Eleven Boats Compete in the 2023 David Bleakney Ice Bowl at RVYC

Louise Anstey, December 2023

The Victoria Fleet held the 6th annual David Bleakney Ice Bowl on December 28th.  The forecasts leading up to the day were not encouraging.  ‘Showers and winds of 12 – 18 kts’.  That sounded unpleasant and was over our wind limit for this time of year, especially to enable a good portion of the fleet to participate.  To our surprise, when we arrived at our boats on race day, it was 11 °C (52 °F for our Southern friends) with a gentle breeze, but we could hear winds of 20 kts in nearby Haro Strait.  Nonetheless, the decision was made to race and end racing early if necessary.  So at 11.03 eleven keen 2.4 sailors started the 1st race in a 5 kt SE’er.

For the first 3 races, finding a shift or a little more pressure were huge benefits on both the upwinds and the downwinds.  The tendency was for more stable wind on the right side of the course, whereas a shifty breeze coming off the shore was on the left.  An eagle eye could spot signs on the water, then the challenge was to place yourself to gain the best advantage.  I admit I found successes and failures on both side of the course.  Others must have had a similar experience: Jackie Gay’s results ranged from a high of 3rd to a low of 7th, Brian Robinson, more consistent with a high of 2nd and low of 5th, while Chris Anstey posted a high of 2nd and low of 8th.  Bruce Millar managed the conditions well, posting only 1st s and 2nds.

By Race 4 the breeze increased to 6-8 kts with the occasional puff of 12 kts.  The upwinds were an interesting mix of the right offering more consistent wind and possibly more pressure, while beautiful starboard tack lifts and puffs occasionally graced those on the left.  

In Race 5 a significant chop was coming into the Bay on the right side of the course.  I had tacked onto port early to take advantage of the breeze on the right; however, part way up the beat I felt my speed did not match Bruce’s who was farther left and out of the chop.  I found a favourable shift and tacked onto starboard.  At the weather mark we rounding bow to stern; Bruce had the edge.  Chris and Jackie were next to round.  At the last windward mark the order was the same.  Chris went off to my right looking for the puffs and Jackie went to my left.  Interestingly, during the downwind Jackie made slow gains on Chris and myself.  Then, approaching the finish Chris began accelerating in a significant puff.  I moved closer to the puff and got a piece of it.  We crossed the line three abreast! 

By Race 6 the breeze increased and a noticeable swell was present under the usual chop.  The later was likely due to the wind strength increasing in the Strait.  If you took the right side of the course on the upwind and found a favourable shift to tack to the weather mark, either side of the bay was fine.  On the downwind the swell enabled a bit of surfing.  Jackie capitalized on this on the last downwind, catching up to me, and with one last surf crossed the finish line half a boat length ahead.

The racing was excellent all day.  The RC team under AJ Hesford adjusted the course and start line with the wind shifts.  Most of the fleet was on the line at every start, and all the way around the course there were competitors nearby.  Often two, three and four boats rounded marks one after the other.  At many marks and at the finish line, boats were overlapped.  That makes for fabulous one design racing! 

Final Results: 1st Bruce Millar, 2nd Louise Anstey, 3rd Brian Robinson

Photos below are by Leslie Basham.

In the evening our Victoria 2.4 family gathered in the RVicYC Main Lounge in front of a warm fire for a delicious meal prepared by the Club chef.  We thanked our dear David for initiating this event 6 years ago.  The purpose being to celebrate sailing in December, ‘because we can’ on the West coast, and, more importantly, to enjoy each other’s company.

The day was a beautiful celebration of our 2023 season!

2024 Events, Registration and Results

2024 2.4mR events are listed on the Google Calendar named: Canadian 2.4mR Class Association.  You can view the calendar on the top menu of this site, or add it to your own Google or Microsoft Calendar here.

Date Event Location Club Contact
Jan 22-23  2.4mR CanAm Regatta #1 NOR Port Charlotte FL Charlotte Harbour YC

[at][dot]">Martin Holland

Jan 25-27 

2.4mR CanAm Regatta #2 NOR

Port Charlotte FL Charlotte Harbour YC

Martin Holland

Feb 17-18 2.4mR CanAm Regatta #3 / Edge Sailing Midwinters NOR Port Charlotte FL Charlotte Harbour YC

Martin Holland

Mar 25-26 2.4mR CanAm Regatta #4 NOR Port Charlotte FL Charlotte Harbour YC

Martin Holland

Mar 28-30 2.4mR CanAm Regatta #5 NOR Port Charlotte FL Charlotte Harbour YC

Martin Holland

April 11 2023 AGM of the Canadian 2.4mR Class Association Online 7:30pm EST  

[at][dot]">Peter Wood

April 26-28 Spring Invitational Oxford MD Tred Avon YC Andrew Parish  
May 18-19 Icebreaker Regatta Toronto ON Etobicoke [at][dot]">Darrell Suderman 
June 1-2

RVYC Fleet Championships

(practice or boat maintenance the day before)

