Annual sailing regatta the 'best ever'

John Underwood edged out a pack of

elite sailors to win the annual Whitefish Lake Regatta held July

16-17 on Whitefish Lake near City Beach.

Nine Laser class sailboats were entered

in this year’s event that was expanded to two days. The Laser is

the Olympic single-handed dinghy and a pure “one design” class —

all of the boats must be exactly the same.

Since Laser boats are all built

identically, the winner is determined solely by sailing skills, not

equipment. Racers have to know where the wind is, and more

importantly, where the wind is going to be later in the course.

Event organizer Peter Aronsson started

up the sailing races two years ago.

The racing started at 7 a.m. both

Saturday and Sunday mornings. A total of 22 back-to-back

around-the-buoys races were held. A strong wind came in early each

morning until about noon.

Event organizer Peter Aronsson noted

that 22 races far exceeds the three total races they got in during

last year’s event.

“The competitive level this year was

very good with the first six boats finishing within 200 feet of

each other,” Aronsson said. “The Canadians gave us all a good

whipping with only John Underwood finishing ahead of them.”

Aronsson led the Whitefish contingent

of boaters, followed by Shawna Moore and Doug Reed.

Peter and Cheri Aronsson have organized

the re-birth of the famous sailing Regatta for the past three

years. They described this year’s event as a “Huge success — the

best ever”.

The Regatta is dedicated to recognizing

the work of the Whitefish Lake Institute in promoting clean and

quiet boating on Whitefish Lake.

The Race Committee, headed up again

this year by Cheri Aronsson with assistants Fred Jones and Heather

Mull, alternated the courses. The Committee Boat anchored at the

starting line was loaned for the Regatta by Bill and Scott

Kahle.

Following the racing an awards ceremony

and luncheon capped off the two days of sailing on Whitefish

Lake.

“It was a beautiful spectacle to see

the white sails and colorful boats against the clear blue skies,

sparkling water, and crisp weather of a beautiful Whitefish summer

day,” Aronsson commented.

Final results

1. John Underwood, Columbia Falls; 2.

David Elliot, Calgary. 3; Richard Quinlan, Lethbridge; 4. Mike

Gilbert, Missoula; 5. Peter Aronsson, Whitefish; 6. Shawna Moore,

Whitefish; 7. Doug Reed, Whitefish; 8. Brook Blakeley,

Stevensville; 9. Austin Gilbert, Missoula in his first Regatta as a

junior sailor.