2012 BC Championships
3 October 2012
BC Championships, we were there,
but the wind forgot us
Fall in Victoria BC. I always know that Thanksgiving is just around
the corner when we have the Fall Dinghy Championships at Royal
Victoria Yacht Club. This 2 day regatta was designated as the
Fireball BC Championships this year.
With a delay to the start of racing due to both lack of wind AND a
broken BC ferry, the 10 boats registered got down to the serious
business of visiting. I had emailed, cornered at pubs, hassled and
emailed some more to ensure that the 3 sailors traveling north from
Portland would have local boats to sail.
My campaign had the added bonus
of getting a 10 boat fleet on the water. I also managed to convince
a lot of local sailors that there would be a coaching/learning
aspect if we switched up our usual sailor pairings. For me, I
already knew I would be sailing with someone different as my
skipper was not available for the regatta.
Mike McEvoy sailed with Debra
Dietch in Mark Cumming's boat, Panther Larkin was teamed with Simon
Pearson in Jamie Cox's boat and Greg Desilets sailed with Shannon
Gallins in Kelly's boat. Other highlights included the return of
Iain McEvoy after being MIA for several years and the unexpected
appearance of Chris and Tracey Mills sailing their new to them (ex
Mel Steffin) Fireball. Light air prevailed through the weekend and
as usual in Cadboro Bay the tide was as much a factor as the
wind.
See the results posted here
(link to follow later apparently), to see who I convinced to switch
up.
Day 1 saw breeze from 0-7 knots and the RC managed send us on 3 W
courses of varying laps. Current played more of a factor in our
afternoon of sailing than I was expecting. I'm not sure why I was
expecting less current, I've been sailing here for a few years now
and current is always involved.
Lake sailors McEvoy and Dietch
led the fleet for much of the second and third races after going
the wrong way in race 1 but were unable to hold on for the win.
Better boat handling and superior unwind speed gave Rob and Francis
two bullets and the lead at the end of day 1. With everyone having
a bad race counting all were hoping for a couple of races Sunday in
order to get a drop.
After the dinner provided by the
RVYC, the Fireball fleet got to hang out by the patio fire and
enjoy more nibblies and cake, while telling stories of the good old
days and the windy regattas held at this location.
Day 2 saw breeze from 0-2 knots
most of the morning and left the fleet visiting on shore, until the
day was abandoned at 1 pm. By this time the Fireball fleet had
decided that a little time on the water was better than a whole day
on shore and 6 boats headed out for a couple of rabbit start races
in the bay.
Congratulations to Rob Thompson
and Francis Thompson the BC Champions. Also, thank you from me, to
the sailors who showed up to sail with whoever I arbitrarily
decided to match them up with in whatever boat was available.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C25I8fhIZ1Q/UGo71Vi6-GI/AAAAAAAAAEg/sIEVt04Kzy0/s320/fire1.JPG) |
Photo taken by
Jamie Cox |
Highlights of the weekend for me; sailing with CBSA Brian in a
regatta; meeting new Fireball sailors that I didn't even know were
showing up; visiting around the fire on Saturday evening; making my
non-sailing friend chauffeur me about town all weekend because I
lent my car to our Portland visitors.
Next regatta I will have to attempt cc'ing my email campaign to
the wind fairies to see if they will show up to play too.
Results -
14998 |
Rob Thompson |
Francis |
14757 |
Garry Bishop |
Rob Warren |
CAN14680 |
Paithen Larkins |
Simon Pearson |
14758 |
Leigh Anderson |
Vanessa Edwards |
11800 |
Mike McEvoy |
Debra Dietch |
13890 |
Iain McEvoy |
Dave Richardson |
14680 |
Jamie Cox |
AJ Howard |
6796 |
Greg Desilets |
Shannon Galins |
13158 |
Brian Swaile |
Evelyn Chisholm |
12942 |
Chris Miils |
Tracey Mills |