Earle Forshner Memorial Regatta
Earle Forshner Memorial Trophy
The 2001 sailing season was the first time that I met Earle and Donna Forshner. We had just sailed across the Northumberland Strait for the first time in a 26 foot boat downwind in 20+ knots, large waves with a child throwing up for most of the trip. Wow! Then we encounter Donna and Earle at the dock in Quartermaster who made the same crossing in their 23 foot Parks sailboat. There was no big story about the crossing or waves - just welcoming smiles and a very contagious love of life and enthusiasm for sailing.
In searching for photos of Earle I remember the photo of Earle at the helm of Knot Too Old with the Confederation Bridge in the background. Although I could not find a digital version of this picture I will always remember it for what it says about Earle and Donna on Knot Too Old. There was the usual infectious grin in the photo on a 23 foot boat that had travelled over 50 miles from Barrachois. We all miss Earle - his enthusiasm and his joy of life. This two day annual event is dedicated to all that Earle brought to us.
Big Things come in Little Packages
"Baby Bird" - Little Bird and big heart
Our regatta was planned and all things coming together well when our regular volunteer Committee Boat "Hat Trick" had a problem. Norm Taylor who has done all things for the club with a huge smile had a setback that prevented Hat Trick from performing as Committee Boat. At this point Wendy and Joe Stonehouse volunteered to take on the duties of Committee Boat on their O'Day 27 "Baby Bird". It has been an interesting season for Baby Bird - transducer troubles, hurricane damage and other issues would have made many other yachters stay home but Baby Bird participated in most of the weekend races and events this season. For the Earle Forshner regatta a headsail destroyed by Hurricane Bill put Baby Bird on the sidelines. When asked incoming Commodore Joe readily agreed to perform as Committee Boat.
Baby Bird and Wendy and Joe did an outstanding job as Committee Boat for which all are grateful. In addition to committee boat duties there was also a stint as tug boat assisting a competitor who suffered engine troubles. On Sunday Baby Bird once again did a great job - despite seasickness, mooring mishaps and chaos in the marina. Baby Bird saved the day - Thank you!
Regatta Winner - Prospector
Saturday
Saturday provided a warm sunny day with a dying breeze from the North. The course was set as follows: UD4(P), BHYC1(P), BHYC2(P), BHYC1(S), UD4(S), finish. If necessary the shortened course would drop BHYC2 to become UD4(P), BHYC1(P), UD4(S), finish. Sixteen competitors registered for the regatta with one new member joining the club on Saturday and four boats from Pictou sailing up on Friday to participate. It was a light wind race with no major problems. Some boats sailed to an old location of BHYC1 despite being given updated coordinates and one boat missed the announcement of a shortened course by being on the wrong VHF channel. Tango had a genoa halyard part while contending for the lead and Wings snapped their genoa halyard while performing a headsail change prior to the race. Bill and Kim Stright on Titan sailed to first in Race Class and overall and Roy Cheverie on Precious Time won Cruise Class.
Saturday winners - Titan and Precious Time
Sunday
Sunday was a different sort of day than Saturday - it was a sailor's wind. That is if you consider a sailor as someone who likes to work, get splashed and not relax. Winds were 15 - 18 knots from the North which meant some wave action and the same course as was originally planned for Saturday: UD4(P), BHYC1(P), BHYC2(P), BHYC1(S), UD4(S), finish. Wings and Tango did not participate due to their halyard issues from Saturday. Alhambra and Due North did not attend the race either for wind considerations, the time on a Sunday morning or other reasons. There were other boats who also never finished - including both class winners from Saturday! Precious Time was a victim of marina chaos and with a snapped tiller did not start - Roy and his crew were snapped up by Nut Case so that their day was salvaged. Our intrepid Committee Boat "Baby Bird" disentangled herself from the marina fun and headed out to the start line. A mooring problem lead to a stern to the wind mooring situation in waves and 15+ knots of wind - not a comfortable motion! Nevertheless the cruise and race classes were started in a timely fashion and the race was on! Immediately Titan and Forerunner - the 1st and 2nd place boats on Saturday were the victim of shifting gusting winds and lack of steerage - resulting in a collision that saw both boats retire. The remaining boats then sailed the course with no further incident thru an exhilarating race culminating with a drag race to the finish line between Prospector and Nut Case. Prospector crossed ahead of Nut Case by four seconds but Nut Case finished 1st in Race and overall with Sea Horse 1st in Cruise. Prospector won the regatta with 6 points followed closely by Nut Case at 6.75 and Gaila at 7.0
Sunday winners - Nut Case and Sea Horse
Food, Fun and Friends
No event at BHYC is ever complete without the social afterward at the Gazebo where everyone spins yarns about the events of the day. As usual our Social directors Lori Dickie and Linda "the dog saver" Todd put on a great buffet with plenty of food to go round for all. In keeping with the theme of the day the recent hurricane had to influence this as well - no mussels due to the shellfish ban - well what would be the point if everything was perfect all the time? The social event was excellent and the food and friendship superb!
Once our own Kim Shand announced the race and regatta winners and our club champions the draw prizes were handed out. With the help of very generous sponsors MJM Energy, North Sails, The Binnacle and Chabassol Bugden there were prizes for all. MJM donated a Home Energy audit worth $500, North Sails donated shirts and canvass bags, the Binnacle donated a Henri Lloyd jacket, bags and hats and Chabassol Bugden donated the coveted ladies golf shirts ... and these were only some of the prizes!
Regatta and Championship
With all the drama sorted out Prospector took the overall regatta winner after sailing 4th and 2nd on the two races. For the club championship we had a tie for the second time in club history - two different boats but once again the Shands and the Hoyts share the Club Championship on Nut Case and Prospector as they did in 2006 on Dry Red and Full Tilt 2 - how weird is that?
Prospector and Nut Case - Champions for 2009