Report from ILCA North American Championships
Wednesday, August 11

by Nabeel Alsalam

Team Shadowfax (Nabeel, Russ, and Lisbet) had the afternoon of Day Two off because it was blowing too hard.  We went out this morning, but as we were waiting for the blue fleet to start (we are in the green fleet), the wind kept building.  It didn't help that they had two general recalls.  Still we reached back and forth planing all the way.  By the time they got a clean start, they sent us home.  I guess it was blowing in the low to mid 20s with gusts even higher.  However, team Shadowfax (the white steed that takes the white haired wizard--Gandolf--into battle) would have been ready.  The sails and rig were tuned to have everything super flat and we actually were in control and doing well in our few practice beats.  However, we weren't brave enough to practice the spinnaker in those conditions.  The waves were 3 to 6 feet and if a puff didn't get you, a wave would.  If fact, 4 or more boats in the blue fleet capsized and 3 were dismasted including Tito Gonzales--the master of heavy air sailing-- and Dick Hallagan--the master of the Potomac Cup. 


Spending a week sailing here at the Buffalo Canoe Club, which is in Crystal Beach Ontario, Canada, is great great fun.  The beach is sandy and wide.  We wade out to our boat which is on a mooring about 30 yards off the beach (no launching and taking the boat out each day).  We are camping nearby and grill our dinners each night.  Last night we invited people over and had a crowd of 20 or so including Ched Proctor and his son Tom, Todd Johnson and his son Alex and crew Katie, Jamie & Suzie Brickell & crew Mike Green, Pat McGee (who is at a campsite nearby) & crew Ian MacLeod and Jose Monteiro, John Guth, and more.  We grilled burgers, roasted potatoes and enjoyed the campfire well into the cool evening. 

We are off now to visit Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake. 

More later.