October 1997

Launching at World’s 97

Volume XXXVII; Number 4 — October 1997

Launching at World’s 97: Rosemary Helmer and Peter Davis. Photo courtesy of Helen Sherriffs.

In this issue: Results · Canadian’s (page 12) · World’s (page 18) · More Results

The Albacore Advantage

A One-Design Boat

• no unnecessary expense of constant upgrades in design.

A Safe Boat

• large air-filled tanks give excellent buoyancy
• hull shape gives stability on the water
• self-rescue after an unexpected puff is easy

A Light and Manageable Boat

• tongue load of less than 100 lbs gives ready trailerability
• launching and retrieving are a breeze

A Comfortable Boat

• large, open cockpit
• benches on port and starboard sides

A Performance Boat

• seriously campaigned by major sailmakers
• planes in moderate winds
• buoyant heavy-air hull shape

Ideal for Junior Clubs

• 4 to 5 juniors will fit easily
• will stand up to heavy use

A Vibrant Class Association

• well organized and vital
• recognized by the International Sailing Federation
• strong fleets through Ontario, Canada, US, Great Britain, Ireland and Bermuda
• top notch competitive sailing
• junior programs in some areas

The Canadian Albacore Association

The Canadian Albacore Association is responsible for encouraging participation in and maintaining the integrity of the Albacore class in Canada.

P.O. Box 16 660, Eglinton Ave. East, Toronto, Ont. M4G 4G1

1997/1998 Executive

Position	Name	Address	Contact
Commodore	Gord Chu	38 Queensdale Avenue Toronto, ON M4J 1X9	Res.: 416 465 5558 Bus.: 416 972 7336 Fax: 416 972 5515 [email protected]
Past Commodore	Bob Stiff	20 Southlea Avenue Toronto, ON M4G 3L9	Res.: 416 423 3294 Bus.: 416 482 5002 [email protected]
First Vice Commodore	Laurie Harrison	24 Noble Street Toronto, ON M6K 2C8	Res.: 416 536 7025 Bus.: 416 946 3139 Fax: 416 536 8196 [email protected]
Second Vice Commodore	Mike Leishman	94 Harris Avenue Toronto, ON M4C 1P6	Res.: 416 699 8100 Bus.: 416 494 3343 Fax: 416 368 0956 [email protected]
Third Vice Commodore
Rear Commodore
Specifications Chair	David Weaver	14 Lansdowne Road, North Cambridge, ON N1S 2S8	Res.: 519 623 4402 Bus.: 905 525 9140 X24907 Fax: 905 572 7944 [email protected]
Chief Measurer	Rick Clayton	362 Brookdale Avenue Toronto, ON M5M 1P8	Res.: 416 783 9194 Bus.: 905 670 8700
Treasurer	Heather Wroldson	83 Lillian Street, Unit #1 Toronto, ON M4S 2H7	Res.: 416 481 8503 Bus.: 616 982 2120 Fax: 416 944 5891 [email protected]
Secretary	Raines Koby	5 Cosdale Avenue Palgrave, ON L0N 1P0	Res.: 905 880 1866 Bus.: 905 264 6123 Fax: 905 264 2944
Shackles Editor	Uwe Ackermann	Dept Physiology, University of Toronto Toronto, ON M5S 1A8	Res.: 416 778 6897 Bus.: 416 978 4017 Fax: 416 978 4940 [email protected]
Membership	Peter Nurse	76 Normandy Blvd Toronto, ON M4L 3K3	Res.: 416 698 5726 Bus.: 416 396 6736 [email protected]
IAA Representatives	Rosemary Helmer, IAA Secretary Ian Rogers, IAA Treasurer	264 St. Clair Ave. West Toronto, ON M4V 1R7 155 University Ave., Suite 1600 Toronto, ON M5H 3B6	Res: 416 964 8427 Bus: 416 410 4644 Fax: 416 961 4644 [email protected] Res: 416 485 5136 Bus: 416 361 0626 Fax: 416 361 6303
IAA Chief of Specifications	David Weaver

Shackles and Cringles is a quarterly publication of the Canadian Albacore Association. Deadlines for publication are January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15.

Commodore’s Corner

I am looking forward to working with the new CAA executive and being your commodore for the next year. I appreciate the confidence shown in me by the outgoing executive and the Albacore sailors present at the Annual General Meeting at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club.

We also have some new blood on the executive. Welcomes are in order for Raines Koby who is the new Secretary, Laurie Harrison who as 1st Vice Commodore is responsible for publicity and marketing, Peter Nurse as the new Membership officer. Returning members include stalwart David Weaver as Chief of Specifications (who also does double duty as Chief of Specifications for the International Albacore Association (IAA)), Rick Clayton as Chief Measurer, Heather Wroldsen as Treasurer, Uwe Ackermann as Editor, Mike Leishman who returns as 2nd Vice Commodore in charge of regatta scheduling and Bob Stiff who is now Past Commodore. Our thanks for all their work goes out to departing members Chris Gorton, Dave Bussin and long-time executive member Lynn Shannon.

Executive Positions Open

There are two executive positions currently open. The 3rd Vice Commodore is in charge of engendering interest and activity on the junior and grass roots level. A good candidate could be someone who sails in cottage country and has children who sail. Another possible candidate could be someone involved with the Sea Cadets.

The Rear Commodore is in charge of organizing the Canadian Albacore Championships.

One of the initiatives that your current executive intends for the coming year is the creation of the Canadian Albacore Association web site on the Internet. We are currently working with the IAA to set up an international Albacore site, where one can then access any of the national associations’ home pages. The US already has a home page set up. I understand that the British are also looking into setting up a home page.

Hopefully we’ll be able to come across each other soon on the web, prior to crossing tacks on the water next summer. Have a great holiday and enjoy your winter activities. I for one will be spending some time this winter fixing a road burn on my centreboard. A word of advice — next time you trailer your boat, make sure your centreboard is tied down so it doesn’t fall out of the trunk!

Gordon Chu
Commodore

Gooderham Series

The Gooderham Series was created to encourage Albacore sailors to travel to different events across the land. Each year 5 events are designated part of the series by the Canadian Albacore Association and the one who does the best in them (with a minimum qualification of 3 events) is the winner of the series. The winner is presented with the Gooderham Trophy which is a stylized sailboat made from sheet metal.

The events that made the 1997 Gooderham Series are:

Albacore Mid-Winters	Sarasota Yacht Squadron	March 11–14
Peterborough Examiner	Peterborough Sailing Club	June 1
Midland Walwyn	Nepean Sailing Club	June 21–22
St. Jamestown Open	St. Jamestown Sailing Club	July 19–20
PABAR	Pointe au Baril Sailing Club	Aug 16

The results of the 1997 series are:

1st	Chris Gorton	Gooderham Trophy winner
2nd	Dennis Wettlaufer
3rd	Rosemary Helmer

PABAR — August 16, 1997

Saturday, August 16, 1997 dawned definitely unsettled at Pointe au Baril. Large thunderclouds were on the horizon and a 20 knot southerly gave promise for an interesting day of sailing since the race area would be invaded by full lake swells. The threatening weather held off until after the first race. However, the usual picnic lunch on the Bradshaw’s rocks was somewhat dampened by a wet and noisy thunderstorm.

The competition was close and went down to the third race when Rosemary Helmer and George Roth from RCYC prevailed over a local boat crewed by Bob Mosley and Ian Reid. The regatta was decided at the start of the third race when the Mosley/Reid boat was over early, thus winning Mosley and Reid the coveted Horse’s Ass Trophy. Winner of the Junior Shield was 12-year old Patrick Finlay who survived the very challenging conditions with supreme confidence.

The prize giving was held at the century-old Ojibway Club when the Cerny Shield was awarded to Rosemary Helmer who became the first woman helm to win this coveted prize. Jeff Wilkins, the regatta chairman, acted as the Master of Ceremonies in hilarious fashion and the evening concluded with a ribald sing-along led by Leishman and Sherk.

PABAR Winners Rosemary Helmer and George Roth. Photo courtesy George Roth.

Sail #	Skipper	Crew	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Final
7384	Rosemary Helmer	George Roth	1	3	2	1
6216	Bob Mosely	Ian Reid	2	1	4	2
7954	Gordon Chu	Christine Mehling	3	6	1	3
7438	John Lawler	Jamie Isbester	4	2	7	4
8009	Fred Koehlmann	Sandra Mithchell	5	5	3	5
5502	Bill Foster	Leanna Foster	7	4	6	6
5923	Dennis Wettlaufer	Rick Spiering	6	7	5	7
6626	Ian Rogers	Martha Finlay	8	8	9	8
7700	Derek Caldwell	Quinn McGavern	9	9	10	9
6731	Mike Leishman	Stephen Sherk	11	12	8	10
7438	Jeff Wilkins	John Duras	12	11	11	11
6765	Gail Regan	Tim Regan	10	10	DNS	12
5503	Netty Kilgour	Leith McKay	14	13	12	13
3708	Patrick Finlay	Doug Finlay	13	14	DNS	14

