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19 boats registered and competed at this years WMYA E invitational on beautiful Torch Lake in northern Michigan.  The forecast for the weekend was for warm temps and light air.

  

Regatta PRO Eric Lind set up for race number one heading north east with about 7mph of wind.  Shortly after the start the breeze began to fade, which would turn out to be a common occurrence for the weekend.  Off the starting line the majority of the fleet worked their way west out to the corner to set up a long port tack up toward the weather mark.  Tom Munroe and his crew on WH77 were first around the mark followed closely behind by WH 111, SL 22, CR 66, SL 27, and WH 12.  Shortly after the leaders rounded the mark the pressure dropped as the wind shifted further west, which allowed this pack of boats to squirt out ahead of the fleet.  On the way down wind the race committee shortened the course and the boats finished at the leeward mark as the breeze diminished.  Tom Munroe and his team held on and won the first race.

  

After a nice break for lunch and a refreshing swim in the crystal clear waters of Torch Lake the sailors took back to the water for two afternoon races.  During lunch the breeze picked up and settled in from the south west at about 5-8mph.  The race committee set up shop and got the sailors back to the competition sailing a W2.  After the start WH 12 and SL 8 were quick to flop over to port and the fleet soon followed suit.  As the boats all sailed up the course it became apparent that the leaders were the ones who sailed all the way to the right corner.  Doug McNeil and his crew aboard WH 111 lead the way into the windward mark followed by Rob Terry who snuck into second followed by TO 12, WH 11 and WH 77.  As the boats sailed toward the leeward mark the wind shifted from the southwest to the southeast setting up a long starboard tack back upwind.  Rob Terry and his team gained the lead and never looked back.  As the lead pack approached the weather mark the wind settled back to its original direction and caused some shifts in position as the teams jockeyed their way toward the last upwind mark.  Rob Terry opened an impressive lead and went on to take the gun at the finish with WH 111, TO 12, WH 77 and WH 11 finishing behind the leader.

 

Race three got underway shortly after the second race and getting another great start was Pete Fox sailing SL 8.  Pete was quick off the line and able to tack over to port quickly and once again the fleet followed as the wind again shifted back toward the east.  Some teams recognized this persistent shift east and hung on to starboard a little longer and prevailed as the left side appeared to be favored.  Just as in the earlier race the wind shifted back to the southwest late in the windward leg.  SL 8 maintained their lead as they rounded just in front of CR 66, TO 17, SL 27, TO 33, and TO 12.  As the leaders all began to set their asymmetrical spinnakers Rob Terry and his crew was faster and smoother than the rest which allowed them to get underway and drive lower than the lead pack and settle into a nice lead.  Local sailor Jim Campbell sailing with his father Dan and Catalina Salas sailed a great downwind leg to move into second place followed by Art Brereton and his team on TO 101 and Steve Johanson’s team on TO 33.  It seemed like there may have been a little local knowledge on the down wind leg as some of the local boats made their way to the front.  Heading back upwind the boats all had a drag race out to the right corner as Rob Terry opened up another impressive lead over the fleet.  As the boats all made their way around the top mark they set their chutes and headed toward the finish line.  Taking the gun was Rob Terry again followed by Art Brereton and Steve Johanson.

 

That concluded the racing for the day and the teams all headed back to the club to get ready for the regatta party hosted by TLYCC commodore Dan Crites and his family.  The food was great and the stories that were told were even better.  After a long day on the water in light air it’s always nice to sit around with your fellow sailors and catch up.

  

Sunday greeted the sailors with hazy skies and light air out of the southeast.  PRO Eric Lind set up another course in the light air and got sailing back underway.  Off the line Steve Johanson and his team including brother Pete and sister in law Mary tacked to port and managed to poke out to an early lead over the fleet.  Once again right after the start the pressure began to drop as all the crews were on the low side.  The fleet split with half going east and half going west.  The teams on the east side were able to keep their boats moving a little faster and sailed over the other half of the fleet.  The wind dropped drastically and then redeveloped 20 degrees to the east.  Art  Brereton and his crew of Matt Crites and Spencer Powell worked their local magic as they crawled up the east side of the course and started to build their lead.  Around the first mark was TO 101 followed by Don Nelson and his crew aboard WH 12.  Not too far behind was TO 33.  These three were able to get around and get their chutes up and separate from the rest of the fleet.  As the competitors rounded the mark they were notified of a course change to help accommodate for the big east shift.  Sailing down the lake TO 101 was first to jibe into a personal puff as they started to extend their lead.  TO 33 was able to keep their chute full and their speed as they sailed downwind and moved into second.  Both TO 101 and TO 33 got around the leeward mark well in front of the pack as the breeze faded to just about nothing.  Team 101 kept their boat moving and never stopped.  They managed to make it to the weather mark just as the last few boats were rounding the leeward mark.  In the end Art Brereton and his team finished the drifter race with just 50 seconds to spare on the two hour time limit.  Now the race was on to try and finish within 30 minutes of the leader and all but one boat managed to make it.

 

That concluded the racing for the weekend as the teams all headed back to the club to pack up their boats.  In the end Rob Terry sailed consistently to take the crown followed by Doug McNeil, Art Brereton, Don Nelson and Steve Jonhanson.  Regatta Chairman Todd Collins put on an impressive regatta and was helped by the many Torch Lake volunteers who always step up to the occasion and roll out the red carpet for the visitors.  Despite the challenging sailing conditions over the weekend everyone enjoyed themselves at such a beautiful venue.

 

Submitted By,

  

     Pete Comfort

 

Results

Last Name	First Name	Sail #	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total
Terry	Rob	CR 66	4	1	1	5	11
McNeil	Douglas	WH 111	2	2	6	3	13
Brereton	Art	TO 101	15	8	2	1	26
Nelson	Don	WH 12	6	6	11	2	25
Johanson	Steve	TO 33	8	9	3	4	24
Hatton	Brett	SL 27	5	7	5	7	24
Munroe	Tom	WH 77	1	4	13	13	31
Price	Pete	TO 12	17	3	4	12	36
Wickland	Paul	SL 22	3	10	9	9	31
Klaban	Tom	WH 11	11	5	8	15	39
Baxter	Jeff	SL 8	18	12	7	10	47
Campbell	Jim	TO 17	7	13	10	DNF	50
Gerrity	Neil	TO 5	12	11	12	11	46
Malone	Denny	TO 8	14	15	19	6	54
Allen	Andy	WA 51	13	19	17	8	57
Hallett	Glen	TO 11	10	14	18	14	56
Turk	Charlie	TO 2	9	16	16	16	57
Halliday	Richard	CR 12	16	18	14	17	65
Collins	Todd	TO 7	19	17	15	DNF	71