By Kent and Bonnie Arndt
A few days before this year’s Londerville Cup Regatta, Kelly Pike began to send out daily emails to the HalfMoon Bay Yacht Club Sailing Committee and Keel Boat Sponsors with the latest weather predictions for race day. The final report on Friday read: Wind speed prediction for Saturday is back up slightly to NW 11-15mph and warmer (51-54F). Friday will be light and possible showers. The front passing through Friday night accompanied by a few lingering showers and NW winds. Game on sailors! His forecast turned out to be spot-on. A fantastic day of thrills, chills, and (for some) spills was in store! Thrills.
Gemma McCluney, age 9, wet-suited up early to crew for her dad Richard aboard their C15, and got a wild ride she will not soon forget as the winds gusted across the harbor. Another young new club member, John Sorfleet, teamed up with John Powell on his C15 to brave the challenging conditions and sail in the races. Three intrepid and skilled Laser sailors came from out-of-town to make up the Laser fleet. The remaining Cal 20 and C15 fleets this year were all HMBYC boats. Overall the boats were sailed quite well, with great determination by skippers and crews to win. Many races in all fleets came down to just inches separating the competitors at the finish line! The game was on indeed! Chills. Everyone who participated in the regatta got wet. Some went swimming after capsizing. They got “salty” wet. Everyone else got “fresh water” wet from the passing rains that created a mist over the water making it difficult at times to see the next buoy on the course. Even though you were sure to get cold and wet, everyone had fun. After all, isn’t that what winter sailing is all about? Spills. Lucy and Hunter Gillies ended up breaking both port and starboard shrouds on their C15 on their way out to the start line! It’s a wonder the mast did not break in two pieces. Lucy went back out sailing in Richard McCluney’s boat after the lunch break. Ofer and Howard capsized their C15 and then turtled the boat. After that they got their mast stuck in the muddy bottom of the Pillar Point Harbor. Fortunately a stand-up-paddle boarder in the area stopped by and helped them get their boat upright and sailing, and they returned to the club tired, cold, and very wet. Someone else saw them with the boat upside-down and radioed the Coast Guard. The USCG in turn contacted the 911 dispatch and sent the Police and an Ambulance to the club to attend to the “victims”! What’s the big deal? We’re OK! And so the memories and stories of the day’s events will live long and strong. Can’t wait to do it again next year!
Regatta Results: (7 boats, 4 races sailed, 1 throw-out) 1st : Kent Arndt/Bernie Forde, 3 pts. 2nd: Charlie Quest/Andrew Quest, 5 pts. 3rd: Rick Winans/Ron Karp, 11 pts. 4th: John Powell/Jon Sorfleet, 12 pts. 5th: Richard McCluney/Gemma McCluney, 14 pts. 6th : Lucy Gillies/Hunter Gillies, 24 pts. 7th: Ofer Amir/Howard Weis, 24 pts.