Mooredale Sailing Club Open Regatta — August 9, 1997

Rank	Boat	Club	Helm	Crew	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Points
1	7630	O	Clarke, Ken	Palmer, Sharon	2	0.75	2	2	6.75
2	7562	M	Withrow, Bruce	Swiatlowski, Sandy	4	7	4	0.75	15.75
3	7166	O	Harris, Dave	Smith, Kevin	0.75	2	0.75	13	16.5
4	7563	M	Broughton, Tim	Marshall, Karen	7	6	3	3	19
5	8016	J	Higgins, Malcolm	Epstein, Peter	9	3	8	6	26
6	7544	M	Farrell, Barrie	Thomas, Cathy	5	10	10	8	33
7	8012	T	Rubin, Norm	Tempany, Paul	13	11	5	7	36
8	7942	W	Marin, Liz	Huelsman, Kristen	11	9	6	10	36
9	7363	O	Batt, Ron	Batt, Leslie	15	8	14	4	41
10	8019	J	Loritz, Frank	Richards, Ann	19	4	7	14	44
11	7472	M	Savege, Ann	Smythe, Betty	8	5	12	19	44
12	7980	M	Pawlik, Jorg	Erichsen, Julia	3	12	22	12	49
13	7474	M	Ackerman, Uwe	Duff, Janet	12	16	19	20	67
14	7962	J	Cawthorne, John	Grummitt, Jackie	6	14	20	31	71
15	7527	M	Gilchrist, John	Gilchrist, Heather	22	13	21	16	72
16	7964	J	Balinski, Marek	Lang, Rosemary	27	15	30	9	81
17	8010	W	Walker, Ron	Abrams, Alan	18	18	28	17	81
18	7944	O	Wroldsen, Heather	Rutherford, Cynthia	23	23	31	5	82
19	7955	P	Clayton, Richard	Stiff, Bob	16	21	13	32	82
20	7972	J	Carey, Jill	Sherlock, Diane	10	26	9	39	84
21	8014	W	Desjardins, Dan	Desjardins, Karen-Ann	17	17	11	42	87
22	8009	T	Koehlmann, Fred	Webster, Jennifer	36	24	17	11	88
23	8017	J	Morrison, Mike	Matthews, Dave	14	28	15	36	93
24	7545	M	Shenstone, Derek	MacInnes, Abby	24	20	25	24	93
25	7957	W	Hanson, Chris	Mehta, Sanju	26	34	27	15	102
26	8018	J	Wiebe, Daryl	Kossein, Mylene	35	22	16	29	102
27	7968	J	Smillie, Marylyn	Piercey, Pam	29	30	24	22	105
28	7965	J	Tokarek, Ray	Kline, Sandy	21	35	26	25	107
29	7468	M	Goode, Steve	Maltby, Pat	30	25	18	35	108
30	7933	T	Nash, Bruce	Arneson, Nona	44	19	29	18	110
31	6761	M	Kisby, Merle	Laliberte, Colette	28	36	23	26	113
32	8015	W	Murray, Rob	MacDonald, Jim	20	33	34	37	124
33	7471	M	Logue, Bob	Aradi, Carmen	37	29	39	21	126
34	7981	T	Koehlmann, Kathy	Pollack, Charles	34	27	33	38	132
35	7249	M	Sieradzki, Rob	Lincoln, Will	31	37	37	28	133
36	7963	J	Bryan, Ian	Aukema, Ian	25	45	32	34	136
37	6760	M	Cameron, Marty	Smith, Mike	40	38	35	27	140
38	7966	J	Abbazadeh, Babak	Steacy, Fran	39	42	40	23	144
39	7970	J	Simpson, Evelyn	Konopacka, Dorota	43	31	48	30	152
40	7473	M	Revill, Barb	Birse, Ken	42	41	36	33	152
41	7250	M	Harrison, Laurie	Bretherton, Steve	32	32	42	48	154
42	8013	T	Wilson, Neil	Edmonston, Marrianne	33	43	41	41	158
43	6750	M	Hogeboom, Sherry	Lincoln, Greta	41	44	38	40	163
44	7479	M	DeFrietas, Peter	Mullin, Kate	38	40	43	43	164
45	7365	P	Purves, Thomas	MacLaughlin, Ryan	45	39	44	48	176
46	7229	P	Cavel, Baker	Grant, Whitney	46	47	45	48	186
47	7322	M	Monged, Ayman	Whitley, Brent	47	46	46	48	187

RCYC Open — June 14 & 15, 1997

(aka “Every RC & Regatta Chair’s Worst Nightmare Event”)

This year due to the way the weekends fell in the June calendar (4 weekends instead of 5) and other circumstances several other events had to be compressed into the same dates. These included Opens for the International 14’s and J-24’s as well as the annual RCYC Open which involved hosting a 2 race course keel boat LORC event. Additionally RCYC was asked to supply a boat to help support the IYC Optimist event. Normally RCYC has more than enough race equipment and staff to run an excellent series of races. However, this taxing schedule and several equipment failures conspired to against our Saturday races in the Harbour affecting the Albacores, International 14’s and the J-24’s.

The weekend began favorably with sunny weather and 8–12 knot winds. The first race scheduled for an 11 am start was delayed by shifting S to SW winds, starter failure on the mark boat and valiant attempts by the RC at squaring the line by shifting it’s position since the windward mark had to remain stationary. The first race got off, slightly delayed, in 10 knot breeze. While the 3 fleets raced the RC radioed the Club and requested a replacement boat while the helpless crew on the mark boat could do nothing but paddle themselves out of the path of the City Ferries.

Somehow the Dock master managed to find a junior club Boston whaler even though the Club was running 13 different starts on 4 different race courses. As the 3 fleets finished the first race the back-up whaler arrived, rescued the mark boat and headed for the RC line boat. As they approached the finish line amid the last J-24’s, the whaler suddenly quit. Manual attempts to restart the engine failed and the whaler drifted helplessly with one crew member paddling while the other desperately did the routine gas, gas line, battery checks to locate the source of the problem. Feeling that I must do something I decided to risk Cricket’s brand new port side gunwale, sailed her gingerly into position on the leeward side of the whaler and it to the RC line boat where she was able to anchor and sort our her problems. The good news was that even in 6–8 knot winds an Albacore has enough way to move a whaler 4 times its weight. Our barge role fulfilled we looked for a J-24 with a radio and motor and a willingness to move the windward mark under radio instructions from the RC boat. By the time we had sailed to the RC boat to advise on this back-up help the whaler had sorted out its plugged gas line and was dispatched to the windward mark. Number One, our RC line boat, with only the frustrated and beleaguered RC chief on board, began to reposition the line for a second start. In the process she managed to back-up over her rear anchor line, wrap it round the prop and drift helplessly off the looming Toronto harbour North wall. Number One radioed the whaler for help. Cricket’s proven barge power being no match for the forces shoving Number One into the North wall, I as Regatta Chair could only stand by and offer verbal encouragement. While others, I am sure, fumed at the delays, others, including me said a silent prayer for the RC. The fates were not being kind but stopped their antics just short of a disaster as the whaler arrived in the nick of time.

The third race, I am happy to say, went off uneventfully as the winds built to a comfortable 12 knots. At the end of a long day we had, in spite of the fates, maintained the schedule.

Sunday dawned with sunny, light breezes building to 12–14 knots. With the multiple event management pressures of the previous day removed, Running Bear, our top RC boat, presided over the day’s racing and we were managed to get in two good races and be back on shore by 2:30 PM. The fates managed one last shot when gremlins attacked our scoring program. Mike Milner, Director of Sailing and I slayed them by programming the results into a hastily created Excel Spreadsheet while Raines Koby bought more beer for the racers. Finally, at 4 PM, worn-out from the two days wrinkles, I was at last able to present the awards.

I am sorry that this report does not tell you much of the racing. You would have to ask our top three finishers for insights. Despite completing all 3 races myself and finishing respectably, the racing details have been edited from my memory bank. All I could think of was how to “keep the show on the road” by supporting and motivating the RC during some very embarrassing and frustrating moments. I must say that they kept their cool and got on with the job amid what, I regret to say, were some stinging comments from several unappreciative sailors. Perhaps it is time that we all did more work on RCs ourselves to appreciate the challenges of getting off top notch races.

At the end of the day RCYC flags and mugs went to the three top teams. We also awarded some motivational fun prizes to the following:

Chris Wallace	Albacore Tool Bag	Racer from farthest away (Edmonton)
Babak Abbaszadeh & Greg Welstead	Albacore Tool Bags	First Regatta
Raines Koby & Abby MacInnes	Sets of Seashell Glasses	Managing an impactful day.

Special thanks to Hans Gottschling of One Design BoatCovers (905-277-3306) for donating 3 canvas Albacore Tool Bags as prizes. When buying boat covers please consider Hans. Also, thanks to Peter Vasoff and the RCYC members who were on standby to act as Protest Committee members and, of course, my cheerful crew, Anne McMaster, who, as an experienced sailing coach, regularly reminded me to “hang-in there; sometimes s..t happens!”

Next year we will be back to our normal stand alone event and the fates have been ordered to pick-on some other sport!

Thank you to all who came and were patient and cheerful during our struggles. Look forward to seeing you all once again in 1998! Cheers!

Rosemary Helmer
RCYC Fleet Rep & Regatta Chair
Cricket (CAN7384)

Results

Sail	Club	Helm	Crew	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Race 5	Total	Position
7619	WSC	C. Gorton	C. Beneteau	0.75	0.75	3	2	0.75	4.25	1
5600	RCYC	R. Coby	A. MacInnes	2	3	19	0.75	2	7.75	2
5923	NoLSC	D. Wetlaufer	C. Wallace	5	19	2	3	3	13	3
7954	TISC	G. Chu	C. Mehling	9	4	0.75	4	6	14.75	4
7527	MSC	B. Farrell	J. Gilchrist	4	19	9	7	5	25	5
7942	WSC	L. Marin	K. Huelsmann	19	2	4	16	9	31	6
7970	StJSC	P. Nurse	S. Kline	12	8	7	5	13	32	7
7562	MSC	S. Goode	P. Maltby	7	9	8	10	8	32	8
7544	MSC	M. Cameron	G. Helling	19	10	5	9	10	34	9
7384	RCYC	R. Helmer	A. McMaster	13	7	11	17	4	35	10
7405	RCYC	I. Rogers	M. Hobart	11	5	6	14	15	36	11
7400	CSC	G. Roth	R. Montaforte	8	6	13	11	12	37	12
7964	StJSC	M. Balinski	N. Hoffer	3	19	15	8	11	37	13
7962	StJSC	J. Cawthorne	P. Geerkens	6	19	10	15	7	38	14
7479	MSC	L. Harrison	T. Johnstone	15	12	14	6	17	47	15
8009	TISC	B. Nash	N. Arnason	10	13	12	12	14	47	16
7963	StJSC	I. Aukema	D. Sherlock	14	11	16	13	17	55	17
7967	StJSC	B. Abbaszadeh	G. Welstead	16	14	16	19	18	65	18

For Sale: Albacore 6657 (Jubilation)

English built composite (one of only two like it in Canada), mahogany deck, sea green fiberglass hull, Wiscott trailer with fitted pronto launching dolly, vinyl bottom travel cover, canvas parking cover, several suits of sails, racing equipped, excellent condition, lovingly cared for. Must be seen!

