June 19, 2014

Gordie Nash reports from the El Toro North American Championship, held on Clear Lake June 14-16:

Saturday morning the wind on Clear Lake started out light so we set up the course in the area between Sunrise Point and the town of Lower Lake. Four windward-leeward races were sailed in moderate winds with different sides of the course being favored at different times. John Pacholski, Fred Paxton, Art Lange and Patrick Tara guessed it right and each won a race. Only one race got very light.

Paul Tara. ©2014 Pat Brown/KBSC

Sunday morning the wind started to blow. We set up the course behind the point and had three moderate wind races in perfect El Toro sailing conditions. David Liebenberg and Patrick Tara traded the lead in all three races with David taking the two firsts.

A crowded start. ©2014 Pat Brown/KBSC

Monday morning the wind started blowing early, eased a little, and then by 12:30 was in the low 20s. There were even white caps. The two scheduled races were not sailed.

Approaching the leeward mark. ©2014 Pat Brown/KBSC

We could have raced in a protected area on Monday but it would have required the fleet to dock in a different place than where they launched – a logistic problem when the fleet wanted to leave the lake and get home. Also, three of our four crash boats were not available.

A mark rounding. ©2014 Pat Brown/KBSC

We thank the Konocti Bay Sailing Club so very much for all their help with race committee work, the committee start boat, and for three crash boats. Pat Brown was the lead contact between the El Toros and the Konocti Club team. Pat also provided a case of Spanish-Style Clear Lake Oaks Olive Oil, pressed from the olives from his property to be given out as trophies.

– Gordie Nash, El Toro Class President

John Pacholski leads the charge. ©2014 Pat Brown/KBSC

The top five finishers out of 19 racers were:

1. David Liebenberg
2. Gordie Nash
3. Art Lange
4. Patrick Tara
5. Fred Paxton

For complete results, see www.eltoroyra.org.

©2014 Pat Brown/KBSC