After an absence of 730 days – courtesy of Covid – the North American 5.5s are back on Georgian Bay in Midland, Ontario, Canada this week.

by Jennifer Harker

Sunday was devoted to prepping six boats as most haven’t touched the water in the two years since the last North American 5.5 Regatta in September 2019.

The hive of activity centred around Midland Bay Sailing Club (MBSC) and Bay Port Yachting Centre and it’s important to note that the North American 5.5M Regattas cannot happen without the essential generosity and support of these two marine centres.

The outstanding camaraderie of the North American group was on display in full force as owners, skippers and crew all pulled together sharing parts and knowledge to repair and replace missing pieces ensuring every boat could make it to the line in competitive form.

Shaking the rust out of their sails – in some cases almost literally – the fleet completed two races on Monday in what can best be described as wacky winds.

“It was a bizarre day, but fun,” CAN 79 O’Kelly’s skipper Don Cameron commented post-race after finishing with a fourth in the first race and third in the second race.

Skippers needed to be on full alert, constantly re-strategize as the winds changed minute to minute, seeming to complete a full 360 degree rotation in one race.

A veteran of decades of sailing on Georgian Bay, Nantoria CAN 22 skipper John Lister said he’d never seen it like that in Midland Bay. Wind shifts of 180 degrees in minutes meant popping a spinnaker in what started out as an upwind leg.

Wacky winds aside, Savage USA 75 skipper Dan Rossi said, “What a wonderful first day of sailing after a two year hiatus, almost to the day. The weather was spectacular with shifty and challenging conditions.”

With shifts between races, during races and even during the same leg Lister called it a ‘crapshoot’ as to who was going to read the rapidly changing winds and adjust accordingly to cross the line first.

“We were very lucky on Nantoria. We have a great team and everyone was working smoothly together.” Nantoria CAN 22 took two firsts on the day – the first win was not unexpected as they were sailing with their regular crew while for others it was more of shakedown race as new crews familiarized themselves with the boats.

The second race was a tighter affair. With traffic around the last mark, a small hole of buoy room opened and taking full advantage, the polished crew got Nantoria CAN 22 over the line in first, closely followed by Purple Haze USA 51 and O’Kelly CAN 79.

With the North American focus on rejuvenating the fleet, and compounded by Covid complications, some teams were short of crew and several sailors stepped up at the last minute.

MBSC member Graeme Jay was aboard a 5.5 for the first time. Normally at the helm of his CS 30 the chance to experience the speed and power of the 5.5s is a treat for him. “It’s getting back to something closer to the roots of sailing. It’s great to get that feeling of speed and to be so close to the water.”

Sailing aboard Savage USA 75 with Rossi, Jay absorbed a lot of knowledge to register a second place finish in race one while enjoying the view of most of the fleet in front of them in the second race. “I don’t have a lot of experience with a spinnaker but it was great to learn, and learn about these boats. It’s a labour of love for these guys.”

The fleet headed out on Day 2 of course racing and Cameron had O’Kelly CAN 79 in fine form. Rounding the first mark in the lead, Cameron widening that lead without a spinnaker, then opted to pop their chute to keep the gap.

Cameron never relinquished his lead despite a lot of movement within the fleet and a last downwind leg charge from Nantoria CAN 22 who then struggled uncharacteristically with some technical difficulties on the last turn to cross the line behind O’Kelly CAN 79.

Savage USA 75 and Purple Haze USA 51 duked it out for third with Rossi’s crew putting together a slick spinnaker dump to overtake Purple Haze USA 51 in the short upwind run to the line.

The fleet was driven off the bay after one race with severe weather warnings predicting thunderstorms and tornadoes.

Three days of racing remain.

Photos

Credit Jennifer Harker

Sunday was devoted to repairing and re-rigging six boats after two years off the water. Hugh Loughborough works to get Purple Haze USA 51 shipshape.

Credit Jennifer Harker

Dean Harker and Don Rethoret examine the spinnaker and do some fine tuning on Summer CAN 80 in pre-race preparations.

Credit Steve Killing

With Covid restrictions preventing some regular crew attending, several sailors stepped into 5.5s for the first time like foredeck crew Graeme Jay aboard Savage USA 75 with Larry Donaldson and Dan Rossi.

Credit Steve Killing

After shaking out the rust there was some close battles on the racecourse during Day 1 and 2 of the North American 5.5M Regatta on Georgian Bay in Midland, Ontario, Canada.