George W Roth, 519 746 1300 anytime.

Toronto Island Open — August 23, 1997

The regatta was sailed in Toronto Inner Harbour in unusually variable and shifty winds. The tone was set the night before in the Friday evening series when 3 of the 4 legs of the race turned into a windward beat.

Despite a marine forecast of 15–20 knots from the northwest, the first race was sailed in winds varying from 4 to 10 knots. The windward “M” mark was located in the middle of the harbour to minimize the affect of the downtown skyline (the notorious ‘Bay Street shift’ seen at the #2 mark on the north side of the harbour when there is a northwest wind). There were 44 boats on the start line. After two general recalls, the race was off and the boats to the left benefited from a left shift and stronger pressure. Barney Harris from the Washington D.C. area (who finished in 6th place at the World’s three weeks earlier) got off to a good start and hung on through the subsequent lulls and shifts to emerge the winner. Transplanted Australian 505 sailor Malcom Higgins with Peter Epstein finished 2nd while Chris Gorton (who finished in 10th place at the World’s) with Laurie Harrison placed 3rd. Some of the other early favourites such as Dave Harris sailing with veteran Gary Bain, Ken Clarke and Mike Morrison were disqualified under the black flag rule in the first race.

The second race was sailed in similar conditions and the initial leaders proved that their success in the first race were not flukes, with Gorton winning, Barney Harris in 3rd and Higgins in 4th. Clarke redeemed himself with a 2nd place. Gord Chu had a tight battle with Barry Farrell to inch him out with a favourable right shift close to the finish line for 5th place.

After lunch the wind had shifted to the northeast. Harris and Gorton got off to good starts and looked to be in good position, first and second respectively on the 2nd leg. However, the entire fleet was then becalmed. Apparently aimless zephyrs had boats doing zero degree tacks (or were they gybes?). However, the keen-sighted spotted the wind filling in from the north and those who managed to get into this wind gained tremendously. Norm Rubin came from mid-fleet to round the gybe mark in 2nd place behind Harris who managed to stay in front. However, some of the early leaders in the race disappeared from contention, some never to be seen again! The deck was shuffled again on the 2nd reach as the boats that went high found more wind to the west. Harris won while Milutin Adjacic, sailing with Heather McNaughton in her boat, came 2nd after a disappointing morning. Higgins proved his consistency with a 3rd. TISC sailors demonstrated their local knowledge (and sociability) with finishes of 4th for Rubin, 5th for Chu and 6th for Fred Koehlmann.

For the 4th race, the wind was back out of the northwest and was consistent at 7–10 knots for the first time in the day. Harris was on top with 2 bullets and a 3rd, but Gorton was not out of contention with a 1st, 3rd and a throw-out. After the first leg Gorton, Marek Balinski, Higgins, Adjacic, Chu and Farrell were in the lead with Harris well back. On the 2nd leg, Farrell regretted not staying high on the reach as he was rolled by a number of boats. By the second windward leg, Gorton, Balinski and Higgins had increased their lead but Harris was making his move, rounding the windward mark in 6th position. Harris gybed immediately at the windward mark and soon passed Adjacic and Chu. By the leeward mark after an Olympic-course running leg, Harris was in second place behind Gorton. Gorton, who needed to win the race and to beat Harris by two places to win the regatta, tried to trap Harris by luffing and waiting for him after rounding the leeward mark, with the intention to keep him to leeward for the final windward leg. Harris however would not fall for this and he pulled off a remarkable tack to starboard immediately upon rounding in front of the oncoming boats still on the run. Harris won the final race, with Balinski 2nd and Gorton 3rd.

Once the dust had settled, Harris won overall counting 3 bullets, with Gorton 2nd and Higgins 3rd. Chu, sailing with Christine Mehling sailed a consistent series for 4th overall and Farrell, sailing with John Gilchrist finished 5th overall. Home-team also-rans were Rubin, sailing with John MacIntyre in 7th and Koehlmann, sailing with Jennifer Webster just one point behind at 9th, for the best “third TISC boat” finish in club memory.

Toronto Island Open — Results

Rank	Sail #	Club	Helm	Crew	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Top 3
1	8011	P	Harris, Barney	Hill, Brian	0.75	3	0.75	0.75	2.25
2	7977	P	Gorton, Chris	Harrison, Laurie	3	0.75	19	3	6.75
3	8018	J	Higgins, Malcolm	Epstein, Peter	2	4	3	5	9
4	7954	T	Chu, Gord	Mehling, Christine	7	5	5	6	16
5	7527	M	Farrell, Barrie	Gilchrist, John	4	6	12	12	22
6	8019	J	Balinski, Marek	Huffer, Nora	10	23	14	2	26
7	8012	T	Rubin, Norm	McIntyre, John	15	7	4	25	26
8	7944	O	Wroldsen, Heather	Adjacic, Milutin	21	28	2	4	27
9	8009	T	Koehlmann, Fred	Webster, Jennifer	6	25	6	15	27
10	7563	M	Broughton, Tim	Marshall, Karen	5	18	18	9	32
11	7479	M	Johnstone, Todd	Mullin, Kate	16	9	7	17	32
12	8017	J	Morrison, Mike	Byblow, Melody	45	10	8	20	38
13	7562	M	Thomas, Cathy	Smythe, Betty	17	11	11	18	39
14	7472	M	Savege, Ann	Logue, Bob	20	17	10	14	41
15	7474	M	Ackerman, Uwe	Duff, Janet	19	12	26	11	42
16	7320	M	Goode, Steve	Maltby, Pat	13	21	25	10	44
17	7400	P	Roth, George	Monteforte, Rudy	12	26	32	7	45
18	7970	J	Nurse, Peter	Irwin, Jane	8	27	17	23	48
19	7965	J	Tokarek, Ray	Grummitt, Jackie	9	19	21	21	49
20	7967	J	Newmann, Mary	Lang, Rosemary	30	13	31	8	51
21	7471	M	Bretherton, Steve	Hogeboom, Sherry	24	32	15	13	52
22	8013	T	Wilson, Neil	Edmonston, Marrianne	14	14	29	29	57
23	7968	J	Turnbull, John	Pannel, John	27	30	9	22	58
24	7972	J	Carey, Jill	Sherlock, Diane	26	16	23	19	58
25	7981	T	Koehlmann, Kathy	Mitchell, Sandra	22	24	13	27	59
26	8014	W	Valancourt, Marg	Hanson, Chris	23	20	27	16	59
27	7323	M	Bayley, Mark	Bayley, Arnold	28	8	37	26	62
28	7545	M	Shenstone, Derek	Gilchrist, Heather	25	29	16	24	65
29	7403	O	King, Ross	TerBrugge, Rob	11	22	45	45	78
30	6760	M	Cameron, Marty	Alward, Chad	31	34	20	30	81
31	7943	T	Dirisio, Victor	Dirisio, Wendy	18	31	38	33	82
32	7953	T	Shipman, John	Lepine, Normand	33	35	22	28	83
33	7473	M	Revill, Barb	Birse, Ken	37	33	24	34	91
34	7630	O	Clarke, Ken	MacInnes, Abby	45	2	45	45	92
35	6750	M	Monged, Ayman	Steve	36	40	28	32	96
36	7960	T	Stothers, Russ	Brach, Katherine	38	36	30	31	97
37	7971	J	Collins, Bill	MacDonald, Rob	29	39	35	38	102
38	7166	O	Harris, Dave	Bain, Gary	45	15	45	45	105
39	2702	P	Stanly, Fred	Parkin, Allan	32	38	36	37	105
40	7889	T	McCann, Mike	Schaefer, John	34	43	33	39	106
41	7470	T	Wondergen, Hank	Dookie, Lokesh	35	44	40	36	111
42	7635	T	Fielding, Susan	Pollack, Charles	39	42	39	35	113
43	7634	T	Fedorkow, Elizabeth	Tait, John	40	41	34	40	114
44	7933	T	Hunt, Kathryn	Frame, Laurie	45	37	45	45	127

