Mother Nature delivers for Chester Race Week finale

Chester, NS (August 16, 2014) – Sailors got off to a great start on the last day of competition here at Chester Race Week 2014. Conditions were great with a nice, steady southwest seabreeze, and winds of 15-20 knots. Most courses ended up finishing in a short range squall under black skies and rainy, blustery conditions. It passed quickly and blue skies returned in time for trophy presentations.

“Today was a fantastic end to a great week of sailing,” said Liz Shaw, principal race officer, Chester Race Week 2014. “The racing was incredibly close and exciting, with a number of classes decided by mere seconds on the last race.”

“What great sportsmanship again this year at Chester Race Week. Boats are taking the appropriate penalties when they have broken a rule, either on the water or off,” said Kathy Dyer, chief judge, Chester Race Week 2014. “I want to thank and give credit to the members of the protest committee for handling the 16 matters that our way this week. It’s a difficult job, but they handled it with professionalism and great respect for the competitors and the Racing Rules of Sailing.”

Making its first appearance on the Chester Race Week 2014 scene was the International 14 fleet. Six fast, two-person, two-trapeze skiffs, all from Ontario, demonstrated their racing skills on the choppy waters of Mahone Bay.

“We had a fantastic event. We took the i14s out for a practice run on Tuesday and everyone said if the weather turned and race week was canceled, that one day alone would have been worth the trip,” said Rob Paterson, skipper, Red Headed Step Child, Royal Canadian Yacht Club. “It was refreshing to not have to travel too far to get these great conditions. Every regatta in the world should be run like Chester Race Week — great racing and lots of events for everyone.”

“All in all, Chester Race Week 2014 was an incredible event. There were a lot of standout moments over the past few days in weather and competition, and sailors were mentally and physically pushed to their limits,” said Shaw. “Our new web-based regatta management system, YachtScoring.com, delivered results faster and more accurately than ever before.”

Overall, an excellent week with plenty of sun, beautiful scenery, an abundant mix of boat types and better than average sailing conditions for Chester this week if you like to sail in big breeze.

FINAL RESULTS

Distance A1 (PHRF_ToT – 7 Boats)
1. Brilliance, J 120 40, Richard Calder , Dartmouth, NS, CAN – 2, 2, 5, 1, ; 10
2. Adios, J 120 40, Dwayne Smithers , chester, NS, CAN – 3, 1, 4, 2, ; 10
3. Team Ocean , Melges 32 32, John Roy , Haliafx, NS, Can – 1, 8/DSQ, 1, 4, ; 14

Distance A2 (PHRF_ToT – 15 Boats)
1. Climax, 1D35 35, Nathan Reece , Dartmouth, NS, CAN – 6, 1, 11, 1, ; 19
2. Wandrian , Taylor 41 41, Bill Tucker , Halifax, NS, CAN – 2, 16/RAF, 1, 3, ; 22
3. MacIntosh, Custom Cartwright 44, Durk Steigenga , Hubbards, NS, CAN – 4, 2, 9, 7, ; 22

Distance A3 (PHRF_ToT – 7 Boats)
1. Poohsticks, J 92 30, Colin Mann , Lunenburg, NS, CAN – 4, 2, 1, 2, ; 9
2. McMac, J 105 34.5, Sean McDermott , Dartmouth, NS, CAN – 6, 1, 4, 1, ; 12
3. PLAYMATE, J 88 29, Jim Snair , Halifax, NS, CAN – 3, 4, 3, 3, ; 13

Distance A4 (PHRF_ToT – 9 Boats)
1. Scotch Mist IV, J 29 29, Chris MacDonald , Lunenburg, NS, CAN – 3, 1, 5, 1, ; 10
2. Slyfox, Peterson 29 29, James Mosher , Lunenburg, NS, CAN – 5, 2, 1, 2, ; 10
3. Equinox, Frers 33 33, Rod Stright , Bedford, NS, USA – 1, 5, 2, 4, ; 12

Distance A5 (PHRF_ToT – 10 Boats)
1. Mayhem, C&C 29 Mark II 29, Richard Gerstenberger , Dartmouth, NS, CAN – 1, 1, 1, 2, ; 5
2. Sisu, Tanzer 22 22, David Peer , Hammonds Plains, NS, CAN – 5, 3, 2, 6, ; 16
3. Saraphie, Whitby 42 42, Bruce Hancock , Halifax, NS, CAN – 9, 2, 8, 1, ; 20

Bravo B1 (PHRF_ToT – 8 Boats)
1. Silver Woman, J 29 29, Andrew Childs , Halifax, NS, CAN – 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 4, [4] ; 12
2. Paradigm Shift, J 29 29, Don Williams , Halifax, NS, CAN – 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 2, 2, 1, 5, [5] ; 26
3. Agent 99, C&C 99 33, Rob Crutcher , Bedford, NS, CAN – 5, 3, 6, 2, 2, 2, 6, 7, 3, 5, 2, [7] ; 36

