2003 Atlantic Coast/District IV Championship

Saratoga Lake Sailing Club, Balston Spa, NY

July 19-20

The 2003 ACC's were successfully run in beautiful conditions with the help of our gratious hosts Al and Jane Tedrow. This was my first trip to Saratoga Lake Sailing Club, and one I hope to repeat for many years to come. We had 16 boats turn out, many familiar faces and a few new ones. My crew Pete Appell and I arrived friday to some early showers that gave way to a beautiful afternoon with a 10kt southerly blowing right up the lake.

For those who have never been to SLSC it is an ideallic location for Jet racing. The clubhouse is actually an old summer home of a wealthy businessman built in the late 1800's. It sits on a small hill overlooking the lake with beautiful old trees and green grass surrounding it.  My crew and I, along with several others, pitched our tents and camped for the weekend. Friday evening brought most of the participants and a great dinner and cocktail party. More racers arrived later in the night including Dave and Ann Hansen. Saturday morning did not arrive with any breeze and so we all relaxed in the moderate temperatures and bright sunlight. After lunch the wind started to fill in from the southeast and we decided to have a go at it. We did four races, all triangle courses, in a variety of winds. The breeze started out from the southeast and steadily clocked to the northwest over the four races. My crew and I were able to catch a few good shifts and win the first race. In the second race we saw remarkedly more dramatic shifts turning reach legs into beats and beats into runs. I normally am not a big fan of triangle courses but in this case it seemed the most likely option to get a windward leg! By the third race the wind had settled in to the northwest although there were some ominous clouds looming over the clubhouse. We never got any bad weather and were able to sail the third and fourth races in somewhat steady breeze. The first four races saw a lot of mixed up finishes with many sailors who normally place quite well finishing in the middle and some new comers finding themselves in good finishes. Pete and I were able to claim first place for the day with a 1,2,2,5. Ralph and Joy Shipman were just 4 points behind in second. To be ahead of Hansens and Zaugg in the same regatta, my head was spinning!

Saturday evening we had a tremendous lasagne dinner complete with garlic bread and a great salad. Afterwards we all sang happy birthday to Sean Defusco, and enjoyed cake and icecream sundays. The remainder of the evening was spend like all good jet regattas should be, with everyone sitting around together telling stories of past regattas and hilarious bits of Jet history.

Sunday morning we awoke to another perfect day, this time with a nice 8-10kt southerly blowing up the lake. We got two more races off and this time the class's best really showed there stuff. Master Zaugg had stellar finishes with the good company of Dave and Sue Michos and others. As it ended up Pete and I were tied for points with Marion, who broke the tie by beating us in the last race. So we ended up second with Ralph and Jane Hansen in third. Ralph and Joy took the District IV trophy home as well. Ralph commented that it was not often that he got the opportunity to beat his son and daughter in law in a regatta! After the awards we all posed for a great picture on the steps of the club and then slowly made our ways home. A great regattta, a great location, fabulous hosts, and perfect weather. In my book this regatta was a perfect 10. And for anyone who did not attend make plans now for next year. This regatta has to be one of the most beautiful locations to race a jet!

                                                                            - Ted Reshetiloff

Pictures

Results Posted 7/21/03

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