Harbour Master Series, 1997

Helm

	Helm	Score	1 05/25	3 06/08	4 06/08	5 06/22	6 06/22	7 07/06	8 07/06	9 07/27	10 07/27	11 08/10	12 08/10	13 08/24	14 08/24	15 09/14	16 09/14	Club
	Boats		20	32	31	25	20	26	26	22	22	26	23	32	10	37	38
1	Chu, Gord	10.75	2	0.75	0.75	0.75	9	6	2	0.75	3			7		0.75	9	TISC
2	Broughten, Tim	26.5	4	5	5	2	5			15	4	0.75	0.75	11		7	5	MSC
3	Cawthorne, John	38.75	3	11	13	8	2			6	0.75	6	2			14	11	J-town
4	Morrison, Mike	60				13	6			7	2		3	4	8	5	12	J-town
5	Marin, Liz	49	7	10	2	4	12	15	9	2		7		8		13	10	WSC
6	Koehlmann, Fred	52		20	12		4	20	17	4	15	5	12	13	4	3	8	TISC
7	Johnstone, Todd	56		14		6	16	4	22	9	18	2	5	10		16	6	MSC
8	Gilchrist, John	59	5			26				5	12	3	7	21		2	4	MSC
9	Nurse, Peter	60	9	22	24	17	10	5	3	3	14			16	5	11	16	J-town
10	Rubin, Norm	70	16	2	16		11	8	13			4	10	6		18	19	TISC
11	Baliniski, Marek	77	6	17	14	16	7	2	11					23	6	20	15	J-town
12	Simpson, Evelyn	82	11	13	7	5			6	13	17	10	20			34	32	J-town
13	Nash, Bruce	89		7	21			12	10	12	8	15	8			22	17	TISC
14	Tokarek, Ray	118	21	12	17	21	17	19	18			11	4	20		39	22	J-town
15	Cameron, Marty	119	13	23	20	7	15	24	19	10	16			19				MSC
16	Carey, Jill	121	12	15	11	19	19	18	24	23	13	20	15	18		21	23	J-town
17	Martin, John	130	14			14						27	6	22	9	17	21	CON
18	Revill, Barb	162	17	31	26	20				14	10	24	21			31	30	MSC
19	Wilson, Neil	167		32	31			25	21	20	22	12	17			19	31	TISC
20	Abbaszadeh, Babak	176						22	25	19	21	23		28	10	33	28	J-town
21	Koehlmann, Kathy	189				12				18	11	19	19	26	7			TISC
22	Beneteau, Chris	196		21	10	15	20							3		23	27	WSC
23	Turnbull, John	254								17	6			14	3	26	34	J-town
24	Farrell, Barry	262					3			8	9					4	7	MSC
25	White, Ann	276		3	6		8	23	5									J-town
26	Harris, Dave	281.75		4				11	27							8	0.75	OHCC
27	Clarke, Ken	302						21	14					9		9	18	OHCC
28	Lincoln, Will	308								16	7	21	18	15				MSC
29	Helmer, Rosemary	314	8	27	9											15	24	RCYC
30	Pawlick, Jorg	320.75		6	3			3	0.75									MSC
31	MacDonald, Jim	329	19		4		18									28	29	WSC
32	Aukema, Ian	341	10	29	22	18								31				J-town
33	Adjalic, Milutin	342.75				9	13							12	0.75			OHCC
34	Osatchoff, Al	348		8	8			17	7									WSC
35	Neumann, Mary	359	15	26	23											29	35	J-town
36	Fielding, Susan	371				22						27	23			35	33	TISC
37	Forsyth, Nancy	395			18	23							22			24		WSC
38	Sceradaski, Robert	396										8	16			39	25	MSC
39	Harrison, Laurie	406			28				23							27	20	MSC
40	Bretherton, Steve	407	18	25	29									27				MSC
41	Clayton, Rick	408				10										10	3	OHCC
42	Goode, Steve	427			15			9				18						MSC
43	Price, Ken	428		16								13					14	WSC
44	Favell, Steve	441										17	14	25				J-town
45	Clark, Dianne	443		9	27							22						J-town
46	Koby, Raines	463.5	0.75											0.75				RCYC
47	Byron, Joanna	466.75						0.75	4									USA
48	Roth, George	469												5	2			RCYC
49	Bain, Gary	470														6	2	OHCC
50	Wiebe, Daryl	472.75					0.75	10										J-town

Crew

	Crew	Score	1 05/25	2 05/25	3 06/08	4 06/08	5 06/22	6 06/22	7 07/06	8 07/06	9 07/27	10 07/27	11 08/10	12 08/10	13 08/24	14 08/24	15 09/14	16 09/14	Club
	Boats		20		32	31	25	20	26	26	22	22	26	23	32	10	38	37
1	Mehling, Christine	21			0.75	0.75	0.75	9	6	2	0.75	3			7				TISC
2	Marshall, Karen	31.5	4		5	5					15	4	0.75	0.75	11		7	5	MSC
3	Mullin, Kate	41			6	3	6	16	4	22	9	18	2	5	10		16	6	MSC
4	Byblow, Melody	54					7	15	5	3	3	14			16	5	5	12	J-town
5	Grummit, Jackie	56	3		11	13	8	2					6	2	20		14	11	J-town
6	Huelsmann, Kristen	57	7		10	2	4	12	15	9			7	13	8		13	10	WSC
7	Hoffer, Nora	83	6				16	7	2	11					23	6	20	15	J-town
8	Arnenson, Nona	89			7	21			12	10	12	8	15	8			22	17	TISC
9	Webster, Jennifer	89.75							25	21			5	12	13	4	0.75	9	TISC
10	Epstein, Peter	119			12	17	21	17	19	18			11	4					J-town
11	Sherlock, Diane	121	12		15	11	19	19	18	24	23	13	20	15	18		21	23	J-town
12	Martin, Allstair	130	14				14						27	6	22	9	17	21	CON
13	Birse, Ken	162	17		31	26	20				14	10	24	21			31	30	MSC
14	Hogeboom, Sherry	194	18		25	29							3	7			2	4	MSC
15	MacDonald, Robert	222.75									6	0.75	16	9	24		39	22	J-town
16	Gilchrist, Heather	279									5	12	18		21		4	7	MSC
17	Brasch, Katherine	294			2	16							4	10			19	31	TISC
18	Mitchell, Sandra	306							20	17	4	15	19	19					TISC
19	Edmonstone, Mary Anne	345				32	31					21	20	12	17				TISC
20	Koehlmann, Kathy	365			20	12		4									3	8	TISC
21	Kline, Sandy	366	9												4	8	11	16	J-town
22	Smith, Kevin	368.75			4				11	27							8	0.75	OHCC
23	MacInnes, Abby	380.75	0.75						21	14							9	18	MSC
24	Struthers, John	390	8		27	9			13	15									RCYC
25	Smythe, Betty	404							14	8					17		27	20	MSC
26	Lincoln, Greta	407									16	7	21	18	27				MSC
27	Murray, Rob	416	19			4		18									28	29	WSC
28	Harrison, Laurie	454			14		2	5	9										MSC
29	Morrison, Mike	464	11		13	7							9						J-town
30	Lear, Marilyn	464			8	8			17	7									WSC
31	Hanson, Chris	479									2				3		23	27	WSC
32	Steacy, Fran	481					17	10			11	19							J-town
33	Goode, Steve	482	5							23	13	17							MSC
34	Turnball, John	482				22		8	23	5									J-town
35	MacDonald, Bill	501			22	24							17	14					J-town
36	Lang, Rosemary	505													14	3	29	35	J-town
37	Price, Ken	511				18	23							22			24		WSC
38	Maslonski, Chris	520											10	20			34	32	J-town
39	Wilmot, Alex	523													28	10	33	28	J-town
40	Fielding, Linda	542											27	23			35	33	TISC
41	Shannon, Lynn	553					10										10	3	OHCC
42	Matthews, David	564			3	6									25				J-town
43	Read, Liz	570	21				13	6											J-town
44	McIntyre, John	573													6		18	19	TISC
45	Forsyth, Nancy	573			16								13					14	WSC
46	Bryan, Ian	587	10		29		18												J-town
47	Collins, Bill	588			9	27							22						J-town
48	Robinson, Tony	612			26	23									33				J-town
49	Erichsen, Julia	639.75							3	0.75									MSC
50	Bageinhil, Chris	640.75							0.75	4									USA

Canadian’s at RHYC

The 1997 Canadian Albacore Championships were sailed in Hamilton harbour at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club.

We began with a heavy downpour on Friday. It looked like we may not race — and then the sky cleared and the winds came howling down the bay. At one moment, between whispered instructions from Mr. Bain, I noticed four boats capsized. I could not wait to get on a reach.

Saturday was a very pleasant day; the breeze was brisk, but manageable. We encountered many wind shifts, tacked on most of them, should have tacked on all of them or none of them — well now I’m not quite sure, but if I were pressed I could come up with a theory.

Sunday was a beautiful day for a game of golf. The wind, such as it was, came from every direction, but from no direction for more than 90 seconds and from no direction for most of the three hours we spent bobbing and weaving. (Run that by your English teacher!).

When all was said and done, Chris Gorton and Dave Smith (alias Chris & Dave, alias Bruce & Bruce) came away with the hardware in convincing fashion over a charging David Harris and Kevin Smith and defending champions John Clark and Martin Shaw.

The Challenger Fleet was won by Bruce Nash and Nona Arneson who now must race forevermore in the “A” Fleet. I suggest those in the top ten keep a close eye on these two. Congratulations and welcome.

David Harris took the Ladies Plate — on behalf of Ann White who sailed extremely well on Saturday but could not stay on Sunday to accept her trophy.

Ken Clarke repeated as Master’s trophy winner; and Ron and Leslie Batt took home the Family Trophy.

Don Oakie took us on a tour of five Hamilton bars with five live bands. Actually it was one Hamilton bar with five rooms and one live band. I for one quite liked the rooms and the band was excellent. By the way, Don has an excellent one-man tent — easy to assemble and it will fit nicely in most living rooms (sans tableau de café).

Photo: Mike Leishman, Bob Logue, Jake Smythe and RHYC Commodore.

Results — Challenger (B) Fleet

Helm	Crew	Boat	1	2	3	4	5	Total	Drop	Final
Bruce Nash	N Arneson	7933	0.75	0.75	2	0.75	4	8.25	4	4.25
Chris Beneteau	Henry Pedro	7982	5	2	0.75	3	2	12.75	5	7.75
Chris Hanson	M Christopher	7957	8	3	4	5	0.75	20.75	8	12.75
Mary Neumann	A Robinson	7967	4	4	3	4	3	18	4	14
Michael Skafel	Matthew Skafel	4825	2	6	5	2	6	21	6	15
Babak Abbaszadeh	Alex Wilmont	7966	3	5	7	6	7	28	7	21
John Struthers	Tim Robertson	8014	8	8	6	7	5	34	8	26

