Grayness closes out Chester Race Week

Chester, Nova Scotia (August 18, 2018) – After three nearly perfect sunny days, sailors brought out their foul weather gear for the fourth and final day of racing at Helly Hansen Chester Race Week 2018. Thick fog, swells and rains that varied from a sprinkling to torrential downpour didn’t dampen enthusiasm at the many start lines.

“It wouldn’t be Chester if we didn’t have these rainy days,” said Patricia Nelder, 2018 chair of on-water activities. “Despite some fog, the fleets were able to get in a few more races to finish the regatta.”

Throughout the week all four one-design fleets were extremely competitive, moving as one through their courses. It takes an extra edge to lead a fleet where all the boats are essentially identical.

Of the 21 Bluenoses competing this year, Privateer, skippered by 18-year-old Brooklyn-NY native Connor Mraz, with his father Jason and best-friend Will McInnes (Chester, NS) as crew, maintained his position in the top-three boats consistently over four days winning the overall Bluenose Class title for 2018. Mraz said the highlight was three bullet (first place) starts yesterday.

“I’ve been sailing with my dad and Will all summer so we’ve had lots of time to practice together as a team, and we’ve sailed in a variety of conditions. It’s all about consistency and teamwork for us. We each have at least 10 years’ experience on Mahone Bay, so we were able to read the conditions, which made a big difference,” Mraz said.

The Sonar fleet was larger than ever this year, with eight boats competing – six of them from Lunenburg Yacht Club. Halifax-native Rob Barbara and his crew on Barbarian placed in the top 3 in all their races over the four days taking top spot for 2018. Barbara attributes their success to great teamwork and the right conditions.

“The courses were excellent and the conditions were perfect. As a team, we work really well together and we make sure to have fun when we sail. When all these variables align, it makes for fantastic sailing. The regatta couldn’t have been better for us,” Barbara said.

The Farr 30s sailed in a close pack throughout, but Peter Toombs and his boat Head First 3 out of Charlottetown Yacht Club stayed consistently ahead in the fleet of seven boats, winning every race and the 2018 class title.

Rounding out the one-design fleets, Halifax-native Evan Petley-Jones took four bullets, three seconds and two thirds to clinch the 2018 International One Design title aboard Bella.

Kristina Gilbert from Port Credit, Ontario, won a trip from Halifax to Bermuda on a Volvo Ocean Racing yacht and $1,000 in gear for the trip from title sponsor Helly Hansen. Gilbert will be making the 7-day journey from Halifax to Bermuda this November.

Gilbert volunteered as a race committee member at this year’s Helly Hansen Chester Race Week, and has been building up her race-committee experience at regattas across Canada in recent months. She said the chance to race on the Volvo Ocean Race boat is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, and she’s looking forward to the journey. If possible, she is planning to spend some time in Bermuda when she lands.

“I’m in shock. I’ve only ever spent one night on a boat so this will be a really exciting challenge. I met the crew when they were at Port Credit Yacht Club, so I know the people on the boat. I’m excited because it’s going to be amazing, but I’m nervous as well. Fortunately I don’t get seasick.”

Racing is planned for August 15 to 18.

Event details – Race information – Results

Final Results – Top Three

Bluenose (One Design – 21 Boats)
1. Privateer, Bluenose 23, Connor Mraz , Brooklyn, NY, USA – 6 -3 -[8] -8 -5 -3 -4 -1 -1 -1 -5 -6 ; 43
2. Dark’n Stormy, Bluenose 23, John Mosher , Chester, NS, USA – 8 -7 -6 -2 -2 -[15] -1 -7 -4 -2 -2 -3 ; 44
3. Wahoo, Bluenose 23, Henry Demone , Chester, NS, CAN – 9 -1 -1 -3 -9 -2 -5 -6 -6 -[10] -3 -9 ; 54

Classics (Pursuit – 7 Boats)
1. Seneca, Classic 48, David Creighton , Chester, NS, CAN – 1 -3 -1 -1 ; 6
2. Virginia, Wm Gardner Q 46, John Wurts , Chester, NS, CAN – 4 -4 -2 -2 ; 12
3. pursuit, custom peterson 46 46, bob belliveau , chester, CAN – 2 -1 -3 -8 ; 14

Distance 1 (PHRF_ToT – 9 Boats)
1. Deviation, J 120 40, Stu McCrea , Halifax, NS, CAN – 1 -2 -1 -1 -[3] ; 5
2. Wandrian , Taylor 41 41, Bill Tucker , Halifax, NS, CAN – 4 -[5] -3 -2 -2 ; 11
3. Rebel Rebel, X-Yacht X-35 35, Sarah / Greg Hardy , Halifax, NS, CAN – [6] -1 -5 -6 -1 ; 13

Distance 2 (PHRF_ToT – 7 Boats)
1. HELOC, J 35 35, Andrew Childs , Halifax, NS, CAN – [3] -2 -1 -2 -1 ; 6
2. Young Blood, J 100 32′, Larry Creaser , Chester, NS, CAN – 1 -1 -2 -[3] -3 ; 7
3. J’ai Tu, J 35 35, Rodney Johnstone / Gary Bennett , Storrs, CT, USA – 2 -[4] -3 -1 -2 ; 8

