|
Read comments |
 Share on Facebook |
 Printable Version |
 Larger text
|
|
|
In Our Own Back Yard: Chester Race Week offers some of the best sailing around
By Lynn R. Helpard
|
|
Andreas Josenhans and Mary MacInnes
|
|
“We have some of the very best sailing in the world right here in our Nova Scotia back yard,” says world-renowned yacht racer Andreas Josenhans, who has taken on the assignment of Principle Race Officer for this year’s Chester Race Week. With decades of experience sailing in yachting’s major events, including America’s Cup, Rolex, Volvo and Whitbread, a two-time champion in World Soling and Star classes, and a writer of racing manuals, Josenhans is the man for the job. Josenhans, who lives in Lunenburg and works in product development for North Sails Performance Resouces, still sails competitively over 100 days a year.
“Chester Race Week has been around in some form for about 150 years, and is the premier yacht racing event within 500 miles,” explains Race Week Chair Mary MacInnis. “As the yachts have become more sophisticated, so has the racing and that has led to the hiring of Andreas and other race officers to raise the bar in Chester to world class.” MacInnis and Chester Yacht Club Rear Commodore Jenna Creaser attended last year’s Key West Regatta, arguably one of the best yacht regattas in the world, and from there charted a course to make Chester Race Week the best it could be. With world-class ambitions in mind, race organizers readily hired Josenhans when he approached them last fall.
The regatta has always been first rate, but Andreas’ job is now to produce the best racing possible anywhere. “In the Mahone Bay area, we have the finest sailing in a geographically stunning environment, sailing on the ocean with amazing scenery and great summer weather,” says Josenhans. “Many areas on the U.S. east coast are too hot and have no wind in July and August, but here the conditions are the best.” He furthers, “In most competitive sports, such as hockey, the equipment and playing areas remain constant. Not in yacht racing! First, there are the boats themselves, many of which are different and carry handicaps to level the playing field. Then there is the ever changing wind and weather producing constantly variable racing conditions. So it’s not easy to get the best racing possible”.
The regatta draws boats and racing teams from all over the Maritimes to Chester in August, with entries from as far away as Toronto, Bermuda, France and Germany. Last year’s race week brought some 157 yachts. Ms. MacInnis explains that race participants come to do a little sightseeing, a little cruising, and to enjoy all that Chester Race Week has to offer as well.
11 Classes on 3 Courses
Eleven different classes of boats compete in the regatta on three different courses: Alpha is the outside course for the larger yachts, Bravo the inside course, while Charlie is for the very competitive Bluenose sloop fleet. It is the job of the race officers to manage the three courses, taking advantage of the changing winds and other prevailing conditions. Josenhans, with the help of three very experienced racers - Phillip Gow, Brian McInnis and Andrew McCorquodale - will set and manage Alpha. After the onshore skippers meeting, the three will head offshore, placing the race markers to take maximum advantage of the weather conditions prevalent at that time. Participating yachts will then be advised of the rendezvous spot for the race start and the course layout via VHF radio. Jay Hooper will do the same for Bravo, with Ray Cambria running Charlie.
It is the racing skills and knowledge resulting from years’ of experience gleaned from the largest and most competitive regattas around the world that these race officers bring to race week.
“The ability to set the courses at the last minute and then, after the races, to have input directly from the racers - and accept any compliments - is what will raise the bar for the Chester regatta,” says Andreas. “Oh, there will be protests. After all, these are large yachts, with no brakes, maneuvering with as little as one metre between them, but we’ll have the people and tools to settle them promptly and properly. The object of the exercise is to use the weather optimally, what Mother Nature throws at us, so that the racers get the best racing possible out of that day. The techniques we use for course setting and communications are some of the tools to achieve that. We used these same techniques for the last three years on the very competitive J29 regattas at the Lunenburg Yacht Club with positive results.”
Chester Race Week is not only about sailing, but about socializing for both visitors and residents alike. There are afternoon events with live music from 4 to 6 pm each day, with bands providing entertainment from 9 pm to midnight each evening. The awarding of the coveted trophies and prizes takes place on Saturday night. “People love to come to Chester Race Week for the entertainment, food, socializing, and a really good time,” says Ms. MacInnis. “This year we have a web site that will not only provide considerable information about the regatta, but will also allow experienced sailors who want to participate to apply for a berth. Sailboat racing is part of our Maritime heritage. It is a wonderful, recreational sport and a lot more people could get into it.
Using the adage “if we build it, they will come,” Andreas says, “this event will be improved and [will] grow by all we have learned from years of intense international racing competition. It will have a much more open structure with less controversy, better utilization of wind and weather, plus our ability to be quick on our feet and convey considerable information to the racers”.
With a great crew of 200 experienced volunteers, a flotilla of generous sponsors including Scotia Bank, North Sails, Edgewater Marine and Exit Realty, plus the new race officers, Chester Race Week is setting sail for an even greater regatta this year. Perhaps soon, we Maritimers will recognize and appreciate the wonderful yachting we have right in our own back yard.
For information on this year’s Chester Race Week, taking place August 13-16, visit www.ChesterRaceWeek.com.
>> Return to articles main
|
|
|
