Massapoag’s 60th Annual Regatta
“That lake that gets you talking to yourself”
by Drew Staniar
Eric Woodsman’s NE Regional website refers to the MYC regatta as the “best eats and Saturday evening party on the circuit”. This year’s event did not disappoint. OK, so there was a cold rain on Saturday, with a fickle North to North East breeze. The Sunfish Class was the largest fleet with 16 boats.
Taking advantage of the committee boat favored starting line; Scott Greenbaum sailed into lunch in first place, with 1-1-4. Alan Beckwith was second with a 4-2-1. A lovely luncheon buffet was offered, although some of us ate quickly in order to retreat to our cars to warm up, change clothes and dry out. The afternoon sailing was tight with some sailors taking flyers that paid off. By the end of the first day, the top three sailors were separated by only four points.
Fortunately, the large and 2’ deep trapezoidal shaped ledge located ¾’s up the weather leg, did not bite any daggarboards. Two years ago, John Skrzypiec challenged the ledge with final score: Ledge 1, Skypiac 0.
Sunday was better weather but with a very light North to North West breeze. Forget “breeze”, it was time to get in touch with you inner self, inside your cockpit. This is when the lake had its revenge. On the first beat, you could watch sailors pass you to leeward and pass you to windward all in unperceivable air. At this time, you know you have offended the wind gods, you’re just not sure why or how…
Scott Greenbaum was consistent and held his lead over Alan Beckwith as they battled closely during the two Sunday races. The sun appeared around 12:30, the wind died completely and the Race Committee called it. In hindsight, the Race Committee was completely correct. As we packed up our boats, the lake turned to glass.
Now one of the joys of sailing Massapoag is watching the other fleets. This can make you feel better, especially when you are getting down on yourself for pulling up the back of the class. A couple of observations:
Flying Scots look bigger from a sunfish vantage point, especially when you look astern at that big main and spinnaker quickly overtaking you on a run. At that point, their bow wave becomes audibly intimidating. On the other hand, this fleet demonstrated some most interesting starting tactics. Flying Scots tend to all line up outside the committee boat and parallel to the starting line with at least 60% barging like mad. As the countdown approaches 10 seconds, there is lots of luffing, shouting, stalled boats being pushed over the line and rub-rail incidents. Inevitably, 1 boat will be over and another 5+ boats get peeled off the committee boat, resulting one of the slowest fleet starts ever witnessed. It was consistently comical, even after the 5th start.
Now the Day Sailers had their own starting ritual. They were supposed to start with the Scots. However, this small fleet of three assumed they had their own start. So about 5 minutes after the Scots depart, one of the Day Sailers realizes the mistake, politely calls to his two competitors, and off they went. Despite approximately a 5 minute head start, many ended up in our class. Fortunately there were three prizes at trophy time, so no one had hurt feelings.
Sunfish: There were some honorable mentions:
- Race 4 Sunday morning, on a Gold Cup Course, Lee Parks rounds the weather mark in very light air, and proceeds to blow thru the lee of both Alan and Scott on the way to the jibe mark, and extends her lead on the second reaching leg.
- Race 5 a windward/leeward in tiny air, Mary Charles goes high on the final run almost to the shoreline, and follows little puff after little puff to scoot to weather of us all, who are quietly cursing to ourselves. She even temporarily passes hubby Ken who had his own honorable mention.
- Ken started by the committee boat on a very port favored line. While we all think he is toast, Charles proceeds to quietly pass everyone by sailing to leeward of the fleet to lead at the first mark by 30+ yards. Finally, about 3 minutes after Mary kills us by sailing high the weather shoreline, octogenarian Pete Beckwith, gains about 6 boats by sailing the rhumb line to the pin.
I tell ya, this lake will get you talking to yourself. - by Drew Staniar |