August 8, 1999

36 competitors, 6 Nations, several olympians and star world champions, including Mark Reynolds, and Peter Bromby, arrived in Winthrop, Massachusetts for the Keane Inc, 1999 Star North American Championships.

Opening ceremonies commenced at six this evening with regatta chair David O'Brien introducing his co-chairs Joe Zambella, and Philip Marks, Cottage Park Yacht Club Commodore Jim Burns, Rear Commodore Mike Gahan, and Star Class North American Vice President, John MacCausland, among others. Flags from the six competing nations, Ireland, Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, and USA were presented to Commodore Burns, and will be flown from flagstaffs throughout the regatta.

Boats arrived as early as several weeks ago, with some competitors tuning-up at last weekend's Make-a-Wish regatta. Sails and competitors were measured, certificates viewed, and most boats were put together, and launched in the water for a sail by late Saturday afternoon.

The forecast for today's practice race was pretty ominous with thunderstorms nearing, but twenty or so competitors launched their boats, and took the turn past Deer Island Light out to the race course in a bit of a breeze. We were spared much of the adverse weather with the storms going to the North and South of us.

Even though it was only practice, the fleet was very aggressive, and we finally got a start off after two general recalls. By the time we got off the line, the due-south wind had diminished plenty but we still had a decent race in 8-12 knots of breeze. We raced a Star Class course three which is a Windward-Leeward-w-l-w course. At the top of the second windward leg, the leaders looked back at the fleet of boats and the black sky over Nahant and Marblehead, and just kept heading upwind to Deer Island Light on their way home. All the other lemmings followed, and nobody actually finished the race.

The first two races are tomorrow with a verrrry early start. Looking forward to some very competitive racing.

Photographs (hopefully) posted tomorrow night thanks to Walgreens (not exactly) One-Hour Photo.

1999 Star North Americans - Boston Harbor Star Fleet