St. Mary's Sailing
Club
50th
Anniversary Regatta
The
St. Mary’s Sailing Club 50th Anniversary Regatta was
held July 16 and 17, 2005 at the St. Mary’s Sailing Club. The club
is located on the south
shore
of
St. Mary
’s Reservoir, 60 km southwest of
Lethbridge
,
Alberta
. The large reservoir, on the edge of the prairies and the
Rocky
Mountain
foothills, features
Alberta
’s best mid-summer winds. Sailboat racing conditions were
excellent on both days with moderate winds varying from 15 to 30
km/hour, accompanied by occasional gusts and line squalls. A total
of 27 boats from seven
Alberta
sailing clubs competed in seven class races around the buoys and one
total handicap “Round the Island Race”. On the Thursday and
Friday prior to the regatta an open training session was provided by
the Alberta Sailing Team under the leadership of provincial coach
Steve McBride.
About 100 people attended the 50th
Anniversary Regatta as competitors, volunteers, and spectators.
Although much of the club property was underwater due to higher than
usual reservoir levels, club members adapted by preparing a long
narrow corridor for camping, parking, and boat trailers. Excellent
meals were prepared on site by a volunteer team made up of club
members, family, and friends. Race management was provided by a
newly trained regatta management team of local sailors from
Lethbridge
and Brooks, under the direction of Alberta Sailing Association Race
Officer Keith Driver. Many organizations and individuals sponsored
the St. Mary’s Sailing Club 50th Anniversary Regatta
including: The City of Lethbridge, Alberta Sailing Association, Sail
West Sailboats, Glenmore Boats, Alberta Environment, Jason Elliot,
St. Mary’s River Irrigation District, Dr. D. Kennedy, Hostess
Frito Lay, Hill Ridge Hutterite Colony, Peter Quinlan Photography,
Boat Craft,
Lethbridge
Marine, the
Lethbridge
Regional Police Service, Newell Sailing Club, and the Meers Family.
Results of the regatta are summarized below (scoring allows for one
dropped race). Pictures
from the weekend thanks to Peter Quinlan
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