could to keep the boat moving and made it to the weather mark in 14th. Seemingly out of contention with the leaders minutes ahead, we methodically plotted our course downwind connecting the dots with puffs barely visible on the water.

By the time we reached the leeward mark we were just boat lengths behind the lead boat in a cluster of five trying to sneak around the bottom mark. The wind held steady for the second lap and we were able to hold a 6th place finish for the race, our second of the day. The 6, 6 score line put us in 5th for the day only 2 points out of 3rd.

Sunday brought a second day of beautifully sunny skies, but unfortunately, no wind. The competitors stayed on shore and enjoyed the mountain views form the club and floating in the lake as no wind ever materialized. All in all, it was a wonderful weekend, as much about seeing friends and enjoying a beautiful place as it was about the racing.

Next up Andrew Campbell and I head to Weymouth England, host of the 2012 Olympic sailing events, for the final leg of the ISAF Sailing World Cup. Andrew and I are 3 points out of the overall lead after six events and hope to move up with another solid result.

Thank you to all the LSYC members who put on a great regatta each year and helped me get my boat to the lake, and ready to race. Also to MacDesigns Inc. for providing the beautiful decals for the regatta.

Youth and Enthusiasm in the Star Class

by Lynn Fitzpatrick, World Regattas

Varberg, Sweden - There are plenty of young teams at the Star World Championships who are in their mid-late 20's and early 30's who can never be ruled out of being in contention for a top 10 finish. Peter O'Leary and Tim Goodbody (IRL) are now 26, John Gimson and Ed Greig (GBR) and most of the strong German teams fall into the same category. Even 25-year-old Andrew Campbell, the USA's 2008 Olympic Laser representative has qualified for USSTAG in the Star. He is sailing with the legendary Star crew and Olympic Gold medalist and World Champion in the Star, 55-year-old Magnus Liljedahl. Of course, there is always a place for strong, physically fit and enthusiastic crew. Portuguese Star sailor, Afonso Domingos is sailing with 21-year-old Frederico Melo, who raced in the Finn Gold Cup in Denmark. Campbell is currently the youngest skipper and Melo is currently the youngest crew in the top 10 at the 2009 Star World Championship.

Whether they are confident of their Star sailing abilities or not, juniors can join the class. First time experiences are often as crew, but some hop in and take the helm. One of the next events on the Star Class calendar that includes over 220 organized regattas annually is the Western Hemisphere Youth Championship in Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire on August 14th. It is open to any skipper who has not reached his or her 25th birthday prior to the first race, and there is no - no limit the age of the crew. Past events have been great opportunities for the likes of Brad Nichol, current member of US Team Alpha Graphics to learn from accomplished New England sailors. At this stage in his life, the regatta represents an opportunity for those with accomplished Star careers to give back to the class and to scout for talent. The Lake Sunapee Open follows the Western Hemisphere Youth Championship on August 15 - 16 and Star sailors of all ages are welcome to attend.