Championship (A) Fleet

Helm	Crew	Boat	1	2	3	4	5	Total	Drop	Final
Chris Gorton	Dave Smith	8015	2	0.75	0.75	0.75	6	10.25	6	4.25
David Harris	Kevin Smith	7166	4	4	6	2	0.75	16.75	6	10.75
John Clark	Martin Shaw	7979	0.75	5	12	3	3	23.75	12	11.75
Malcom Higgins	Peter Epstein	7961	3	7	3	4	4	21	7	14
Tim Broughton	K Marshall	7563	28	3	8	6	7	52	28	24
Mike Morrison	Fran Steacy	8017	36	2	7	14	5	64	36	28
Gary Bain	M Leishman	6700	7	9	10	8	17	51	17	34
John Cawthorne	J Grummitt	7964	5	15	2	15	13	50	15	35
Ken Clarke	E Simpson	7630	8	19	5	11	12	55	19	36
Ron Batt	Leslie Batt	7363	11	8	22	16	2	59	22	37
Raines Koby	A MacInnes	5600	13	6	17	7	19	62	19	43
Larry MacDonald	Kate Nelson	7700	6	36	11	17	10	80	36	44
Peter Nurse	Jane Irwin	7970	17	25	13	10	9	74	25	49
Ann White	John Turnbull	8019	36	30	4	5	15	90	36	54
Tin Htoo	Van Sheppard	7270	16	14	25	9	18	82	25	57
Todd Johnstone	Kate Mullin	7479	27	13	18	13	20	91	27	64
Marek Balinski	Nora Hoffer	8018	23	17	9	25	21	95	25	70
Don Oakie	A MacTavish	7950	36	36	15	12	8	107	36	71
John Gilchrist	S Hogeboom	7527	36	10	20	22	22	110	36	74
Rosemary Helmer	Chris Pike	7384	10	23	34	30	11	108	34	74
Marty Cameron	L Harrison	7471	12	22	14	31	26	105	31	74
Gord Chu	C Mehling	7954	15	12	24	24	30	105	30	75
Ian Rogers	M Findlay	7405	9	28	29	27	14	107	29	78
Steve Goode	Pat Maltby	7468	18	20	19	29	25	111	29	82
Dianne Clark	Bill Collins	8016	22	21	16	28	23	110	28	82
Elizabeth Marin	K Heulsmann	7942	24	16	28	21	27	116	28	88
Milutin Ajdacic	Marilyn Lear	7944	36	31	23	20	16	126	36	90
Dennis Wettlaufer	H Gilchrist	5923	14	27	26	26	29	122	29	93
George Roth	M Powers	7400	20	18	32	32	24	126	32	94
Steven Bretherton	Giana Helling	7473	25	11	31	35	28	130	35	95
Rick Needham	Bob Stiff	6251	26	24	33	19	33	135	33	102
Ann Savage	Merle Kisby	7472	36	29	21	18	35	139	36	103
Uwe Ackerman	S Swiatlowski	7474	19	26	27	33	32	137	33	104
Peter Brayshaw	M Brayshaw	7243	21	36	35	23	34	149	36	113
Robert Sieradzki	Carol Burrows	7544	29	36	30	34	31	160	36	124

Competitors at 1997 Canadian’s

More Competitors

Winners at 1997 Canadian’s

Who’s Who

Photographs, Competitors at 1997 Canadian’s: 1=Steve Goode; 2=Liz Marin; 3=Dennis Wettlaufer; 4=Sheri Hogeboom; 5=John Gilchrist; 6=Karen Marshall; 7=Don Oakie; 8=Sandy Swiatlowski; 9=Greco-Roman Sandwich around Ann Savage; 10=Mike Morrison; 11=Dave Harris; 12=Christine Mehling; 13=George Roth; 14=Pat Maltby; 15=Merle Kisby; 16=Rick Needham

Photographs, More Competitors: 17=Abby MacInnes; 18=Mike Leishman; 19=Kevin (more goop) Smith; 20=Laurie (still more goop) Harrison; 21=Kristen Huelsmann; 22=Melody Byblow; 23=Peter and Marian Brayshaw; 24=Kate Mullin; 25=Milutin Ajdacic; 26=Babak Abbaszadeh; 27=Peter Nurse; 28=Gord Chu; 29=Marty Cameron; 30=Ian Rogers and Martha Findlay; 31=Ann Savage; 32=Race Committee; 33=Don’t know and Ian Aukema wouldn’t tell; 34=Todd Johnstone

Winners:

1. Chris Gorton (r) and Dave Smith (First in A fleet)
2. David Harris (l) and Kevin Smith (Second in A fleet)
3. John Clark (l) and Martin Shaw (Third in A fleet)
4. Bruce Nash and Nona Arneson (First in B fleet)
5. Malcolm Higgins and Peter Epstein
6. Rosemary Helmer
7. Karen Marshall, Mike Leishman and Tim Broughton
8. Ron and Leslie Batt
9. Jake Smythe
10. Evelyn Simpson, a short guy and Ken Clarke

CAA Annual General Meeting

Date: Saturday, September 20, 1997
Place: Royal Hamilton Yacht Club, Hamilton, Ontario

What Happened?

1. Due Notice of Meeting was duly noted.
2. Quorum was established
3. Proxies were collected. They wanted to be at the Uptown Sales Convention anyway.
4. Minutes of 1996 AGM were almost not approved. Rosemary cast deciding vote in this serious event (see insert, left).
5. Officers reported 1996–1997 activities.
6. Officers for 1997–1998 were acclaimed (see page 2 of this issue).
7. Appointment of Auditor. Did we?
8. We did Other Business. Ann Savage was a major beneficiary.
9. We adjourned and marvelled again at the Stiff speed.

Rosemary Helmer approves minutes of 1996 AGM.

World’s 1997 at Hayling Island SC, Sandy Point, UK

Hayling Island is located in the south of England on the West side of Chichester Harbour, Chichester lying to the east. Because of its geography it is by far the best comprehensive UK dinghy sailing venue I’ve had the pleasure to sail in. While I enjoyed being toughened as a heavy wind sailor at Herne Bay in 1985 and I loved the charm of Cramond, Scotland in 1991 I recognized that Hayling has one major advantage … it is primarily a dinghy club and resides in warm waters relative to the other two venues. (I guess I am showing my age where creature comforts are important.) But if the IAA can get us to Eire (Southern Ireland) in 2001 I’ll go like a shot. But I skip ahead, so let me get back to 1997.

Why does any one go to a World’s? I had to ask myself this before leaving for England this summer because it was an expensive trip. The obstacles to going were at times formidable to any sane person. The exchange was $2.34 Cdn to the £. No Canadian container or air carrier could give us a decent rate to get our boats to England (i.e. $1,000 Cdn). All my past crews had other commitments, my current crews vetoed the trip based on the exchange costs and the only crew who could come got stung by a bee and sanely listened to the advice of his doctor to not burst an infected sinus by flying. (Luckily I found this out after I had flown to England or I might have elected not to fly.) But, damn it! Chris Gorton, Dave Smith and I are determined sailors so we just made up our minds to go! And we are glad we did!

So why did we go? Well Chris and Dave had never sailed a World’s in England and the desire to push beyond their 1995 10th place finish spurred them on. (As fate would have it they ended up 10th again, but more seasoned in UK racing conditions.) Like Dave and Chris, I had great plans to finally have a good World’s finish in England. 1997 was to be the year! But instead I finished 38th and was reminded (because of the obstacles we had to overcome) what the best part of a World’s is… namely the people you meet, see again and who welcome you like you are family. After 12 years of being on the World’s circuit the lure is still and most importantly just that.

Helen Sherriffs, a Scottish sailor temporarily living in Leceister, England bailed me out and agreed to be my crew for the week. I met Helen and her boyfriend Gavin Fleming in Cramond in 1991. They were wonderfully hospitable then and they continue to be just that — great friends! The UK Albacore network worked like lightening when I said I might need crew. Peter Fontes spoke to Ingrid (Fleming) Glen who called her brother Gavin who called Helen. “Hey Rosemary needs crew.” My only reservation was if it “blows stink” can we hold the boat down? Fancying a week’s sailing rather than another week in a research lab Dr. Sherriffs became my loyal and hilarious companion in an eventful week. Thanks, Helen I treasure the memories and expect to see you both in Canada one day soon!

Helen and I inherited a number of guardian angels throughout the week who did as much as they could to support us. Peter Fontes the tireless IAA President and World’s Chairman sprang into action when we said we could not get our boats to England and found us “really good” charter boats, arranged insurance and drove the boats to HISC. Chris Newby chartered Helen and me his marvelous Woof (UK6649) for =£250 and even came down to see us off. He generously offered to let me move some gear around if it would make us go faster. Not wanting to drill more holes in anyone else’s wood boat I did my best to just rerun lines to avoid friction wherever I could. All sort of angels lent us parts. Angel Harris (alias Devil Barney) lent us a new mainsheet block, Angels Gorton and Smith lent us their compass which did not fit on their boat. Angel Cliff Mogridge, whom I almost snagged as crew from the Hayling Island Race Committee before Helen said yes, came by each morning to offer insights on wind and tide directions in the waters off his home Club. Arch Angel Michael Mac pointed Paddy Lerner from Lucas Sail in my direction when he personally delivered my new Musto dry suit to Hayling so that I could sail dry. Master Angels Fleming and crew Barry lent us Harken blocks and their tool box whenever we needed to fix something and when we could not make store hours then Angel Mom (Ingrid Glen) went grocery shopping for us so that we could launch with lunches. Papa Angel (Paul Harrison) put me up at his home in Havant for a week on the strength of my friendship with his daughter, Janet Westwood, an avid Toronto sailor. Later Angel Gorton took my sails home for me while I trotted off to Scotland with Gavin & Helen to visit friends. There long-time Albacore Angels Pat Burns and family and David & Anna Innes entertained me in Edinburgh. Despite Pat taking me to the Women’s European Golf Championships at the prestigious Gleneagles course in the highlands, I still managed to persuade him that sailing is more fun. He just needs to buy a new Albacore and come to the US for the 99 World’s. Now I tell you I have to believe in Angels after this trip!

But what was the sailing like? Well, Chris and Dave sailed incredibly well while taxing Memphis Minnie, their chartered Albacore, to the fullest. Each day they were putting some piece of equipment back together. As for us, well our story is a little different. We began Saturday with a practice day in 25 knot shifting breezes. Helen and I elected to stay in the Chichester/Hayling inner Harbour because the winds looked so ferocious south of the headlands. Just as well because we dumped to windward in a vacuum left behind a swirling “cat’s paw”. Our only reservation from the down position was the thought that, while trying to right the boat, we might careen off into the 40 ft high channel marker which was only 1/3 visible at low tide. Gavin and Barry stood by watchfully as we emptied the boat and missed the channel marker by 10 feet. Right then and there we got dumps out of our system. No more for the rest of the week. (And the winds did get stronger.) Back ashore Helen confided she felt better knowing that was the worst it would be.

Duncan Glen (helm) and Alistair Glen in relaxed mode. Photo courtesy of B. Harris.

