Third Annual Gorge O'Pen Bic 'Un-Regatta' get's a Thumbs up for Fun!

by Ted Lohr on 7 Sep 2010 Unfamiliar with an 'Un-Regatta'? Just think about all those things you wanted to do in Jr. Sailing when your instructor wasn't looking and then being encouraged to go ahead and do them! You can see video of the Gorge O'Pen Cup 'Un-Regatta' at http://www.vimeo.com/14600285

Five events made up the day with the first and foremost emphasis on 'FUN'. The kids first warmed up with a LeMans Start set of races. They then rolled into the second event which included mandatory 720's on the second leg with a mandatory capsize on the final leg before finishing. The racing was tight and at times resembled those old vibrating football games their parents had as kids with 720's, capsizing, and mark roundings all happening at the same time!
The kids all worked up a huge appetite and were treated to a great lunch provided by the Volunteer army at the event. Refueling was key since the afternoon would see three events including a Dash for Cash, Slalom complete with Fleet Flattening puffs, Death Rolls and AutoJibes, and the UnRegatta signature event: Freestyle.

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The inaugural 'Dash for Cash' was a huge hit- incorporating boat handling skills, speed, and environmental clean up in a single frenzy of fun. Recycled plastic bottles were prepared 1:1 for each sailor and filled with stickers, small change, and a couple had enough cash to take the family out for ice cream after the event. Sailors were lined up for a LeMans Start while the race committee threw the bottles into the river 100 yds off shore. The horn sounded and off the kids went to pick up the litter and collect their cash! With puffy conditions and current, the Dash for Cash challenged the kids and their boat handling skills as the kids collected the bottles (and picked up the litter) offshore.

The final event of the day was the 'Freestyle' competition where anything goes and is encouraged! The judges saw Turtled Boat Dancing, Spar Climbing, a variety of dismounts, all put together in a wonderfully, unflowing, disjointed water ballet. The number 1 rule of the day was for the kids to have FUN! And FUN was had thanks to all the efforts of the volunteers and the cooperation of all the sailing organizations and most of all the kids for showing us adults what a great fun sport sailing can be.

Special thanks to Regatta Chair Dave Collins from Vancouver Lake Sailing Club (VLSC) and Regatta PRO's Andy Mack and West Coast Sailing's George Yioulos for managing the organized chaos of this past weekend's O'Pen Bic 'UnRegatta' in Cascade Locks, Oregon. Thanks also goes out to Vancouver Lake Sailing Club www.VLSC.org, Columbia Gorge Racing Association www.CGRA.org, Hood River Yacht Club www.HoodRiverYachtClub.org, www.shortcakephotography.com, countless parents, volunteers, and the over 35 Jr. Sailors who showed up to make this such a great event.