HUNTLEYS DUPLICATE PYMATUNING WIN
After winning the first Windmill regatta at the Pymatuning Sailing Club in 2019 (4 boats), Pat & Janet Huntley repeated their win in an 8 boat fleet September 12-13. For many this was the first Windmill regatta in this COVID-afflicted year!
Our fleet was greeted with outstanding sailing conditions on Saturday with ideal temperatures, sun and winds of 8-12 mph. The first and third races were triangles (with line in the middle of the weather leg) while the second and fourth added a second trip to the weather mark, and a long run to the leeward mark prior to the beat to the finish.
The Huntleys made a good start, hit the shifts and won the first race with both Sponar teams in pursuit. Allen & Sarah made a great start and led at the weather mark in race #2 but Matt & Allie sailed a little high of the jibe mark, found great wind and stormed by everyone while the Huntleys moved up to second and Ralph & Sandy stayed just ahead of Allen and Sarah. In the 3rd race, the Huntleys took another bullet with Matt & Allie securing the runner up spot. After Ralph & Sandy, Tim & Brandon showed they were learning the Windmill to snatch 4th place! The final race of the day was long but exciting with ups and downs. Ralph & Sandy parlayed a superb first weather leg into a lead which varied in size but which they never lost in winning the race. The Huntleys thus "slipped" back to second while Allen & Sarah started to shake off "first time in the water" rust and had their best result of the day with 3rd ahead of Tim & Brandon and Matt & Allie. The greatest thing was how much EVERYONE enjoyed the chance to just get out on the water in a regatta!!
Sadly Sunday brought threats of a storm, then light rain, then heavy rain, then the disappearance of anything resembling wind...so the class and the committee gave up on the conditions. Still wonderful to sail on Saturday, meet new Windmillers and look ahead to Rock Hall in 2 weeks!!
The extra effort and excellent work of Brian Duchon and others from PSC was greatly appreciated and we hope to return (in July!) next year! |
