The Ultimate Bush Regatta

While the racing is great, the real draw of the Skamania Coves Invitational (SCI) regatta is the chance to spend a long weekend hanging out with old friends who share a passion for yee-haw sailing and convivial après sailing. Sailed on the Columbia River, the regatta is now in its third year and a solid fixture on the Pacific Northwest sailing calendar.

Organized by Bill Symes, vice president of the Columbia Gorge Racing Association (CGRA) and the CGRA team, invitees are limited to ILCA Masters and Tasars, two very compatible fleets who were among the first to discover the Gorge back in the 90s, when, according to Symes, competitors brought their own race committee, camped out in the park, and drank cheap wine. This social aspect of sailboat racing has since become a component of many dinghy events, like the High Sierra series held annually at Huntington Lake, CA.

“Zig Burzycki (Seattle, WA) and a few other Tasar sailors pioneered the concept of the bush regatta: an event held in a beautiful, remote location without a typical yacht club or infrastructure to support a regatta,” Tasar competitor Libby McKee commented. “The fleet would bring floating marks, homemade flags, tents, and barbeques.

“Today, the bush regatta is also foundational to how we get to know each other. We camp, cook, tell stories, rig up and race together, and hold a regular post-race debrief, where those who did well talk about set up, their thought process and how they sailed the course. Everyone asks questions and learns. It’s how we all get better as a fleet.”

The recent edition of the Skamania Cove Invitational welcomed 26 boats in the ILCA Master’s class, and 13 in the Tasar fleet. On the first afternoon, with the breeze settling in around 10 knots, two practice races were sailed in perfect conditions. Day 2 brought early morning drizzle and mirror-like conditions; the westerly filled in around 3pm and one race was sailed in 6-8 knots.

The final day of the regatta dawned breezy bringing classic Gorge conditions with gusts into the low 20s by 11 am start time, and big waves. PRO John Abel was determined to get at least four races off (discards kicked in at 5); racing started on time and proceeded at a brisk pace.

The course was a modified trapezoid, featuring two fire-hose-in-the-face reaches and a long downwind to allow the fleets to frolic in the epic Gorge surf. Of course, what goes down must come up, and both fleets had to work for their thrills on the windward legs.

In the end it was the usual suspects at the top of the leader boards: Vancouver Grand Master Al Clark ran away from the 26-strong ILCA Master’s fleet; and Seattle’s Jonathan and Libby McKee held off a late surge by Mike and Molly Karas to top an insanely talented Tasar fleet. But everyone felt like a winner as the fleets beat back up to the Cove after an exhilarating day of sailing in the awesome splendor of the Columbia River Gorge.

“While Saturday preferred those sailing ILCA 7 rigs, Sunday was for the ILCA 6 folks and Al Clark set the standard by winning all four races,” Tracy Usher, who took third in the ICLA class, noted. “The rest of the fleet battled it out in the fresh breeze with lots of emphasis on executing maneuvers and speed on the reaches and runs.

“Master’s handicap points came into play with Bill Symes, truly a Gorge Legend, tying on final points with myself (a Great Grandmaster) as we both pulled clear of Al Sargent (a Master).”

In the Tasar fleet, Jonathan and Libby McKee won the first race on the last day of the regatta, and Mike and Molly Karas took the second and third races. Jay and Lisa Renehan were consistent with a 3,4,3, so it was all on for the final race. The McKees took the pin, crossed the fleet, and never looked back, winning the final race and the Regatta.

“On Saturday the race was won convincingly by the Renehans, marking Lisa’s return to skippering the upwind legs and Jay taking over for the others,” commented Jonathan McKee. “This team has pioneered this technique over the years and it was working for them.

“The Karas again showed their breeze experience by grinding through the fleet to take second in the race and overall, with Jay and Lisa third. Stasi (Burzycki) and Sophia (Kasper) were also having a good day, but they capsized in a huge puff at the jibe mark in Race 4. There were epic battles and close racing throughout the fleet, with every boat showing improvement.”

McKee added, “Scott Lonsway and the Skamania Coves team did an amazing job with the shoreside event. The resort is truly special with accommodation ranging from camping to luxury villas with a hot tub! The beach and grassy rigging area are one of the best for pleasant launching. CGRA again ran a fantastic regatta with a precision trapezoid course, fast and fun reaches, and surfing conditions.

“Surely there is no nicer place to race Tasars than Skamania Coves, and we will definitely be back next year!”

Usher concurred, “It’s a really unique place, and the well protected boat storage area and cove for launching right off the racecourse allows for competitors to stay close together which significantly increases the overall fun factor – serious racing on the water followed by lots of tall tales off the water in an unbeatable location!”

Event details: https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/26435#_home

Source: Michelle Slade