Sunday we went out to the practice race in 15 knots with high hopes and almost pulled off a 1st around the weather mark position until the wind shifted in the last 100 feet to the mark allowing the Grimsby & Cleethorpes boys to get ahead of us along with Barney. We finished that race in 15th place while the conditions were still manageable. However, in the following and first World’s race, we made the mistake of not tensioning the shroud levers (which are legal in the UK) tighter and watched our chances for a decent finish slip away from us in the first 200 yards out of the gate. Gavin and Jonathan Weeks, with stiffer rigs surged ahead of us and that was the last time we saw them. We finished that race 51st. Talk about up and down the fleet in one afternoon! On reflection, we should have stopped the boat and put the levers on full so we could keep up. “She who hesitates is lost” and so I should have listened to my gut instincts. I learned right then that at a World’s, if you do not get on top of your game mentally and be decisive you will not perform well. The stiffening breeze had temporarily psyched me out!

Monday and Tuesday Helen and I forged on placing 12th in light airs and 40, 43 and 37 in heavier airs. Our strategy to get through the gate early worked well. We were then free to go where we wanted to as the winds were often shifting. In one of the races we looked like we were sitting in the top 10 going into the first windward mark only to discover along with all those around us that we were collectively approaching the gybe mark. When we looked west up the Coast we watched the whole fleet disappear over the horizon toward a windward mark positioned on the beach (from our vantage point). When this happened a second time later in the week a bunch of us converged on the Race Committee that evening, to ask why the gybe mark was positioned misleadingly within the tacking angles to the windward mark? We were advised that the windward mark was upwind according to their wind readings. Since a number of the helms who made the same mistake as we did were top half of the fleet racers we were all a tad annoyed. We came to the conclusion that there were two wind systems operating along the coast and that a head to wind position on the approximate starting line was no confirmation of where the windward mark would or should be from the Race Committee’s perspective.

Rosemary Helmer and Pete Davis (Cyprus). Photo courtesy of H. Sherriffs.

Wednesday Helen acquired a migraine with blinding pain and we agreed that subbing in Pete Davis (from Cyprus) as my crew for the day was a good idea. Pete had just recovered from a January head-on car collision in Cyprus and, although he still limped a bit, he was eager to give our team a go. He also assured me that he knew a lot more about shroud levers than I did so we set sail in building conditions. The breeze began around Force 4 (16 knots) and rose to Force 5 gusting to 6 (27 knots) by the time we came ashore. This day the Race Committee switched from the triangle courses of previous days to an Olympic course which they sustained for the balance of the week. Pete and I battled our way upwind staying in the early 20’s, bravely threw off the shroud levers on the downwind legs and watched an amazing surge in the speed of the boat as the boom could be sheeted further out. But our nemesis came at the leeward mark when we had to get the shroud levers on again. We managed the leeward shroud lever all right. Then I gybed to give Pete a shot at getting the other lever on easily from the new leeward position. But after three tries and no success I had to gybe again to round the leeward mark, inside on starboard. (The D Ring handle could be pushed down to mid point but the amount of strength needed to close it while pounding around in heavy, choppy conditions eluded even Pete’s skillful strong hands.) We had to round the leeward mark with one shroud lever on and one off, a manoeuver not recommended if you want to keep your mast straight. We came out of the mark rounding with our leeward shroud lever on and our windward one off! I had to tack immediately onto starboard and almost stop the boat to allow Pete the opportunity to manhandle that lever into submission. Result, we lost more than 15 boats in close quarters, 8 of which we had gained on the downwind leg with the levers off. We swore from sheer frustration! We obviously needed practice at working with D Ring shroud levers and at the back of the boat I felt so helpless. I now understand the advantages that the shroud levers offer in heavy sea conditions but I would outlaw D Rings as being weapons designed to kill crew’s hands. The only sane answer, in my view, is a block and tackle system (like a magic box pulley system) under the deck at the base of each shroud. Many of the top UK boats have this system. Still I believe they are pieces of gear which unnecessarily increase the cost of competing in an Albacore. That aside I know that the US and Canada’s weather conditions don’t warrant such gear and that the sea conditions of the UK likely do. So as a class (from a Rules stand point) we shall likely need to continue to have different approaches on each side of the Atlantic Ocean. Levers aside, the story of this day was …coming home was more work than the race! After finishing we sailed East and gybed to go North in 6–8 foot seas with the mighty force of tide and wind behind them. As the shoreline approached the West wind blasted through our reaches and the waves rolled away from under the boat. Pete and I were at the transom of the boat trying to stay on top of the crest of a wave as the front half of the boat launched into mid-air while we planed. We tried not to think about what it would be like if we dumped and channeled all our energies into making sure we did not. We both gritted our teeth, toughed it out and only admitted how tired we were when we toasted “terra ferma under our feet” at the bar. Thanks, Pete I am glad we got you back in the boat after that nasty car crash and I was glad to sail with one of our Cyprus Fleet members! The Albacore World has friends in many places which is the entire goal of the IAA … “to broaden the Albacore influence” in Cyprus and beyond!

Dave Smith, Joanna Byron, Chris Gorton. Yea, the Bruces!! Photo courtesy of H. Sherriffs.

Launching at Hayling Island SC. Photo courtesy of B. Harris.

Helen recovered from her migraine and returned to sail on the last Thursday and Friday. By now we were used to being unable to keep pace with the 30–50lb heavier crews around us particularly on the beats. We resigned ourselves to unbridled humour in the boat. Some is repeatable; some is not! Despite not finishing up to our potential (which needed lighter air to shine) we had a great week. Helen informed Gavin at the end of World’s that she was going to crew in the future rather than attend regattas as part of the shore crowd. I felt encouraged that Helen had enjoyed the week and wanted to continue racing. Now our e-mails fly back and forth across the ocean regularly.

On the whole the World’s was a great event. Peter Fontes, Derek Gibbon, and the NAA World’s/HISC Committee did a great job. The racing was challenging and fabulous. The Club was hospitable even if they closed the bar at 11PM after Prize Giving on the last night. Daily top 10 prize givings were humorous and brought everyone back together to share more than a few beers after a shower and dinner. The Chef at HISC treated us to some of the best meals I’ve tasted at a sailing club anywhere with at least 6 different main course choices every night. And if you stayed at the dorms adjacent to HISC you could be part of Camp Zoo all week as Chris, Dave, Barney and Dave demonstrated along with their UK cohorts! And the Crews Union with help from a few devious skippers named more than one boat in the wee small hours of the morning. Names that well … let your mind wander! The adjacent results and pictures tell more of the story! Now it’s onto World’s ’99 in the US where new IAA President Daphne Byron and new World’s Committee Chair Joanna Byron have their hands full but are more than equal to the task.

Plan to be there!!

Rosemary Helmer
Sheep Can7384 (Woof 6649)!

First Place: Duncan Glen (l) and Alistair Glen. Photo courtesy of H. Sherriffs.

Second: Michael McNamara (r) and Michael Gifford. Photo courtesy of B. Harris.

Third Place: Martin Cockram (l) Colin Smith (r). Daphne Byron is presenting the USAA President’s Trophy. Photo courtesy of H. Sherriffs.

World’s Results

	Sail No.	Helm	Crew	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5	#6	#7	#8	Total
1	7984	D. Glen	A. Glen	2	1	2	5	3	1	1	2	12
2	6493	M. McNamara	M. Gifford	1	21	1	1	4	3	2	3	15
3	7155	M. Cockram	C. Smith	8	8	3	2	12	2	4	1	28
4	7512	R. Thompson	J. Thompson	3	5	4	3	5	4	8	5	29
5	6922/8011	B. Harris	D. Byron	13	2	8	6	1	6	5	6	34
6	7176	G. Flemming	B. McNicol	10	31	7	4	2	8	3	4	38
7	6917	R. Gray	R. Bower	14	4	9	8	9	9	7	8	54
8	7145	S. Baber	J. Harrison	5	44	5	10	11	5	10	12	58
9	6823	S. Challen	J. Challen	4	10	6	16	19	13	6	9	64
10	7501/7928	C. Gorton	D. Smith	11	7	21	11	10	10	14	7	70
11	7518	J. Armstrong	P. Armstrong	17	25	14	17	7	11	9	10	85
12	6439	C. Bower	G. Steel	24	3	16	18	6	22	11	14	90
13	7416	P. Snowdon	N. Hudson	9	50	10	7	13	7	39	11	96
14	6672	J. Simmons	D. Simmons	12	11	11	15	17	20	19	15	100
15	6949	P. Lawrence	J. Howard	21	19	20	9	23	15	12	16	112
16	7770	M. Bayliss	J. Bayliss	18	14	17	25	8	21	18	26	121
17	6403	N. Halstead	E. Dean	6	6	18	30	18	29	24	22	123
18	7922	S. Wilson	A. Wilson	7	22	22	20	20	17	56	17	125
19	7927	R. Thomson	J. Wilson	15	27	13	13	28	23	13	24	128
20	7906	J. Weeks	David	25	45	19	21	15	12	17	20	129
21	7505	G. Edwards	SR Edwards	33	16	15	22	16	18	16	56	136
22	7907	K. Rogers	RJ Wyatt	16	42	12	12	34	48	15	13	144
23	7765	R. Littler	?	28	28	33	19	14	27	27	18	161
24	7420	R. Downie	D. McMillan	19	24	56	14	29	31	23	30	170
25	6852	D. Gibbon	M Davie	27	9	28	33	32	25	25	39	179
26	6700	D. Foggatt	J. Breckman	41	30	23	23	25	26	20	37	184
27	7511	J. Baber	P. Goodman	20	43	24	35	26	28	39	28	200
28	6683	A. Moon	I. Bardua	23	50	30	32	36	14	39	27	201
29	7925	R. James	J. James	30	33	25	31	24	36	56	23	202
30	7921	FA Whitehead	?	31	47	27	27	27	34	22	35	203
31	7920	P. Fontes	J. Fontes	35	48	29	37	33	37	28	25	224
32	6824	T. Smith	Brian Killick	42	53	48	36	35	19	26	21	227
33	6513/7929	J. Byron	D. Byron	37	39	35	29	21	35	56	31	227
34	7409	B. Quant	?	56	49	38	24	30	30	29	29	229
35	6447	PS Pike	M. Gordon	29	35	26	42	45	44	21	34	231
36	1575	D.A. Lepage	L. Rayson	32	26	36	34	22	48	56	33	231
37	7754	T. Smith	A. Smith	26	13	31	56	56	32	56	19	233
38	6649/7384	R. Helmer	H. Sherriffs	51	12	40	43	37	42	32	41	247
39	7910	D. Ridgeon	A. Milward	22	32	56	40	40	24	56	38	252
40	6492	R. Dampney	D. Dampney	44	40	39	41	42	16	30	50	252
41	6518/7913	H. Price	C. Vyse	39	56	32	26	43	40	33	43	256
42	6405	P. White	J. Bradley	50	15	43	44	46	38	31	56	267
43	7523	MG Bread	EA Bread	47	28	37	45	41	43	56	32	273
44	1853	D. Hammond	N. Hammond	46	17	41	38	39	56	56	45	282
45	7764	K. Bonas	S. Wiltshire	38	29	44	51	48	33	56	47	290
46	7525	R Perrin	G Perrin	43	41	42	47	31	45	56	46	295
47	1504	A. Renshaw	M. Shore	56	20	46	48	49	41	56	36	296
48	6702	M. Weeks	M. Weeks	34	18	56	39	38	56	56	56	297
49	5128	G. Ebben	C. Jackson	49	34	51	50	44	56	34	44	306
50	7761	C. Hanson	S. Hanson	53	23	50	49	50	39	56	42	306
51	7173/7410	M. Bright	T. Rigby	48	51	45	28	47	56	56	40	315
52	6930/7499	R. Brooks	V. Brooks	36	46	34	56	56	56	56	56	340
53	1724	P. Watts	J. Broom	45	36	47	56	56	56	56	50	346
54	7509	JS Straw	S. Tombs	52	37	49	46	51	56	56	56	347
55	6505	C. Dean	A. Dean	40	56	56	56	56	56	56	56	376

