Victoria crew wins Thunderbird Internationals
by John Morris on 17 Aug 2010
Caption: from l to r: Roger van Vlack, Regatta Chair, Keith Provan, owner of Scooter, Steve Isbister, foredeck, Mark Malleson, pit and Duncan Stamper, helm, Carolyn Weckesser, Commodore ABYC. - Thunderbird Internationals John Morris
The 2010 Thunderbird Internationals at Toronto's Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club drew to a close the way they started -- with the Victoria BC team of Duncan Stamper, Keith Provan, Steve Isbister and Mark Malleson winning the race in their loaner boat, One Too Many. As they learned from their victorious 2007 T-Bird Internationals campaign, Duncan and Keith knew the way to a successful defence of their title was to be well prepared.
The pair has sailed together since they were 10 years old, starting in dinghies and having represented British Columbia in the Labatt Challenge when they were 13. They bought their first Thunderbird eleven years ago. Along the way Duncan picked up some mileage as a member of the Canadian Olympic Team.
Finishing second, the Compound X team from San Diego headed by Kyle Henehan with his father Ken, friend Todd from Rochester and Jeremy also of San Diego, had shown they were in Toronto to compete by entering in the North East District Championships the week before and won all six races. Third place finisher and top local boat was Rattle Ya Dags helmed by, Fleet 10's David Holmes.
The 11 race schedule saw winds fluky, light and easterly among other conditions. Irrespective of the conditions, the Victoria team consistently led the way with six bullets and five seconds. Compound X won three, Rattle two while the balance of the 14-boat fleet, including top local lake Ontario ‘Birds and several entries from the USA east coast, settled for the crumbs!
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