Day 1 Report

14 boats assembled at White Bear this weekend to compete for the ILYA Class A Open Invitational. The event drew competitors from White Bear, Minnetonka, Calhoun, Clear, and Oshkosh. The experimental V38 boat, sailing but not scored, proved again it is faster than an A Scow around a race course.

Two races were completed in winds of 0 to 6 knots, providing very challenging conditions for competitors. Home lake knowledge paid off in Race 1 for the White Bear womens’ team (W-11) led by Kathy Sanville and Patty Zak Newell. They captured their first regatta win by keeping their wits and sailing smartly through the slot between the Peninsula and the Island. Staying left both times to windward paid off big for them and brought home the victory.

Winds died to zero by the end of race one and PRO Hodgson sent the teams in to shore to wait. Race 2 got underway after 3 pm, again in very light shifty conditions. This time, David Willette from Minnetonka took top honors and leads the event going into day 2. Jack Strothman put together two very consistent races with a couple of seconds and is tied with Willette.

The top five is hotly contested with only a few points separating first and fifth.

The day was capped with a special evening to remember hosted at Beverly and Fletcher Driscoll’s beautiful Dellwood home. The Driscoll family hospitality and generosity is second to none and all in attendance had a fabulous time! A spectacular sunset over the water was trumped only by the full moon rise minutes later.

Day 2 Report

Race 3 got underway at 10 am Saturday with breezes in the 5 – 8 knot range out of the Southeast. A long Windward 2 course was set from the Yacht Club bay to the south end of the lake through the slot between the Island and the Peninsula (opposite direction as yesterday). David Willette got off to an early lead and held on to take the gun, but not before the wind directions changed a few times prompting PRO Tom Hodgson and his able team to make a couple course changes. The second shift was major enough to move the leeward mark over to the the boat works bay for the downwind finish.

Willette finished well ahead while Jack Strothman, Lee Alnes, Blair Jenness and Hod Irvine drag raced into the finish line for an exciting downwind photo finish. Strothman captured second place followed by Alnes and Jenness.

As severe weather was predicted, the Race Committee wasted no time getting Race 4 underway in the East / Southeast breeze that had built to 8 – 12 knots. A Windward 3+ course was set. A clean start saw the fleet split almost evenly to each side of the lake, with the left side paying off slightly better by the windward mark. The first few boats sailed quite closely, even giving the experimental V38 boat some fits now and then. Jack Strothman’s “Animal House” Team did a masterful job, leading most the way and holding off a last minute rush for the finish line to win by half a boat length. Lee Alnes was second, followed by Jason Brown.

Everyone was safely off the water well before the afternoon storms and rain squalls rolled in, leaving time for a much needed nap (recovery from the Driscoll Party!) and preparation for the evening festivities at the famous buffet dinner in the WBYC dining room.
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Day 3 Report

Sunday morning dawned with a slight north - northwest breeze but by the time the sun was fully up, the lake went flat and the wind dropped to nothing. A postponement ensued while waiting for wind, but none was to be had. With four races already completed, Race 5 needed to be underway no later than noon, but the weather refused to cooperate. PRO Hodgson made the decision to abandon Race 5 when it became clear there was no way to get a race started before the deadline.

PRO and Past ILYA Commodore Hodgson presented a commemorative ILYA Regatta Burgee to WBYC Commodore John Ordway and WBYC Sailing Captain Hod Irvine. Hodgson noted that Ordway and Irvine are both great-grandsons of the winner of the first ILYA Class A Scow Championship ever held.

Trophies were awarded to the top three boats, with Jack Strothman of the Minnetonka Yacht Club taking the top prize. While Strothman is no stranger to the world of Scows, having sailed in various classes for many years, this is his first year campaigning an A Scow. He and his team put together an impressive first and three seconds on their way to victory. The experimental V38 boat skippered by Tom Burton crossed the finish line first in all four races, but was not scored in the event.

Minnetonka's Dave Willette took second place followed by Lee Alnes from White Bear in third place. Jason Brown and Ken Broen, both from White Bear, rounded out the top five finishers.

The Minnetonka - White Bear Challenge trophy was won by Minnetonka. The trophy was re-dedicated a few years ago, to be sailed for when White Bear and Minnetonka A scows compete.

Thanks to everyone who attended and special thanks to our regatta co-chairs, Janet Callahan and Patty Zak Newell, and their regatta organizing committee for a fine job, as well as to Tom Hodgson and his team for providing their always excellent on-water expertise.

Final R esults