Toronto Friday Night Series, Helm Standings

Summary columns only — the per-race finishing positions for the 18 Friday night races (M02 through S05) are omitted here.

This week	Helm	Club	Avg	Top 5	Finishers #	Drop
1	White, Ann	J-1	5	5	9	2
2	Broughton, Tim	M-1	8	6	17	2
3	Chu, Gord	T-1	7	9	16	3
4	Morrison, Mike	J-2	9	10	17	3
5	Withrow, Bruce	M-2	7	12	14	3
6	Marin, Liz	W-1	13	13	16	4
7	Farrell, Barrie	M-3	9	14	14	5
8	Gerlich, Paul	W-2	7	14	14	4
9	Balinski, Marek	J-3	11	17	15	6
10	Cawthorne, John	J-4	9	18	13	5
11	Gilchrist, John	M-4	13	19	18	5
12	Nurse, Peter	J-5	14	20	15	5
13	Neville, Steve	W-3	13	27	15	8
14	Johnstone, Todd	M-5	16	27	14	10
15	Rubin, Norm	T-2	19	30	16	9
16	Loritz, Frank	J-6	16	32	16	10
17	Drinkill, Gary	W-4	15	40	14	11
18	Lincoln, Will	M-6	19	49	16	11
19	Higgins, Malcolm	J-7	12	51	6	13
20	Savege, Ann	M-7	16	52	10	19
21	Shenstone, Derek	M-8	19	54	17	14
22	Nash, Bruce	T-3	21	54	13	15
23	Walker, Ron	W-5	23	56	15	16
24	Ackerman, Uwe	M-9	22	61	15	14
25	Tokarek, Ray	J-8	22	61	16	14
26	Koehlmann, Fred	T-4	19	62	11	18
27	Beneteau, Chris	W-6	18	65	10	18
28	Wiebe, Daryl	J-9	19	68	10	19
29	Hanson, Chris	W-7	24	68	12	18
30	Goode, Steve	M-10	25	69	14	16
31	Turnbull, John	J-10	21	73	12	21
32	Cameron, Marty	M-11	26	76	14	18
33	Aukema, Ian	J-11	24	78	9	25
34	MacDonald, Jim	W-8	25	81	13	23
35	Logue, Bob	M-12	27	85	15	22
36	Neumann, Mary	J-12	25	89	11	22
37	Simpson, Evelyn	J-13	28	91	13	22
38	Carey, Jill	J-14	26	93	10	27
39	Clark, Diane	J-15	24	93	7	27
40	Revill, Barb	M-13	30	93	16	26
41	Price, Ken	W-9	24	93	9	26
42	Bretherton, Steve	M-14	30	95	13	28
43	Kisby, Merle	M-15	31	111	12	30
44	Shipman, John	T-5	25	111	8	26
45	Duff, Janet	M-16	32	112	15	29
46	Sieradski, Rob	M-17	28	113	11	28
47	Koehlmann, Kathy	T-6	27	114	7	30
48	Smillie, Marylyn	J-16	25	114	6	30
49	Harrison, Laurie	M-18	29	116	8	31
50	Doell, Mike	J-17	17	122	5	55
51	Noel, Dave	W-10	31	125	9	34
52	Wilson, Neil	T-7	33	125	17	29
53	Favell, Steve	J-18	33	128	8	38
54	Smythe, Betty	M-19	34	133	11	29
55	Stothers, Russ	T-8	32	147	8	36
56	Johnstone, Jim	M-20	35	162	7	42
57	Murray, Rob	W-11	38	170	8	38
58	Globochnik, Alex	M-21	41	174	12	39
59	Bayley, Arnold	M-22	40	178	7	46
60	Fielding, Susan	T-9	40	187	7	45
61	Collins, Bill	J-19	41	189	9	43
62	Bennett, John	T-10	38	192	5	46
63	Abbaszaden, Babak	J-20	41	194	9	43
64	Mehta, Sanju	W-12	41	201	6	43
65	Fedorkow, Elizabeth	T-11	44	203	8	45
66	Edmonds, Tony	W-13	43	212	7	44
67	Monged, Ayman	M-23	45	218	8	49
68	Valancourt, Marg	W-14	31	1122	4
69	Osatchoff, Al	W-15	32	1127	4
70	Mason, Sue	T-12	33	1130	4
71	Villegrain, Jorge	J-21	33	1150	4
72	Graham, Jeff	W-16	42	1168	4
73	McCann, Mike	T-13	42	1169	4
74	Stashin, Steve	W-17	39	1179	4
75	Desjardins, Dan	W-18	23	2070	3
76	Wallin, Eric	J-22	25	2074	3
77	Wondgren, Hank	T-14	37	2112	3
78	Forsyth, Nancy	W-19	43	2130	3
79	Abrams, Alan	W-20	44	2133	3
80	Gorton, Chris	W-21	4	3008	2
81	Pietrowski, Stan	J-23	34	3067	2
82	Salatino, Frank	W-22	36	3072	2
83	Johnston, William	J-24	42	3083	2
84	Dirisio, Wendy	T-15	43	3085	2
85	Fraser, Jim	W-23	47	3093	2
86	Hunt, Kathryn	T-16	50	3100	2
87	Thomas, Cathy	M-24	25	4025	1
88	Hood, Dave	J-25	32	4032	1
89	Whittington, Dale	W-24	39	4039	1
90	Christopher, Mike	W-25	42	4042	1
91	McCann, Heather	W-26	42	4042	1
92	Wroldsen, Peter	W-27	44	4044	1
93	Dirisio, Victor	T-17	46	4046	1

Toronto Friday Night Series, Crew Standings (top 90 only)

TW	Crew	Club	Crew Effect	Top 5	#	Drop
1	Kline, Sandy	J-1	-6.6	10	12	4
2	Wnek, Randy	J-2	-3.1	21	10	9
3	MacInnes, Abby	M-1	-8.7	22	12	7
4	Hogeboom, Sherry	M-2	-3.8	22	17	7
5	Dirisio, Victor	T-1	-7.7	25	10	9
6	Byblow, Melody	J-3	-1.1	27	13	10
7	Abrams, Alan	W-1	-0.5	27	10	10
8	Arneson, Nona	T-2	-6.0	30	13	12
9	Piotrowski, Stan	J-4	-5.8	32	8	13
10	Mullin, Kate	M-3	-1.5	33	14	12
11	Swiatlowski, Sandy	M-4	-3.3	36	15	13
12	Epstein, Peter	J-5	-2.3	37	11	15
13	Richards, Ann	J-6	-5.0	44	10	14
14	Matthews, Dave	J-7	-0.8	45	15	12
15	Birse, Ken	M-5	-0.3	46	13	14
16	Mehling, Christine	T-3	-1.5	48	11	17
17	Holley, Bill	M-6	-5.1	50	10	17
18	Tyrell, Pat	M-7	-2.1	51	7	21
19	Struthers, John	W-2	-4.0	59	7	17
20	Pike, Alan	M-8	-0.5	60	12	17
21	Nazar, Pamela	W-3	-1.3	65	7	32
22	Geerkens, Peter	J-8	-0.5	67	7	27
23	Miolla, John	M-9	0.8	68	13	22
24	Lear, Marilyn	W-4	-1.6	68	12	26
25	Sherlock, Dianne	J-9	-3.0	71	9	29
26	Dirisio, Wendy	T-4	-2.3	72	7	23
27	Lincoln, Greta	M-10	-1.8	73	7	32
28	Mehta, Sherry	W-5	-0.2	78	8	33
29	Grummitt, Jackie	J-10	-4.5	79	6	24
30	Lucas, Jill	W-6	2.7	79	10	25
31	Pedro, Henry	W-7	-1.8	80	6	28
32	Duncan, Helen	M-11	0.8	81	13	20
33	Burrows, Carol	M-12	-2.4	82	5	30
34	Aradi, Carmen	M-13	1.5	83	11	30
35	Webster, Jennifer	T-5	-2.7	83	5	33
36	Mills, Kevin	T-6	-5.9	83	6	22
37	Marshall, Karen	M-14	2.8	85	9	29
38	O’Reilly, Eugene	J-11	-1.3	86	6	35
39	Bryan, Ian	J-12	0.8	88	7	26
40	Corrothers, James	M-15	1.6	91	7	36
41	Gravelle, Brian	W-8	-5.5	91	5	39
42	Helling, Gianna	M-16	-4.2	91	7	37
43	DeFrietas, Peter	M-17	2.4	92	7	35
44	Haji, Amyn	M-18	1.6	92	11	25
45	Landry, Fraser	J-13	3.9	93	5	26
46	Laliberte, Colette	M-19	4.7	94	12	25
47	Robertson, Tim	W-9	2.4	96	9	29
48	Sharpe, William	M-20	-0.3	97	9	32
49	Alkin, Karen	M-21	3.6	103	12	28
50	Steacy, Fran	J-14	-6.9	104	5	46
51	Pollack, Charles	T-7	-1.7	104	8	35
52	Berger, Robert	J-15	0.5	106	5	34
53	Romaniuk, Mary	J-16	-0.3	109	6	39
54	Forsyth, Nancy	W-10	-1.4	111	7	30
55	MacDonald, Rob	J-17	-3.0	112	5	37
56	Whitley, Brant	M-22	0.7	115	7	36
57	Piercey, Pam	J-18	-6.0	116	5	52
58	Mehta, Sanju	W-11	4.2	119	5	42
59	Huelsman, Kristen	W-12	4.5	124	5	37
60	Pos, Nina	W-13	3.7	126	7	42
61	Sinclair, Mike	W-14	0.9	130	5	49
62	Murray, Harold	M-23	0.8	130	7	32
63	Cassan, Terry	M-24	7.0	131	8	36
64	Huffer, Nora	J-19	8.1	135	6	47
65	Groskorth, Liz	M-25	-0.4	140	5	44
66	Heaton, John	W-15	2.4	143	5	42
67	Kossein, Mylene	J-20	7.2	145	7	37
68	Edmonston, Marrianne	T-8	3.2	150	5	38
69	Burrows, Clem	T-9	7.8	152	6	42
70	Mistowski, Chris	J-21	4.9	186	5	44
71	Tingley, Brad	T-10	6.3	186	5	46
72	Collier, Dave	M-26	14.3	209	5	55
73	Monged, Ayman	M-27		1065	4
74	Dyer, Cinda	W-16		1068	4
75	Vasoff, Peter	J-22		1078	4
76	Wells, Ed	W-17		1093	4
77	Maslowski, Chris	J-23		1102	4
78	Brach, Katherine	T-11		1114	4
79	Mitchell, Sandra	T-12		1116	4
80	McIntyre, John	T-13		1118	4
81	Irvin, Linda	W-18		1125	4
82	Schaefer, John	T-14		1158	4
83	Elliot, Tom	W-19		2038	3
84	Rivet, Alain	W-20		2043	3
85	Haggis, Kate	M-28		2050	3
86	Reid, Liz	J-24		2056	3
87	Harrison, Laurie	M-29		2062	3
88	Lepine, Normand	T-15		2065	3
89	Serot, Emmanuel	T-16		2071	3
90	Collins, Bill	J-25		2072	3

