by Jennifer Harker

Sailors were greeted by another sunny Georgian Bay day for Day 4 of racing.

However that sunshine along with warm temperatures delivered variable conditions yet again and it would turn out to be a frustrating day for many.

With only light thermals near shore the fleet headed further out of Midland Bay into Severn Sound to try to catch some wind in the gap and hoped for building southerlies to deliver some satisfying conditions.

In Race 1 Pride USA 31 was sharp with a full spinnaker with Purple Haze USA 51, O’Kelley CAN 79 and Summer CAN 80 bunching together and packed tight. Nantoria CAN 22 uncharacteristically brought up the rear behind Savage USA 75.

Pride USA 31 was putting together an excellent run but it would disappear in the shifty conditions which saw the air leak out of everyone’s spinnakers in the middle of a lovely downwind run.

Purple Haze USA 51 managed to find and capitalize on the right winds and sailed across in first with Savage USA 75 close behind.

Race 2 would again find challenging conditions as skippers’ quest for finding the wind turned futile at times and the fleet was a sea of confusion as everyone tried to ride any elusive gusts.

Savage USA 75 found some wind and jumped into the lead with Purple Haze USA 51 and Summer CAN 80 in pursuit with full spinnakers driving them forward.

The rest of the race was frustration in full force for most but Purple Haze USA 51 would triumph yet again.

Skipper Hugh Loughborough credited his crew which included meteorologist Jeff Brook for the successful day. “With a top notch crew – our resident meteorologist and my brother who I’ve sailed with since I was eight years gold – we managed to pick the shifts and go the right way.”

Loughborough said, “Jeff was talking all day about the southerly wind system and thermal winds and we tried to pick it right.”

They also changed up a few things opting to pack the full size downwind runner spinnaker rather than the smaller one which had created problems in previous races. A favourable course setup contributed to the combination of winning form. “The race committee set the perfect lines today, it was good fun.”

Skippers had to be on their toes to read the winds which changed constantly before, between and during races. Dan Rossi on Savage USA 75 reflected on the day post-race. “The fluky and shifty winds on Midland Bay continued today. At the last minute it shut down and threw off the start and suddenly we had no gas,” he said ruefully.

“On a positive note it was nice to race against my other boat [Purple Haze USA 51]. Making our way to the windward mark it was close racing and then on the downwind we watched the rest of the fleet struggle to get to the mark.”

Lead exchanges and unexpected changes were the hallmark of the day. “It was interesting,” Rossi said. “You could be leading all race and then on the short length to the finish it changes and you lose two to three positions.” Crew member Larry Donaldson laughed and called it, “Going from hero to zero.”

Rossi agreed and said, “The wind gods did not shine on us today and Purple Haze killed us, but at least it was my boat that won.”

Jeff Brook explained the meteorological patterns facing the 5.5ers. “The thermals for Georgian Bay were developing because it’s a sunny day but they’re not very strong thermals because it is fall and the lake is very warm. At the same time a high pressure area was moving out allowing the southerly winds to build.” That creates highly variable wind directions on the course. “The battles between the two winds are typical in Midland Bay and that’s why all 5.5ers should come and experience it for themselves.

Day 4’s results were identical in Race 1 and 2: Purple Haze USA 51, Nantoria CAN 22, Savage USA 75, O’Kelly CAN 79, Pride USA 31and Summer CAN 80.

With Nantoria CAN 22 holding a lock on first, heading into the last day of racing it will be a tight run for second.

Credit Jennifer Harker

Day 4 was a successful one for Purple Haze USA 51. Skipper Hugh Loughborough has raced throughout the week with various crew members.

Credit Steve Killing

Nantoria CAN 22 has a lock on the lead and the last day will be a race for second.