The first annual Jazzfest Regatta was held in New Orleans at the Southern
Yacht Club on May 3 and 4. The threat of bad weather did not materialize,
and, in fact, the weather was about perfect for a regatta. Lake Ponchartrain
is 30 miles across (north to south) and wider east to west, but with an
average depth of only 12 feet (4 meters) it develops great waves with a
north wind, which we had.

Girard Coleman, who now lives in Galveston, Texas, dominated the small but
competitive fleet, sailing to 3 firsts and 2 seconds. Sailing an 11 year old
McGoo with sails so old that they displayed "US" instead of the modern
"USA", Girard had incredible speed and was almost untouchable. He
demonstrated that it's not the boat or the sails as much as the talent and
focus of the skipper and crew. His crew is his wife whom he met while they
were both attending the U.S. Naval Academy.

Dave Tilson, from San Diego and sailing a boat borrowed from Don Hackbarth,
was a solid second, sailing consistently fast. The rest of us sailed in a
tight second fleet, generally all finishing within a minute or two of each
other. In fairness to Gavin O'Hare, an excellent sailor from San Diego, it
should be mentioned that he sailed in borrowed boats (2 different ones) that
just were not up to speed for him.

This regatta should grow in the future years. First, New Orleans is a great
destination almost anytime (except July - September when it is too hot and
humid). Second, the Jazzfest in May is another reason to go (the festive
atmosphere on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter on Friday night was a
light version of Sugarbowl and Mardi Gras). Third, there are few better
places in the world to sail Snipes than on Lake Ponchartrain, and Southern
Yacht Club (second oldest in the USA) is an excellent (if a little stuffy)
facility. Finally, and most important, Watt and Priscilla Duffy and Jerry
Blouin, who organize and execute the regatta, are totally hospitable and
helpful in every way. Jerry served as race committee chairman instead of
sailing. Watt and Priscilla hosted a low country crawfish boil at their home
on Saturday night (after we had all attended Jazzfest events) that was tasty
and great fun. 

Following is my attempt at typing the scores of the regatta:

Boat    Skipper        First  Second  Third   Fourth  Fifth    Total
25949   Coleman         .75     .75     2       .75     2        6.25
27567   Tilson          2       2       .75     2       3        9.75
29014   Hackbarth       3       5       4       5       .75     17.75
25048   Duffy           6       3       3       3       3       21
29200   Norwood         4       4       5       6       4       23
28571   O'Hare          5       6       6       4       5       26

Report submitted by Woody Norwood, Snipe 29200