When I arrived at the Bde Maka Ska boathouse on Sat, May 7, 2022, the weather looked perfect for the first High School 420 regatta of the season: clear blue sky, temps in the 70’s, wind in the 10-15 range, which would be manageable by all the sailors. Boys and girls teams from MSC, Minnetonka, Wayzata, and White Bear Lake totaling some 50 sailors, were all busy rigging their boats. Each individual entrant consisted of a skipper and crew that were divided into A or B fleets depending on experience and skill level. As and Bs each sail 2 races after which they rotate boats.
I was to join my son, Ted as Race Committee for the regatta, as we have done many times in the past. The duty of the RC entails setting a course with a starting line and windward mark that will take the sailors approximately 15 minutes to complete 2 laps. The start line must allow space for all the boats to fit side by side with some room to spare. We assembled the boats with a series of horn blasts and started the race after a 3-minute countdown with horns. Any boats that cross the line before the starting signal are informed that they need to return and re-round the start line. As one can imagine, the starts can become hectic with 20 some boats all trying to get a clean start without fouling their neighbors.
All went well for the first 4 or 5 races when Ted and I noticed a pronounced increase in the wind speed, producing ever larger waves and whitecaps. [I consulted the National Weather Service when I got home and found that the top wind gusts reached 40 mph, a speed that tests the skills of even the most experienced sailors]. To avoid capsizing requires precise crew and skipper cooperation; not only must the skipper steer the boat and control the mainsail, but he or she must get as much weight as possible outside the boat by hiking out on the windward side along with the crew to keep the boat as flat in the water as possible. Failure to do all this generally results in a capsize. I commented to Ted that the sailors were doing a masterful job of sailing in these challenging conditions. This was especially true of the girls whose combined weight is usually less than the boys.
At the height of the wind gusts and waves, I observed four boats leading the pack downwind in a tight battle, side by side, to the finish line. They were no more than two feet apart and the bows appeared to be even as they flew toward the line. Since they were sailing faster than the waves in front of them, all four were throwing up thick white spray from their bows that produced a thrilling, dramatic effect. They flashed across the finish line barely a foot separating them. Unfortunately, I had left my camera at home.
While I was thrilled by the tight competition of the four boats, it was the performance of two slightly built young girls who were the final finishers that sticks in my mind. I watched them as they approached the finish line in the last race of the regatta with the fierce winds at their backs. At the last possible moment they slipped their feet in the straps and hiked out, fully extended, only inches above the water. There were no other boats around, so the girls could have finished without expending more energy, but their actions showed a commitment to the sport and a need to do the right thing.
After 6 or 7 hours in a cramped judges boat with endless rocking of strong waves,Ted and I were ready to head to shore. We successfully staged 14 challenging races under extreme conditions without major interruptions. The kids had their fill of tight racing, no doubt, but up to the last they never failed to push themselves with maximum effort.
As we were returning to the dock, I couldn't help reflecting on the wonderful benefits these kids are experiencing in a sport that has so many challenges and so many rewards. I can think of few activities or sports that can match sailing in buildiing comparable personal growth, camaraderie, and self confidence while taking on the elements in a craft that they command.
Larry Salzman, Retired MSC Director