Distance 3 (PHRF_ToT – 5 Boats)
1. Poohsticks, J 92 30, Colin Mann , Lunenburg, NS, CAN – [4] -1 -1 -1 -3 ; 6
2. Persistence, Frers 33 33.25, Mike / Heather Hoyt , Herring Cove, NS, CAN – 2 -[3] -2 -2 -1 ; 7
3. Wildthing VI, Beneteau 42s7 42, Greg/Liz Hammond , Glen Margaret, NS, CAN – 1 -4 -4 -[5] -4 ; 13

Distance 4 (PHRF_ToT – 7 Boats)
1. Just Add Water, J 30 30, Jesleine Baker , Halifax, NS, CAN – [3] -1 -1 -1 -1 ; 4
2. Highlander, Dehler DB1 33, Dan Pride , Halifax, NS, CAN – 1 -[4] -4 -2 -4 ; 11
3. Dark Water, C&C 33 29, Donald K Walker , Dartmouth, NS, CAN – 4 -3 -2 -[5] -2 ; 11

Distance 5 (PHRF_ToT – 12 Boats)
1. Foxy Lady, Chaser 29 29, Bob Cragg , Chester , NS, CAN – 3 -1 -[11] -2 -1 ; 7
2. Roguewave, Viking 28 28, Elizabeth Whyte , Halifax, NS, CAN – [5] -2 -4 -1 -2 ; 9
3. Patience, Nonsuch 30 Ultra 30, Bruce Flinn , Halifax, NS, CAN – 1 -6 -1 -6 -[9] ; 14

Inshore 2 – J105 (PHRF_ToT – 5 Boats)
1. McMac, J 105 10.5m, Sean McDermott / Rory MacDonald , Dartmouth, NS, CAN – [2] -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 ; 5
2. MOJO, J 105 35, James Mosher , Lunenburg, NS, CAN – 1 -3 -2 -2 -2 -[6] ; 10
3. Buzz, J 105 35, Barry Eisener , lunenburg, NS, CAN – 3 -2 -[5] -3 -3 -2 ; 13

Inshore 1 (PHRF_ToT – 9 Boats)
1. Painkiller, J 29 29.5, jane filbee , Halifax, NS, CAN – 1 -1 -1 -2 -3 -[5] -3 -1 ; 12
2. Scotch Mist IV, J 29 29, Chris MacDonald , Halifax, NS, CAN – 4 -2 -2 -1 -1 -4 -2 -[5] ; 16
3. Paradigm shift, J 29 29, Don Williams , Halifax, NS, CAN – 3 -4 -[10] -3 -4 -2 -1 -4 ; 21

Inshore 3 (PHRF_ToT – 9 Boats)
1. Apres Ski, Laser 28 28, Tony Thompson , Bedford , NS, CAN – 2 -3 -1 -1 -[5] -1 -1 ; 9
2. Hummin, Soling 26, Bill Haliburton , Halifax, NS, can – 1 -2 -4 -2 -2 -3 -[10] ; 14
3. Hoonigan, Soling 27, Ivan Fitch , Chester, NS, CAN – 4 -1 -3 -4 -[6] -2 -4 ; 18

Distance (Starting on the Inshore Course) – C&C99 (PHRF_ToT – 4 Boats)
1. Agent 99, C&C 99 33, Rob Crutcher , Bedford, NS, CAN – 1 -1 -1 -1 -[2] -1 ; 5
2. Equinox 99, C&C 99 33, Rod Stright , Halifax, NS, CAN – [2] -2 -2 -2 -1 -2 ; 9
3. Demons Dance, C&C 99 32.5, Andrew Watts , Halifax, NS, CAN – 3 -[4] -3 -4 -3 -3 ; 16

Sonar (One Design – 8 Boats)
1. Barbarian, Sonar 23, Rob Barbara , Halifax, NS, CAN – 2 -1 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1 -[3] -1 -1 -3 ; 14
2. Ping, Sonar 23, Andreas Josenhans , Lunenburg , NS, CAN – 1 -2 -1 -[6] -3 -2 -3 -4 -2 -3 -1 ; 22
3. Model T, Sonar 23, Lesley Taylor , Halifax, NS, CAN – [5] -3 -4 -3 -2 -3 -5 -2 -3 -2 -2 ; 29

Farr 30 (One Design – 7 Boats)
1. Head First 3, Farr 30 30, Peter Toombs , Charlottetown, PEI, CAN – [1] -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 ; 10
2. One More Time, Farr 30 30, Rob Gale , Halifax, NS, CAN – 2 -2 -[6] -5 -2 -2 -3 -2 -3 -3 -4 ; 28
3. Yardsail, Farr 30 30, Robert Apold / Roby Douglas , Halifax, NS, CAN – 6 -4 -2 -3 -4 -4 -2 -[7] -7 -2 -3 ; 37

International One Design (One Design – 10 Boats)
1. Bella, IOD 30, Evan Petley-Jones , Halifax, NS, CAN – 2 -1 -1 -[5] -2 -1 -1 -3 -2 -4 -3 ; 20
2. Enigma, IOD 33, Steve Bush , Los Ranchos, NM, USA – 4 -3 -3 -1 -[7] -6 -2 -1 -1 -2 -5 ; 28
3. Restless, IOD 33′, Ted Murphy , Halifax, NS, CAN – 1 -[6] -4 -2 -4 -2 -5 -6 -4 -3 -1 ; 32

Source: Holly Dunn