Star Class Honoring the Past, Leading the Future
2021 Lake Sunapee Open Recap
By Stephen Braverman (Boston Harbor)
August 7 & 8, 2021
15 Teams gathered for the annual Lake Sunapee Open. Sailors hailed from 3 districts and 10 fleets from as far away as Annapolis, Maryland. The regatta was first hosted by the Lake Sunapee Yacht Club in 1965.
Lake Sunapee is a most scenic lake in central New Hampshire; often a prime vacation spot in the heat of summer, or in the middle of winter for a skiing vacation.
The Lake Sunapee Yacht Club and members of the Lake Sunapee Star Fleet make guests feel like family. The family aspect was most apparent this year as the fleet was loaded with 10 multi-generation star sailors, 3 father/daughter teams, brothers out on the racecourse, and of course Sunapee & D12 mainstays Chiarella, Cook, Ivey, Nichol & Burgess. We also had several U20s and U30s on the water, and a few new class members as well.
The conditions were calm on Friday as most of the fleet rigged their boats. Given the forecast for the rest of the weekend, International Star Class Regatta Manager and regatta PRO, Carl Shellbach, posted a change to the SIs Friday night allowing for up to 4 races on Saturday, suspecting that racing on Sunday was in jeopardy.
We may have started a new tradition with a lasagna dinner at the home of International Star Class Commodore, John Chiarella, helmed by chefs Rick Burgess, Carl Shellbach, Maureen Strachan and Taryn Chiarella. A good portion of the fleet, family and friends had a chance for plenty of socializing and pre-regatta carbo loading -- which key to prepare for a potential 4-race Saturday.
The Racing
Saturday we were met with a gentle 5-10 mph SouthWesterly with some nice gusts up to 15 under the dark clouds.
Carl and his team were ever-chatty on the VHF radio letting the sailors know the expectations of what he was thinking for the race course, when the sequence would start and the general play-by-play of RC happenings. Carl was also training the team for the 2022 Sonar Worlds and 2022 Star Western Hemispheres, both slated for Lake Sunapee next season.
As for Saturday's racing: It's always a treat sailing on a most scenic lake with the club, lighthouse and ski mountain in the background. The forecast was for WSW, but the windshots were between 240 and 280 degrees. The first race, the weather mark (with Carl's vertical offset) was to the right of Lake Sunapee Yacht Club in the cove. RC moved the marks left throughout the day towards the lighthouse. The first three races were course 4 with the final race being a course 3, finishing upwind by The Club.
Lake sailing is tricky! Some of us are very fond of it, others, not so much! Boats can sail almost the same direction on different tacks. Some boats are in a screaming puff while others are becalmed on the course nearby. It's an acquired taste and requires patience and the right attitude.
There was some success to be had going up the middle or the right side of the course, as there were some shifts and some big puffs coming down the lake. But in the absence of those puffs, it seemed like you needed to find a way to get to the left side of the racecourse. The trick was how far left to go to stay in the puff, yet not sail extra distance and overstand the mark or sail away from the competition. Downwind, the trick was clear-air, staying in the puff, and not sailing extra distance.
The highly competitive fleet and the shiftiness enabled four different race winners: Peter Follansbee with local Nat Cook, Luke Buxton with his daughter Evelyn, Bill Watson with local Brad Nichol and Mike Hecky with Mike Rajacich. In the last race, the top four boats separated from the pack on the first leg, battled throughout the 5-leg course. The four were so close, that up the final beat, all of the boats held the lead at one point, and it was unclear until the finish which would cross the line first. It all depended on who got the last puff. The pack finished within 10 seconds of each other with Hecky & Rajacich taking the hotly contested bullet.
After the four long races, the fleet was treated to a much deserved steak dinner at the club. There were lots of tired sailors!
On Sunday, the breeze was 1-2mph gusting to 3 as predicted. After a few hour postponement, Carl Shellbach mercifully signaled with horns and flags that racing would not happen on Sunday, and officially called the regatta over.
The final standings after four races were tight. After one throwout, 3 points separated first through fifth places. Team Buxton from the Cape Ann Star Fleet won the regatta. Luke hot off winning his Blue Star in July, brought his 17 year old daughter, Evelyn, to sail the Star for the first time. She's not new to sailing, however, as she's been junior sailing at Manchester Sailing Association, in Manchester Mass. All smiles this weekend, and I'm sure we'll see her again.
Mike Hecky (Cooper River) and Mike Rajacich (Eastern Shore/Maryland) lost the tie-breaker finishing second with defending Champion Stephen Braverman with Kevin Hetherington (Boston Harbor) one point off the pace in 3rd place. Peter Follansbee and Nat Cook (Sunapee) finished 4th while Bill Watson (Central Long Island Sound) & Brad Nichol (Sunapee) finished 5th.
Local sailor and Star Class historian, Blake Baade, rigged and sailed his grandfather's (Frank Gordon) 5225 in the regatta. Awesome to see it on the race course, preparing for the Vintage Gold Cup.
Awards Summary
Race winners: Peter Follansbee/Nat Cook, Luke/Evelyn Buxton, Bill Watson/Brad Nichol, Mike Hecky/Mike Rajacich
Leading Lady: Evelyn Buxton
Top Exalted Grand Master: Bill Watson (CLIS)
Top Grand Master: Mike Hecky (CR)
Top Master: Stephen Braverman (BH)
Series 1st: Luke Buxton/Evelyn Buxton (CA)
2nd: Mike Hecky (CR)/Mike Rajacich (MES)
3rd: Stephen Braverman/Kevin Hetherington (BH)
Father Daughter Teams: Luke & Evelyn Buxton, Dwight & Liz Escalera (NB), Mike & Erin Kelley (Sun)
U20s: Evelyn Buxton, Jasper Nolin
What makes the Lake Sunapee Open so special?
Family, friends, fun and beautiful scenery.
I've been fortunate enough to have visited and sailed The Open for over 20 years at the storied club on a beautiful lake with and against lots of friends, old and new. Typical lake sailing, and I keep coming back for more!
The local Star Fleets and the host yacht clubs are the backbone of the Star Class. We are very fortunate to have a club and a lot of friends and the hospitality of the Lake Sunapee Star Fleet willing to host us each year for The Open and every 10 years or so for a Silver Star event. We all need to continue to promote and support our active star fleets and local regattas.
At the awards ceremony, John Chiarella presented the trophies. Star Class Executive Director, Mike Hecky, thanked the club, the Race Committee, the sailors, and gave us a little preview of some things to expect for the 100th celebration of the Star Class and Star World Championships.
I'm looking forward to the 2022 Sunapee Open -- after the Star North Americans in Annapolis, and before the Western Hemispheres at Sunapee in August, and the Worlds in Marblehead in September
