EVENT SPOTLIGHT: VYC REGATTA

North Sails Smooths The Water For Annual Regatta

The 2022 Vernon Yacht Club Regatta was a great success with 26 boats and well over 100 sailors participating from 4 clubs, including Penticton, Summerland, Kelowna, and Vernon. Some great winds picked up the racer’s spirits on Friday afternoon during the pre-regatta Rum Race from Whiskey Island to the Vernon Yacht Club. Budd Callis and crew on Controlled Skid (Penticton) took the prize. Regular regatta racing on Saturday and Sunday had more subdued winds and lots of liquid sunshine but spirits were high. Lyle Enns on Mystique (Vernon), with his brand new North Sails headsail took 1st place in the Santana fleet. Danny Foster on Shadowfax (Kelowna) took 1st in A fleet, and Harvey Ryll on Wildfire (Summerland) took 1st in C fleet. This year’s regatta committee encouraged more relaxed racers to join in a white sail fleet and Gerard Obbema on Quintessence (Summerland) took 1st in the fleet of 8. Congratulations to Harvey Ryll on Wildfire who won the overall award. No regatta is complete without the competitors feeling the thrill of a big win. Sometimes that win comes with a trophy for top notch racing, but for many it’s that anticipation that their winning ticket will let them head home with a goody that will come in handy for their next sailing adventure. During the awards ceremony most participants don’t walk to the podium to receive a 1st place finish, but they sure love taking part in the afternoon ceremony when the North Sails and Nautical Sailing Services swag is presented to lucky door prize winners. This year Drew Mitchell and the North Sails crew in Vancouver came up big by providing the Vernon Yacht Club Regatta with hats, belts, shirts, croakies and water bottles that will help keep these competitors coming back for future events. This years Vernon Regatta was not the windiest or the driest, but all the competitors had high praise for the camaraderie and also for the value they received for their entry fee. The extra value provided by the generosity of North Sails, Nautical Sailing Services and other fine community supporters helped make the VYC Regatta a big success.