Toronto Friday Night Series — Club Standings

Rivals J-Town and Mooredale took it to the wire this year. They entered the last Friday night race of the 1997 season with J-Town leading by a goodly number of points. Peter Vasoff was at the guns and everyone was prepared for a general recall or five. We got them and then some.

A race started eventually and the Mooredale sailors proved more adept at maneuvering through spent shotgun shells because Jorg had taught them all the physics of getting a lift off the little red darlings. Powered by Bruce Withrow (2), Todd Johnstone (3), John Gilchrist (6), Tim Broughton (7), Barry Farrell (8), Will Lincoln (9) and Merle Kisby (10), Mooredale surged ahead and captured the coveted Spanish Donkey for the seventh time in seven years.

Rumor has it, though, that the Mooredale (ex J-town) hulls are getting heavy and the club with the most active replacement program has ruled that they will not sell their old ones to Mooredale. Just a rumor. The fact is that Mooredale has bought a belt sander and is shaving off grams, if not kilograms.

Ontario Albacore Championships — June 28–29

RCYC hosted the 104th LSSA Regatta, a great success with a record turnout of 151 boats. LSSA and CORK are the two largest annual multi-class regattas and this makes LSSA an event to which Albacores need to pay more attention. Over the years the turnout of Albacores has fluctuated between 2 and 10 boats. It was hoped that in 1997 the Albacores would show up in greater numbers, given that the event was also designated the Ontario Championships and was hosted south of the Islands in open water, with easy access for all the Toronto Clubs and any visitors. Interestingly, Conestoga Sailing Club racers made the biggest effort to attend (Martins & Roths), while Niagara on-the-Lake tireless traveler Denis Wettlaufer turned in another great effort.

As is the tradition for this event, it was hosted on the weekend closest to Canada Day, July 1. We are not sure if the timing or the light air (less than 8 knots) prevented people from setting sail. It is unfortunate that it was so poorly attended, given that it was such a great opportunity to show-case our class among other popular racing dinghy alternatives. Heather Wroldsen and Cynthia Rutherford, our new Ontario Champions, found the weather quite to their liking and won the Ontario Championship trophy donated by Fibreglass Canada and the CAA 1961–1991 Commemorative Trophy presented annually at the LSSA Regatta to the winning Albacore Team.

Albacore sailors were present in other Fleets at LSSA too! Commodore Gord Chu sailed his Contender at least on day one. Dave Bussin was out watching son Sam Bussin sail to a 3rd in his Optimist. Definitely a future Albacore crew for Dave.

	Sail	Club	Helm	Crew
1	7944	OHCC	Heather Wroldsen	Cynthia Rutherford
2	6525	CSC	John Martin	Alistair Martin
3	5923	NoLSC	Denis Wettlaufer	Kate Mullin
4	7384	RCYC	Rosemary Helmer	John Struthers
5	7400	CSC	George Roth	Jason Roth

John and Alistair Martin finishing at LSSA. Photo courtesy of A. Prossin.

There are Strange Things Done…

Club Poulet Rules

(of course we do, but that is not the point, ya wally)

1.	All rules will have a number in front of them.
2.	All races will be raced in accordance with the usual racing rules from those ISAF guys.
3.	Protests can expect swift, merciless, summary justice. If you are still stupid enough to lodge a protest, get the form in within 15 minutes of the beer kegs being tapped, and expect a REALLY FAST hearing. Other suckers will hear the appeals.
4.	The race committee will attempt to get in six races, back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back. If you want to eat between races, go ahead, but don’t complain if you end up wearing food. Finishing last is a sure way to go hungry, because the next start will be only moments after the last boat finishes.
4.	The course will be a very skinny triangle: long windward, 30 yard reach (just to keep the damage to a minimum), downwind to the start mark, and a weather finish. Warning: If you are winning a race, do not cross the finish line close to the committee boat — that cannon is one loud bugger when you are facing the pointy end. Of course, we reserve the right to change the course. Check the chalkboard.
3.	Low-point scoring system.
2.	Death flag may be flown on a general recall, or if we feel like it.
1.	Dip starts are allowed, unless the death flag is up (duh).
0.	Six minute start sequence, with the usual flags. Any competitor interrupting the anthem with silly questions like, “where’s the mark?” or “how much time?” will be jeered. (Yes, zero is a number.)
-1.	Changes to these instructions may be made on shore, on the water, at any time, and for any reason. Pay attention to the flags and the chalkboard. Sounds are for fun and courtesy only.
-2.	All participants will get a prize, maybe.

Back by Popular Demand! Mid-Winter Albacore Regatta

March 23–27, 1998
Sarasota Sailing Squadron, Sarasota, Florida

The Midwinter Regatta represents an early season training opportunity and most of all a week of fun and fitness. Given that 1998 is a non-Worlds year there will be one less event to attend so why not organize your holidays now and plan to be on the starting line next to our friends from the US Albacore fleet. Those already committed to go are Barney Harris, Daphne Byron, Rosemary Helmer, Chris Gorton, Rolf Zeisler. We are working on Jasper & Becky Craig, Peter Duncan, Heather Wroldsen, Joanna Byron, Don Oakie…. So why not add your name to the list? It is a vacation to be remembered and certainly not to be missed!! Read the April 1997 Shackles & Cringles and you will see just how much fun we had last year.

The Races

Mon. March 23 is Registration Day. Racing begins on Tues. There will be 8 races, 2 per day with 1 drop.

Venue

The Sarasota Sailing Squadron is located on the east end of City Island, at the northern end of Longboat Key.

Directions

From Canada: Take 401 west to Windsor and Detroit. Look for Interstate 75 (I-75) and go south to Florida. Once you reach the outskirts of St. Petersburg area follow these local instructions.

Local instructions: From I-75, south, take State 780 exit west to downtown Sarasota. If coming south on US 41 (Tamiami Trail), turn right and go west on State 780, which crosses Sarasota Bay via a causeway. At St. Armand’s Circle (a traffic circle) merge right and go North toward New Pass Bridge and Longboat Key. Do not cross New Pass Bridge, but when you come to the Bridge, bear right and continue until you see the Sailing Squadron on the left near the end of the road.

Flying: There may be flights into Sarasota. If not, Tampa International Airport is 55 miles north on I-75. With advance knowledge of who is arriving when we can probably arrange pick-ups at the airport. Alternately, organize a week long car rental with car pick-up at the airport. Flights during March sell out early so we recommend you call your travel agent and book a flight to-day!

Accommodations

The Sarasota Yacht Squadron has a lawn to accommodate 30+ tents. Showers and hot water are located on the premises. We’ve had some great BBQs courtesy of the Canadian contingent who continue to amaze our American counterparts with our gourmet skills. We swear they come first for the food and second for the sailing.

If you prefer your creature comforts you could rent a Winnebago and park it in the parking lot or rent a room at one of the many local motels. Also, if you regularly review The Globe or The Star there are often condominiums available to rent on Longboat Key during this time of year.

Family Holiday Activities

Bring the family; they will find plenty to do. Siesta Key offers great beaches. Sarasota offers the Ringling Brothers Museum. St. Petersburg, an hour north, offers the Salvador Dali Art Gallery. Both have major league baseball teams in Spring Training and a broad selection of restaurants. Disney World and Cape Canaveral are within driving distance. Plenty to do, likely not enough time to see it all!

Pre-Registration

Fees have not been finalized but will likely be US $50–60.00. Forms will be mailed to those who indicate interest by emailing, calling, faxing or writing:

Rosemary Helmer Toronto, Ontario Email: [email protected]

OR

Daphne Byron Silver Springs, MD Email: [email protected]