The 2005 Green Mountain
Regatta was held June 4th and 5th. Six
visiting skippers gathered with five Vermonters on a fine
weekend for sailing and visiting. Gary Mueller made the longest
trip, traveling from Wisconsin, but appeared well rested. Hal
Slentz-Whalen, on the other hand, arrived in Stowe as the day
was dawning after a long night of driving in a rainstorm. The
skies were clear Saturday, but there was barely a breeze as the
time came and went for Saturday’s pre-race meeting. Not long
after the scheduled start of racing the wind began to ripple the
pond and racing got off to a good start.
Ivor Walton grabbed the first
win and an early lead with Jarl Wathne nipping at his heels as
they traded wins before the lunch break. The remainder of the
fleet worked hard for position with no clear favorites, though
Hal began to wake up late in the morning putting together a
string of 3rds and a 2nd. Everyone was
glad to get out of the sun for a well deserved lunch in the
air-conditioned Commodores Inn dining room.
The wind filled in a bit for
the afternoon’s sailing with an energized Jack Kendra and Bruce
Nourjian winning the first two races and placing well throughout
the afternoon. Jarl put together three wins to end the day with
Phil Tonks taking 2nd in the last two. Twelve races
were sailed over almost as many courses. While the wind was
light there was enough to avoid Stowe’s sometimes drifting
conditions. Temperatures in the mid-80’s made for the warmest
day of the Green Mountain Regatta in recent memory and it was a
pleasant change from the rainy conditions often experienced.
At the end of the first day
Jarl’s miserly 18 points landed him in first. Ivor was in second
with 32 points. Jack, Bruce and Phil were vying for 3rd
within a point of each other. Ken Shaw landed in 6th
position at the end of day one, but was called to his daughter’s
rugby game and wasn’t able to compete on Sunday.
Sunday promised a slightly
cooler day with somewhat more wind, though still sunny and very
pleasant. Racing began at 10 a.m. and was a lot closer with
eight skippers winning the ten races sailed. Ivor once again
took the first one followed by Harry Mote and Jarl. The home
team finally woke up with Paul Fixx, Phil and Bruce finishing 1,
2, 3 in the day’s second race. That didn’t last long as Harry
won the 3nd race and was followed by Ivor and Jarl.
Bruce took the lead for the 4th race, followed by
Ivor and a rejuvenated Gary. Jarl’s win in the 5th
race showed Ivor that catching up wasn’t going to be easy, but
it didn’t last long as Hal and Harry took 1st and 2nd
in the sixth as Ivor in 3rd bested Jarl in 4th.
At noon the competitors agreed
to delay lunch as the dark clouds of an impending cold front and
possible thundershowers appeared on the horizon and promised an
early end of racing. Paul won the seventh race and was followed
closely by Jarl and Ivor. The eighth race saw Jack notch his
second win of the regatta followed by Gary, who was improving
upon his Saturday showing. Jarl took a point from Ivor as they
finished 3rd and 4th. Phil, who had been
sailing well all day, grabbed his first win in race nine,
followed by Ivor, Jack and Gary.
The wind began to die as the
tenth race started and it looked like it might be the last race
of the regatta. Jarl and Ivor were dead even in the scoring,
though Jarl had a 10th to throw out against a 5th
for Ivor. Ivor finished the day as he’d started by taking his
second win of the day. Phil and Jarl finished 2nd and
3rd ahead of Harry and Jack.
The last breath of wind faded
at 1 p.m., the regatta was called and lunch was served for the
tired, but happy group. The regatta was notable for lots of
close racing and very little contact between boats. Ivor
finished the day with 21 points, gaining nine on Jarl, but it
wasn’t enough to make up the 14 point difference he needed.
Sunday’s racing was close for the 3rd spot with Paul,
Phil, Harry, Jack, Gary and Bruce finishing between 40 and 49
points. Phil, Harry, Hal and Paul all improved their positions
on Sunday.
Following lunch all competitors
were awarded etched Stowe Yacht Club glasses. Ivor, Phil, Jack
and Bruce earned engraved pewter steins for placing second
through fifth. Jarl, in first, now enjoys an engraved
clock/barometer commemorating a fine effort.
Race Director George Dean was
ably assisted by Race Committee members Bob Letwenski, Carrie
Nourjian, Tim Stone, Suzan Letwenski and Diane Fixx who all
earned coveted SYC etched glasses for their efforts. As usual
the Commodores Inn staff was on hand providing breakfast, lunch,
drinks and help wherever it was needed.
-Paul Fixx
RESULTS
Place
Skipper Sail #
Home Score
1 Jarl Wathne
88 Sharpsburg, MD
47
2 Ivor
Walton 1540 Boothwyn,
PA 53
3 Phil Tonks
62 East Calais, VT 98
4 Jack
Kendra 710 Hatfield,
PA 101
5 Bruce Nourjian
800 Stowe, VT 104
6 Harry
Mote 1756 Barnegat,
NJ 111
7 Hal Slentz-Whalen
03 Edgewater, MD 128
8 Gary
Mueller 26 Burlington,
WI 134
9 Charlie
Berry 880 Stowe, VT
150
10 Paul
Fixx 1621 East Hardwick, VT
162
11 Ken
Shaw 1293 Essex Junction, VT
167
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