PROVINCIAL MASTERS' CHAMPION CROWNED AT STURGEON LAKE
Rob Koci celebrated his 54th birthday by taking home top honours at the Ontario Laser Masters' Championships held at the Sturgeon Lake Sailing Club over the weekend of July 12, 13, 2008. In winning, Rob edged out a trio of Water Rats sailors, Richard Sewards, Tobin Young and Nigel Heath. Other notable performances included Richard Roberts of the home Club, finishing 5th overall (top Grand Master), Rick Goldt of the Fanshaw Yacht Club, finishing 6th and the always impressive Jack Pearce, Heinz Gebauer and Ken Robertson, who battled for the top Great Grand Master prizes, with Jack coming out ahead. Pamela Shinkoda sailed strong races on Sunday to take home the medal for top woman.
Seven races over the two days were run by a crew headed up by Andrea and Evan Roberts, who served as Race Committee Chairs, under the watchful eye of their father, who did not shy away from volunteering advice, whether asked for or not. A crew of sailing club instructors and senior sailors helped out. Racing began on Saturday a little after 11 o'clock with unusual southerly winds that took away the home field advantage for Sturgeon Lake sailors, who seemed just as baffled as most other sailors by shifts at the top of the windward leg. Morten Fogh was the exception. He seemed to have it totally figured out in the first three races, winning them all. The last race of the day was won by Tobin Young, but Rob Koci's steady sailing put him in the lead, slightly ahead of Morten after the first day.
David, Penny and Madge Barr feted the sailors on Saturday night at Tolka Lodge with great food and some libations that helped to ease sore muscles and tired bodies. Sailors then repaired to their billets around Sturgeon Point for a well deserved good night's sleep, followed by hearty Sunday morning breakfasts.
Everyone awoke on Sunday to overcast skies and light drizzle, but the weather gods cooperated. The winds picked up and swung from south to west and the sun came out for a great day of racing. With Morten Fogh having abandoned Sunday racing in favour of running in a 10-mile race in Toronto, Rob Koci took a commanding lead by winning the first race of the day. Nigel Heath and Richard Sewards won races six and seven, as the Regatta saw five different sailors emerge as race winners.
The Race Committee had sailors off the water by 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Prizes were awarded and boats packed away and ready to leave by 3:00 p.m., heading back to Ottawa, Toronto, Barrie, Sudbury, London and elsewhere after a weekend of great racing and the great camaraderie that is always so much a part of the Masters' experience.
After being serenaded by a rendition of Happy Birthday (that made clear why these participants were sailors and not singers - Joe Van Rossem's trumpet was sadly absent) and receiving his giant winner's mug, Rob Koci gave thanks on behalf of all for a great regatta: "This is my third regatta at Sturgeon Lake and I will never miss a regatta here. The people on Sturgeon Point are always so welcoming and the racing is always so great. As far as I am concerned, Sturgeon Lake has the best regattas in the province. Thank you to everyone involved."
The Mid-Ontario Championship Regatta will be back to Sturgeon Lake in 2009 and we look forward to the return of the Laser Master sailors for that event. Special thanks also to Morten Fogh who, when he departed Saturday night, left behind T-shirts and hats for the volunteers.