Family team tops 38 boat fleet.

With past Olympian and two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Cory Sertl at the helm, and husband Mark and kids Katja and Nick as expert crew, Lucy from Rochester, NY won the 2010 J/22 Northeast District Championship. Historically titled "The Lake George Open," and hosted by J/22 Fleet #61 at The Lake George Club, Diamond Point, NY, this annual regatta drew a record number 38 competitors from all over the northeastern US and Canada.

 

The fleet representatives from Youngstown and Rochester, New York again showed they are the teams to beat (and learn from). But you'll later note there are some other familiar faces and some up-and-coming J/22 sailors also at the top of the overall results.  International J/22 Class Co-President Chris Doyle with crew Will Harris and Nick Doyle, from Youngstown, finished second, just ahead of his brother and Defending Champion Kevin Doyle with crew Vic and Aaron Snyder, also from Youngstown, in third. Notice the "family thing" of the top three teams? It's good to know the J/22 Class and boat continues to have families sailing together, and hopefully the second generation sailors will keep the Class strong and growing.

 

Completing the top five award winners were Travis Odenbach with crew Bill Farmer and John Newell, from Rochester, and Ron Harris with crew Pete Amos and John Marten from Hudson, Quebec. Rounding out the top ten were 6- Richard Hallagan, Rochester, 7- Peter Doyle, Youngstown, 8- Jed Hoffer, Marion, MA, 9- RJ Moon, Charlottesville, VA, and 10- Jimmy Carminati, Youngstown. Alfie Merchant repeated as "Best Local Boat" from Lake George, and Marg Hurley, from Ontario took the coveted "Grab Bag" prize.

 

The sailing conditions were some of the most unusual and difficult I've seen on Lake George in over 40 years of sailing on the lake. So most of the "local knowledge" wasn't much help. But, the top sailors nevertheless figured it out, if not right at the start, then shortly thereafter, to position themselves near the front of the fleet. The median wind direction was from the WSW, near 260 degrees, and that's where the RC set the weather mark, but it varied from about 230 to 290, and depended on where you were on the course. The wind strength also varied from 8-10 knots to 18+ in some of the puffs.

 

My game plan, a correct one, was to "go right," as most of the puffs were strong starboard tack lifts. But, true to my style, I abandoned the plan when at the start the pin was heavily favored by both wind strength and direction. Wrong!! Cory started conservatively and went right. She didn't get to the weather mark first, but she was in the game. Chris, if he started at the pin, got over to the right at the first opportunity. I don't know how Kevin won the first race, Robert Mendenhall (another Rochester boat!) the second, or Travis the third, but I bet they came up the right side! It's NOT luck, people!!

 

Although there was enough wind to have the full complement of four races on Saturday, the RC had a difficult time setting the line, mostly the pin end, so that we were able to complete only three races. In the shifty conditions the line was usually slanted at the gun, and there were multiple general recalls, but no protests. Also, the RC set a relatively short first weather leg, about ¾ mile, on an "I" course (start/finish line in the middle). So if you were in the wrong place at the start it was very difficult to get back in the race by the first weather mark. The rounding there was crowded, even for the first arrivals.

 

It's too bad I hadn't seen and read Dr. Stuart Walker's excellent article "Starting Line Head Games," the "From the Experts" column in the October, 2010 issue of Sailing World magazine. It accurately describes the conditions we faced with the shifts switching the "favored" end of the start line, and a short first leg. The lesson: start at the end towards the next shift, not always the end favored at the gun. Clearly, the top boats know this!  

 

The RC had also announced that the finish line might be closed on downwind legs in some of the races. Many boats either missed the change to the SIs on the Notice Board, or the announcement at the Skipper's Meeting, and/or the "On Station at the Finish" signal on the Committee Boat. More lessons to be learned: 1- The lake is east-west narrow, so the RC could have set a longer first leg by starting at or near the leeward gate with a line square to the median wind direction. This would have given a fairer chance for "the breaks" to even out over the course, and allowed time to get in another race; 2- Competitors should check the Notice Board before going out, and/or have a representative attend the Skipper's Meeting!   3- If you have a good game plan, stick to it! (Why haven't I learned this?)

 

Overall it was another great regatta weekend. If you haven't attended, you MUST put it on your schedule! Lake George is the "Queen of American Lakes," and the early autumn is great time to visit this drinking-water clear lake. The venue is just spectacular. Bring your family, as there are lots of things to do and see in the area if you're not sailing. The race course is a short sail from the club-- we come off the water for a sumptuous luncheon-- and then go back out for afternoon racing. Each year the Club staff does an outstanding job preparing and serving the meals, which are an excellent value-- the breakfast and lunch buffets can't be beat. Often, the racing is close enough that spectators can watch the races from the Club terrace or docks.

 

We very much appreciate all the sailors who participated this year, especially the visitors, many of whom return year after year, and particularly those who attended for the first time. We trust you will come back, and invite others from your fleet. The 2011 Regatta will be held on September 23-24-25, 2011. You can check out complete results from this year's regatta on the Club web site, where we'll also have posted a preliminary Notice of Race and Entry Form for next year: www.thelakegeorgeclub.com. Log in as a Guest, click on Sports, and then Sailing from the drop-down list.