2008 Oxford Regatta

Thirteen Penguins must have been a lucky number for the 2008 Oxford Regatta because the weather gods provided a very un August like 15k SW breeze, low humidity and temperatures only in the mid 80’s on both days. The sailing was great and the committee work even better.

 PRO Todd Kana demonstrated that he was all about providing sailing for the sailors when he accepted the recommendation of all the fleets to change the starting sequence from the five minute big boat signals to the dinghy appropriate 3 minute sounds available on the Ollie. He then proceeded to set square lines and courses and got off six races on Saturday and four on Sunday for the four fleets on the Penguin course. Todd also happily broke with tradition and allowed lunch on the water rather than take a costly lunch break.

 Bud Dailey sailing with Andreas Adam showed that he hasn’t forgotten how to sail a Penguin. (His last regatta was last fall). After suffering an uncharacteristic 8^th place in the first race he won all the remaining races save one in which he fell to second. Jonathan Bartlett and crew Kyle Coverford counted a fourth as their worst race and only lost to Bud by a point.

 Charlie and Douglas Krafft demonstrated that the big breeze is no bar to success in the old Austin. They placed third and won the Classic boat division. They were followed in the Classic scores by Bill Lane sailing with daughter in law Kelly and Bill’s son Matt who placed third despite a broken rudder on the first day which kept him out of three of the races.

Taylor Penwell, Ed Lutz and Emilie Knud-Hanses rounded off the classic group.

 Back in the modern group Sandy McAllister and April Elliott rounded off the top five just edging Read and Read Beigel who came all the way from 420 land for their first Penguin regatta of the season. Monty Baker and Donna McKenzie suffered a mishap after the first race and didn’t return on Saturday because they mistakenly thought racing would be over after three races. Finally Amy Krafft and Matt Chow survived all ten races. Something to be proud of in the the big breeze and bigger chop aggravated by the Log Canoe support flotilla. 

 Thanks again to Todd and Bubbles and everyone on the small boat RC team for the best Oxford Regatta in years.

 Paul