Victoria BC Royal Victoria YC [dot][at][dot]">Louise Anstey
June 25-30 C Thomas Clagett Regatta and Clinic Newport RI Sail Newport  Clagett Sailing
July 5-7 RVYC July Training Camp Victoria BC Royal Victoria YC Louise Anstey
July 29 – Aug 3 2.4mR world Championships Kiel SH Germany Kieler Yacht Club  
Aug 9-11 RVYC August Training Camp Victoria BC Royal Victoria YC Louise Anstey
Sept 6-8 Pacific Coast Championships (Victoria) Victoria BC Royal Victoria YC Louise Anstey
Sept 21-23 Canadian 2.4mR Championship  Toronto, ON National Yacht Club [at][dot]">Peter Wood
Sept  25- 29 North American 2.4mR Championship Hamilton, ON Royal Hamilton YC  Peter Wood
Dec   David Bleakney Ice Bowl Victoria BC Royal Victoria YC [dot][at][dot]">Louise Anstey

 

 

2023 Canadian 2.4mR Championship

Peter Wood, Class President

The 2023 Canadian 2.4mR Championship was held September 22 -24 at The National Yacht Club in Toronto, Ontario. The fleet of 26 boats was the largest ever at a Canadian 2.4mR National Championship and attracted entries from Puerto Rico, United States as well as British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario.

Eight races were held over three days however one race was not scored due to Race Committee error. Conditions were perfect under sunny skies with easterly winds ranging from 6 to 20 knots. The final had especially fine wind and waves allowing for exciting surfing on the downwind legs.

In the end Jeff Linton from Davis Island Florida gave everyone a lesson winning six of the seven races and placing second in the other. In second place was Rudy Trejo of Chicago IL. Third Place went to Bruce Millar of Victoria British Columbia. 

For Full results go www.yachtscoring.com and select 2023 2.4mR class events. Photos are on the National Yacht Club Flickr page here.

 

 

2023 Another Successful Pacific Coast Championship

Stacie Louttit

Victoria’s 2.4 Fleet from Royal Victoria YC hosted the 2023 Pacific Coast Championship Regatta September 8 to 10 in beautiful Cadboro Bay. Fifteen 2.4mRs registered for this warm September weekend including sailors Peter Wood from Ottawa, as well as Jeff Reinhold and his ‘new to the 2.4mR’ friends, Jonathan Reichhold and Alex Wigley from Seattle.
 
After a foggy practice day on Friday, we had clear skies with light, tricky SW breezes on both Saturday and Sunday for a total of nine races. Racing was competitive and tight with more than a few photo finishes.
 
Congratulations to Bob Britten who won First Place. Bruce Millar won Second Place followed closely by Louise Anstey in Third Place. Quote of the weekend “Bob was good on Saturday, and brilliant on Sunday.” See https://theclubspot.com/regatta/JCdRgqQ66l/results .
 
 
Many thanks to our excellent race committee of A.J. Hesford and his competent team of volunteers. 
 

Group shot of competitors and volunteers

Coming Out of the Fog during the Practice Race – Leslie Basham

 

Victoria Fleet Runs an August Training Camp

Bill Marshall

Nine members of the Victoria Fleet, plus Matt Koblenzar, a 2.4mR sailor from Milwaukee, participated in our August training camp.
 
On Friday afternoon, Chris Anstey organized on the water drills to practice boat handling and sail trim in what turned out to be breezy conditions. After sailing, the RVicYC Food and Beverage team provided a delicious dinner on the patio for sailors and spouses.
 
On Saturday Alex Fox, a very accomplished local sailor, was our guest coach.  With light air conditions in the Cadboro Bay, Alex led us through exercises focusing on starting techniques, upwind and downwind boat handling skills, and concluded the day with practice races. A nice northerly breeze settled in the bay on Sunday, enabling Fleet member Mark Brown and his son Jeremy to set an excellent course and run 5 races.
 
All in all another fun and informative training camp. Next up, the 2.4 mR Pacific Coast Championship Regatta September 8 to 10, 2023.
 

 

 

Hurricane Idalia Damages Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club Marina

Martin Holland, 1 September 2023

Hello,

I wanted to provide you with some information/pics.  As you can see, we have had major damage to the Club’s Marina. The Club itself is fine.

We will need at least 4 – 6 weeks to evaluate and provide a 2.4mR Regatta Series plan.
Please, pass along the message that we will provide an update as soon as we can but now, we really need the 4-6 weeks.

Sail Fast,

Martin Holland, Punta Gorda, FL. 

941-286-0722

Report from the 2.4 mR Great Lakes Championship

Peter Eagar, August 2023

Another terrific weekend of sailing here in Toronto at the 2.4mR Great Lakes Championship Regatta.

Winds were light and shifty, and current was strong, making for some fun and tricky races.

In all we had 9 boats and we managed to complete 6 races.

Congratulations to Darrell Suderman 1st. Place, Allan Leibel 2nd. Place, and then me in 3rd. Place.  After the drop race Allan and I were tied with 11 points each. Allan had won 2 races and I won 1, so he beat me on the tie breaker.


Thanks very much to our terrific Race Committee and wonderful volunteers!