Canadian Albacore Association- Recapping 2010, Looking Forward to 2011

by Ken Yamazaki on 17 Feb 2011 2010 was another great season in the Albacore fleet. There were regattas on almost every weekend from June to September, plus several training sessions. The Friday series ran weekly during the summer and the Harbour Master series on the weekends. The Fall series ran during the weekends in September and October. There were events for all levels of sailors and the characteristic big fleets. Below are just a few of the highlights.

Training

The CAA ran an intermediate clinic aimed at mid-fleet racers on June 5/6. It was hosted by Raines Koby and Abby MacInnes (2nd placing team at the 2009 Canadian Championships) from the Outer Harbour Centreboard club. Two weeks later, on June 19/20 there was a racing 101 clinic aimed at people just getting into racing. This was hosted by Richard Piercy (2009 Ontario Champion) and Sarah Bury (2009 North American Champion). Both clinics were well received and finished up with the participants racing in the Harbour Master races on the Sundays.

Ontario Championships

The Ontario Championships were held on June 26/27 at the Nepean Sailing Club as a part of the Nepean One Design Regatta (NOD). 25 Albacores participated, including 4 father daughter/son teams. This was the largest fleet at the regatta. One Albacore made the trip up from the Potomac River Sailing Association, the farthest any dinghy travelled to the regatta.

Winds were light on both days and the race committee kept the competitors on shore until sufficient breeze came up. The oscillating conditions were very challenging and playing the shifts on the first day and finding the pressure on the second day was critical. A total of 6 races were run, which allowed for one drop. Warner Monteiro and Sonja McAuley from the Nepean Sailing club won the Championship with 3 bullets and 7.25 points.

Full results are available at http://albacore.ca/results. The boats were equipped with GPS units and the races may be replayed at http://www.albacore.ca/kattack_races.

East Coast Championships

The East Coast Championships were held on August 20-22 at the Shelburne Harbour Yacht club. A recent addition to the Albacore race schedule, this was the third year the event has been run. The regatta is well known for its hospitality and the first race was held close to shore so that the town could come out and watch the event. Several participants travelled in from Ontario and the States and many of the local racers were members of the junior program. After 8 races, Barney Harris and Lee Mullins from the Potomac River Sailing Association won the championship. Full results are available at http://albacore.ca/results.

Canadian Championships

The Canadian Championships were held on September 17-19 at the Buffalo Canoe Club in Ridgeway Ontario. Considered one of the main events of the season a total of 48 boats participated. All of them travelled in from around Ontario and the States.

The Friday saw light, shifty winds and one race. However, the Buffalo Canoe Club is known for winds and waves and the Saturday delivered on this. The winds built to approximately 18 knots with a significant swell by mid-afternoon. Four races were run that day. Sunday returned to being light and shifty for the final two races of the regatta. Fred Fellouse and Anna Sepko from the Mooredale Sailing Club won the Challenger fleet. Barney Harris and David Byron from the Potomac River Sailing Association won the Champion fleet. Full results are available at http://albacore.ca/results.

Toronto Series

The 18 race Friday night series ran weekly from May to September and saw 85 helms and 171 crews participate. An average of 45 boats raced each Friday with several nights with over 50 boats. The top club helm was Allan Measor (St. James Town Sailing Club) and the top club crew was Susan Calahan (Mooredale Sailing Club). Raines Koby (Outer Harbour Centreboard Club) was the top private helm. The Mooredale Sailing Club was the winner of the club series with the St. James Town Sailing Club, Westwood Sailing Club, and Toronto Island Sailing Club 168, 1033 and 2848 points behind respectively.

The 16 race Harbour Master weekend series ran from May to August and saw a total of 84 helms and 125 crews participate. An average of 35 boats competed with many races seeing over 40 boats. The top helm was Pasquale Leone from the St. James Town Sailing Club and the top crew was Christine Kelly from the Mooredale Sailing Club.

56 helms and 66 crews participated in the 8 race weekend series in September and October. The series was won by the husband/wife team Jefferson Hall and Tracy Hall from the Outer Harbour Centreboard Club.

Additional details may be found at http://albacore.ca/fnr_hm.

2011

This year is a big one for Canada. In addition to the regular training events, regattas, Friday nights, Harbour Masters, and Fall series we are hosting the 20th Internationals in Toronto, Ontario. The Internationals will take place from September 16 to 23rd and an exciting week is being planned with great sailing and social events. Racing will be held south of Toronto Island.

For additional details, please visit the Internationals website at http://albacore.org/intls.