Lake Quassapaug lived up to her reputation for light wind. Due to Covid, our Board of  Governor’s Regatta was a small, intimate affair. 

Eleven Snipe Teams attended the 2021 Board of Governors Regatta. This was the Seven Hundredth and Thirteenth running of the event. Saturday awoke to heavy cloud cover.  After all the 90+ degree days, a day in the seventies was very welcome. Under the clouds  was 4-8 knots of East breeze with 40+ degree shifts. Lake sailing at its best! 

Confidence was running high at the competitors meeting as Quassapaug’s weird signaling of reverse courses, starboard roundings, was explained to the Quassapaug  rookies. During questions, Jane Panza played the roll of Lee Griffith.  

Two races were run before lunch, and much of the fleet learned and relearned the “stay  out of the middle of the beat” lesson. Alex and Lisa Pline showed they can sail the lakes  very well, with a one, two for the morning. Peter Wolcott and Josh Lovett won the  second race. The racing was very close and there were many lead changes. 

After lunch a “Trading Places” race was run and the crews, that wanted to drive, showed  their skippers how the boat should really be sailed! Lisa Pline turned on the afterburners  and won despite having Alex in the front of the boat. Two more regular series race were  sailed and the Fleet retired for dinner and a drinks.  

Andrew Keane did the scoring to show the top three, Alex and Lisa, Simon and Julie, and  Peter and Josh all within 3 points of each other. The next three teams, Joel & Noah,  Andrew & Kristen, and Mike and Jennifer were within one point of each other. A very  very tight regatta!

Dinner was fun with everyone pitching in. Chicken Marsala, fresh salad, steamed corn  picked that morning, ziti, and watermelon for desert. Plenty of IPA, Lager, Pilsner, Ale,  and Octoberfest from Connecticut breweries. 

Sunday met us with clouds again and a very light easterly breeze. The shifts were very  large, but the breeze never went completely away. A first race was and Jim and Carol  Tomesetti showed the fleet how to win a race. 

The race Committee was going to call the event at 5 races but the fleet asked for another.  The last race involved many lead changes with Bob and Jane Panza commanding the last  leg, almost to the finish line. The wind gods granted a small right hand puff/lift to Joel  and Noah, who spent the earlier part of the weekend clutching defeat from the hands of  victory, won by inches on the finish line. We are trying to locate the video taken by the  race committee! 

Thanks to the Race Committee lead by Kevin Hetherington (below), and assisted by John  and Sue Sullivan, Audrey Hetherington-Young and Gabriel for running seven great races.  The entire RC was awarded the “Take a Bow” Award for their great work. Kevin  received an additional “Take a Bow” Award for the fine demonstration of how to wrap  the prop with a just released buoy anchor rode. 

Thanks to Jane Panza for orchestrating dinner and Sunday Lunch. Andrew Keane for  Sunday Breakfast and scoring. Mike Elser for making sure registration was complete.  Bob Panza for Marks, and everyone else who helped make the regatta a success. 

Come to Quassy!! 

Joel Zackin 

“Queen Celeste” 31566

Lisa Pline, center, holding the “Take a Bow” Award.