The 2003 Ontario Provincials were worth the wait after having been post-poned by the little blackout that Ontario and the northeastern US had in August. TS&CC and Derek 'the race chairman' Griffiths offered those of us who made it to the rescheduled event a great regatta. Squeezed in between Fan Fare and Screwball the vote was for a one day event. The combination made for low attendance with regrets from many who would otherwise have been there.
Results (1 drop): CAN14688 Derek Griffiths/Dawn Rush TS&CC: 1 1 1 2 3 TOTAL PTs 8 Final pts 5 CAN 11136(?) Ian Maclaren / Alan Spurdle NSC 3 3 2 YMP 1 1 10 7 CAN 13890 Mike and Fraser McEvoy 2 2 2.25 YMP 3 2 12 8.35 CAN (old Smallcraft) Brian Klassen/Patti Judd 4 4 3 4 4 19 15Mike and Fraser earn 'best start' of the regatta in race 3 after noticing that the wind had backed just prior to the start and chose to start on port at the port end on port to cross the fleet. Race 3 was a big triangle and beat to finish, but the mark boat got confused by a mark dropped by another club and initially led the Ottawa boats astray (oops!). Wind picked up as day progressed with medium waves and chop to add to the action (bigger than Britannia Bay or Lac St. Louis will ever see). Brian and Patti should be rewarded with keeping a 30++ year old fiberglass boat going the distance of 5 races in tough conditions - and while finishes weren't fast they started fast and kept the boat moving well. Alan and I had our list of excuses as we shook out the cobwebs. Top honours based on consistency and good speed thoughout all conditions was Derek and Dawn (nicknamed 'Ringer'). Great day of racing, well organized, good weather (many of us sailed in shorts all day) along with other highlights that included: 90 year George Blanchard as Race Committee Chair (puts us 40 somethings to shame), a BBQ and a delicious 'Fireball Cake' courtesy of Patti (a new Fireball ON Provincial tradition has emerged), made this year's Provincials a great success despite the turn out.