Third Time Lucky

Four teams from Hudson Yacht Club made the annual crossing to CVMO (Club de Voile Marina d'Oka) for La Régate des Femmes (Women’s Regatta.) Amazing to think that 3 years ago we sent one team of 4 sailors and that 3 short years later we sent a total of 15 sailors on 4 boats! Our thanks to CVMO for continuing to invite us and for their welcoming spread of food (Oka cheese!) and beer.

The rules this year stipulated that the competing boats must be PHRF 3 only… so no J’s allowed. Thankfully we have a generous fleet of PHRF 3 skippers were pleased to lend out their boats. Knot a Clew, Tumbleweed and Maverick made up the Tanzers and Shatterproof, an Independant 20, rounded out the HYC team.

The first race got us all heated up and primed but maybe a little too excited as Maverick caught the pin and dragged it… Maverick did not know that a general recall had been called and set into recovery mode. Jenny Halyard went for a swim off the stern to free the mark from the rudder then got hoisted back into the boat by Helen Henshaw and Nancy Donelly. Fast crew work indeed – then Femke le Duc called the crew back to their stations to get racing and catch the fleet. Apparently 3 boats were OCS and the dragging pin made the RC decide to recall.

The second start went off a little smoother. The course was a triangle and a windward-leeward, all starboard roundings.

In all there were two races, both the same course. Hudson Yacht Club’s “Tumbleweed” took the bronze medal, Oka’s “Apsara” took silver and Hudson’s “Maverick” got the gold. Shatterproof came in a close 4^th place and Knot a clew finished 6^th.

What a great showing from HYC! Even more impressive was the sea of red HYC t-shirts visible all over the race course.

Femke le Duc, skipper for Maverick has now won the gold medal at this event 3 times in a row and will continue to defend the title for years to come!

...Jenny Halyard and Marian Kuiper