Norfolk County - PDYC Hewson Regatta

George and I participated in the Port Dover Yacht Club Racing Division, Hewson Regatta, last weekend. We had the opportunity to crew on Zatarra 1, owned by Sharon and Paul. I had crewed with them for a couple of races in last years Interclub. Zatarra 1 is a 36 foot Catalina and a lovely cruising boat but this year Paul and Sharon have obtained her PHRF rating, so that she can receive an accurate handicap when racing.

We loaded up enough stuff, mostly food, that it looked like we were cruising for a week, not 2 days. Set out at about 9am on Saturday on a still lake. There were 12 boats divided into 2 fleets.

The lake was like glass and the sky also a consistent grey. Sounds dull but it was actually beautiful, like
a watercolour painting. Note: when you can see a boats reflection in the water, you usually can't sail.

Some boats had the regular race crew on board.

Some had family who had come to visit for the weekend

One even had the family pet on board, complete with his own life jacket.

The decision was made to motor down the lake for a while, hoping that the wind would build during the day.

Andy made the comment that this might be the best action shot I would get all day; him setting the  location of the
course markers into his GPS.

This gave Sharon the opportunity to make coffee, something she is always happy to do.

As predicted, the wind did build and we started to race from the Nanticoke Shoal marker.

Sea Dancer, our committee boat for the Regatta, started us off,  with her beautiful Asymmetrical Sail.

As the wind was quite light, we sailed down to the Tecumseh Marker and ended the race there. The light wind allowed us to try out Zatarra's Asymmetrical sail which is like a cross between a Spinnaker and a Genoa.
We motored on to Port Maitland and then up the Grand River to Dunneville, where we all docked at the club there.

Zatarra looking like a true race boat, not just a cruising boat, with her sails on the deck.

Between the Sheets, looking like a true cruising boat, with gas tanks strapped to the deck.

It was a great surprise to see Between the Sheets at the Dunneville club. They were on their way back to Port Dover from the Bahamas and decided to wait in Dunneville for the Regatta participants. We had spent a lovely week in the Bahamas with them (See January posts).

Margarita Party.

BBQ

Followed by some fabulous fireworks, watched from the cockpit of the boat.

The next day, Sunday, we set off, back down the river, under sunny skies

Leaving the Dunneville boat club.

The water was, again, like glass so we motored up the Lake towards Port Dover.

The wind began to build and we were able to sail all the way back to Dover. For a while we raced along, at 6 knots or so, and it was exhilarating. However nearer the end of the race the wind died and we had the frustration of "pootling along" at 1.5 to 2 knots. However we did get a chance to gybe the Asymmetrical sail a couple of times and talk through and try a few ways to improve its performance.

On the last leg to Port Dover

All in all, a great weekend of sailing and camaraderie.

A good time was had by all!

PS: Zatarra came in 5th (out of 5)