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| 2015 Windmill Northerns at Lake Massabesic, Auburn, NH | September 19 - 20 |
| Story |
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Rick & Jasper Fontana Northerns Champs In a 9 boat fleet which included current National Champions Ralph & Matt Sponar as well as 5 others who have taken home trophies from recent Nationals, two-time former National Champ Rick Fontana and his young son Jasper sailed amazingly well in very difficult conditions and captured the Northerns title with a final race win. Saturday started with light airs in the morning but by the noon start time winds were up to 12-14 with strong puffs in the 17-18 mph range. The committee set a two-lap triangular course and in a tight battle, Lon Ethington & Meg Gimmi put "Prize Pig" around the weather mark just ahead of the Sponars "Go Blue" and Allen Chauvenet/Sarah Steward in "Beauty & The Beast" while the rest of the fleet followed within a few boatlengths. The Sponars took the lead by the leeward mark while the Fontanas gained to turn close behind "Prize Pig" (actually 4th in the very tight fleet). Upwind the Fontana team went amazingly well and rounded 2nd but could never catch the Sponars who won followed by the Fontanas and Ethington/Gimmi. The next 3 boats were close behind. The second race featured a modified Olympic course and found Larry Christian/Alexandra Letourneau with a great start and hitting the shifts perfectly to take an early lead and gradually extend it for a win. In a close battle for second, the Fontanas edged the Sponars, while the Huntley team took fourth ahead of Lon and Meg. Allen & Sarah seemed to have recovered from a 720 at the first mark but nearly capsized in a heavy puff just short of the line. All the water in B&B allowed Jack Cartland/Ellen Cormier to regain 6th. After the race, Steve Allen tried the same "near dump" and also put a lot of water in the boat--but both were bailed dry in time for the third race start. The third race found the committee setting a Gold Cup course. There was much close racing and the lead changed hands several times before the Fontanas moved into first and held off the Sponars for the rest of the race. Pat & Janet Huntley had "Graffiti" moving well and were not far behind in 3rd, moving into 3rd overall after the three races. In the fourth and final race of the day, the committee returned to the modified Olympic course with the top 6 boats very close together at the weather mark. This time the Sponars made all the right moves both offwind and up the second weather leg to take the lead from the Fontanas while Larry & Alexandra took third with great offwind speed. Allen & Sarah held fourth until being passed by the Huntley team on the long beat. However, shortly after rounding the weather mark and starting the run to the last mark, the Huntleys capsized during an attempted jibe. In spite of amazingly rapid recovery, this made it possible for Allen & Sarah as well as Lon & Meg to get ahead. The results then left Sponars and Fontanas tied on points with Larry & Alexandria now in 3rd, a point ahead of the Huntleys. The club put on a nice Saturday evening dinner enjoyed by all contestants. In spite of having "only" 9 Windmills (more next year!!) we were the largest class with 7 Lightnings and 4 Flying Scots comprising the other fleets. It was noted that STRONG winds were predicted for the 9:30 AM Sunday start--as if there had not been enough breeze on Saturday! Sunday was a beautiful day and as boats cast off from the club floats it was clear that the wind was 20+. Thus 2 teams elected no to launch and 2 others went out but (with some increasing winds) elected to return prior to the start. The committee struggled to get anchors set and a course established so the start was delayed by about 45 minutes while the wind increased. This allowed some all-out "fun" planning in which >50% of the hull was out of the water since there are no significant waves on this (and other) small lake. Larry capsized while practicing but righted to be ready for the start. The Sponars capsized at the 5 minute gun but again were upright and crossing the starting line on the gun. Jack Cartland and Ellen Cromier did a bow down rolling capsize a few minutes prior to the start and due to some tank leakage issues were never able to cross the line and were eventually towed in. The four remaining boats started closely together with the Sponars working out a small lead by the weather mark followed by Allen & Sarah and the Fontanas. Larry and Alexandra capsized on the beat and although they righted and finished gave away too much to the other 3 boats. The course was WL (twice around as always) and there was some concern going downwind as well as difficulty seeing the leeward mark in the sunlight reflecting off the water. Everyone did find it and the Sponars rounded 1st with the Fontanas having an inside overlap on Allen & Sarah. The beat saw these boats not making many tacks as the puffs reached 25 and occasionally higher. Ralph fell out of his boat but Matt did a superb job of helming and recovery so they did not lose too much and still rounded just ahead of the other two at the weather mark. Allen & Sarah ran into a hole & shift while trying to turn the weather mark during which time the top 2 boats surfed away with poles up. The Fontanas had a slim lead at the leeward mark until the Sponars capsized while trying to round. Thanks to superb recovery and their great gain at the start of the run, the Sponars were up and moving just in time to hold off Allen & Sarah with Larry following in 4th. When the committee noted the increasing wind and decreasing number of boats (only 1 Flying Scott remained), the regatta was terminated after 5 races. Thus the Fontanas took 1st overall by 1 point over the National Champs due to their great sailing in the last race coupled with the Sponar capsize. Those who made it around the course, though regretting the lack of a reach in the conditions, certainly had their hands full. Larry & Alexandra wound up 3rd overall. Great fun, wonderful place to sail and we look for the Windmill fleet to return to 10-12 (or more?!) in 2016. Allen |
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