Bravo B2 (PHRF_ToT – 8 Boats)
1. Highlander, Dehler DB-1 33, Dan Pride , Halifax, NS, CAN – 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, [2] ; 15
2. Flux, J 30 30, Jordan MacNeil , Halifax, NS, CAN – 4, 2, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, [4] ; 17
3. Just Add Water, J 30 30, Jesleine Baker , Halifax, NS, CAN – 3, 4, 6, 5, 3, 4, 9/DNS, 4, 3, 3, 5, [9] ; 40

Bluenose (One Design – 22 Boats)
1. Wahoo, Bluenose 23, Henry Demone , Lunenburg, NS, CAN – 2, 2, 10, 1, 3, 2, 2, [10] ; 12
2. Mahaska, Bluenose 23, Karl Mitchell , Lunenburg County, NS, CAN – 1, 1, 5, 13, 9, 1, 1, [13] ; 18
3. Barbarian, Bluenose 23, Keith Fox , Chester, NS, CAN – 3, 5, 1, 5, 2, 4, 4, [5] ; 19

PHRF – Non-Spinnaker 1 (PHRF = or < 155) (PHRF_ToT – 8 Boats)
1. Mariah, C&C 35 35, Keith Johnson , Chester, NS, CAN – 2, 3, 2, 1, ; 8
2. Mischief, C&C 40 40, Jeff Costwell , Head of St Margarets Bay, NS, CAN – 6, 1, 3, 3, ; 13
3. Pursuit, Peterson 46 46.3, Bob Belliveau , Chester, NS, CAN – 3, 9/DNF, 1, 2, ; 15

PHRF – Non-Spinnaker 2 (PHRF = or > 156) (PHRF_ToT – 10 Boats)
1. Warp Drive, Sonar 23, Paul Avery , Chester, NS, CAN – 1, 4, 1, ; 6
2. Terpsichore, S&S 34 34, Mark MacNeil , Halifax, NS, CAN – 2, 6, 3, ; 11
3. Patience, Nonsuch 30 Ultra 30, Bruce Flinn , Halifax, NS, CAN – 3, 7, 2, ; 12

Classic Yachts (PHRF_ToT – 8 Boats)
1. ripple, Chester C 38 , jim rafuse , Chester, NS, CAN – 1, 1, 2, ; 4
2. Hayseed IV, Wm Gardner P 54, Christopher Wurts , Chester, NS, CAN – 3, 2, 3, ; 8
3. Virginia, Universal Q 43.84, John W Jr Wurts , Chester, NS, CAN – 2, 3, 4, ; 9

IOD (One Design – 5 Boats)
1. Squall, IOD 33, Peter Wickwire , Halifax, NS, CAN – 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, [2] ; 12
2. mighty mo, IOD 33, richard thompson , Chester, NS, CAN – 1, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 5, [5] ; 14
3. Elida, IOD 33, Jay Nadelson , Chester, NS, CAN – 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, [4] ; 29

J/24 (One Design – 9 Boats)
1. Sticky Fingers, J 24 24, John Whynacht , Mahone Bay, NS, CAN – 5, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 4, 1, 2, [5] ; 19
2. Taz, J 24 24, Nick Jako , Toronto, Ont, CAN – 2, 5, 2, 2, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 5, 3, [5] ; 26
3. Adrenaline Rush, J 24 24, Gregory Blunden , Halifax, NS, CAN – 1, 3, 6, 4, 3, 1, 2, 5, 2, 2, 6, [6] ; 29

Farr 30 (One Design – 7 Boats)
1. Press Gang, Farr 30 30, Roland van Hazel , Toronto, On, CAN – 2, 1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 5, 1, 1, 1, 2, [5] ; 17
2. One More Time, Farr 30 30, Rob Gale/ Ed Steeves , Halifax, NS, CAN – 1, 2, 3, 1, 4, 1, 1, 2, 2, 5, 1, [5] ; 18
3. Venturesome, Farr 30 30, Ben Maloney , Bedford, NS, CAN – 3, 5, 5, 2, 2, 2, 4, 4, 3, 2, 4, [5] ; 31

International 14 (One Design – 6 Boats)
1. Red Headed Step Child, International 14 14, Gordo Cook , Toronto, Ont, CAN – 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 1, 1, 3, [3] ; 9
2. Something Rude, International 14 14, Peter Hayward , Toronto, Ont, CAN – 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 5, 2, 1, [5] ; 14
3. Goatdog IV, International 14 14, Jamie Keating , Toronto, Ont, CAN – 4, 4, 3, 4, 1, 4, 7/DNF, 7/DNF, [7] ; 27

Event website – Results

Report by event media. Photo by Champ Reyes.

About Chester Race Week
Hosted by the Chester Yacht Club in the picturesque South-Shore Nova Scotia town of Chester in mid August each year, Chester Race Week is Canada’s largest annual keel boat regatta and plays host to more than 140 boats from up and down the Eastern Seaboard.

The regatta was first documented in 1856 and has since been named one of Sailing World magazine’s 14 greatest sailing events in North America. “Race Week” as it is known locally, sees tourists and locals alike taking in the natural beauty of the area by both land and sea. A community-based, volunteer-driven event, Chester Race Week boasts a full schedule of public-friendly events with yacht races, live music, great food, and daily racing seminars.