By Commodore Vince Harris.
On April 29 2023 we hosted a successful 42nd annual Philadelphia Laser / ILCA Championship Regatta at Marsh Creek Lake.
The weather had been forecast to be nasty: cool, rainy, and very windy, with cold water in the lake too. Instead, things were benign. The weather wasn’t very much anything- not very cold, very rainy, nor very windy. What they call a ‘soft day’ in Ireland. Well, it was very adequate for some sailboat racing. So those who stayed away to avoid extreme conditions needn’t have done so.
Six races were sailed in an Easterly that began at about 8 knots but eased up a bit through the day. What started as something like 6-8 with gusts to 10, ended up at about 4-8. Good shifts, as usual, but no big blasts, and the base direction never changed significantly. Races were Windward-Leeward, with a couple of triangles thrown-in.
The racing seemed to be quite strategic, with the leaders often choosing the right side where there seemed be more pressure toward the inside of the point on the eastern shore of the lake, but gains were to be seen across the course, what with the shifts. That said, boat speed was still important.
Connor Demming of Wayne, PA (Conestoga HS) and Barnegat Light YC was dominant, winning every race, but Chris Houston was impressive in finishing 2nd, challenging Connor in nearly every race. Connor sails several days a week. Chris sailed last week for the first time in about 6 months. Mark Sanford was very consistent with only one score worse than a 3rd (and that was a fourth), to finish only two points behind Chris in 3rd place. Jim Knab from Rehoboth Bay SC was fourth.
Thanks to all the race committee volunteers (Charlie Lindsay, Susan Huffington, Eve Walters, Bob Myers, and Dan Walters) our commodore Vince Harris for organazing and managing the regatta, Dan for lunch and Jerzy Sliwinski for breakfast goodies.