2003 Mystic Lake Open Won by Manderson

Another Fall Classic was staged on the Mystic Lakes on Sept 27/28. The Medford Boat Club hosted the 29th Annual Mystic Lake Open Regatta and 26 Snipes in attendance had a terrific time by all accounts.

The weekend was kicked off with the return of Junior Sniping to the MLO. 3 Races were held beginning at 10 AM on first day, and they were strongly contested. In the first race Cameron Fraser and Tommy Coyle charged off to a strong lead when Cam's grandfather, Jim sensed a wind shift and announced a course change. Well, Cam heard him correctly, but other sailors dissuaded him and so he led the pack away to the WRONG mark! John Cunningham, however heard and trusted the RC's hail and, sailing the proper course, finished first. In the second race, Rian McCormack and Phil Disciullo (co-skippers) figured out their snipe and lead from horn to horn. In the final race, Cameron and Rian dueled mightily but McCormack./Discuillo won in the end, taking first overall. Chris and Rian, future snipers we hope, displayed excellent tactics and boathandling and we expect top hear more of them.

The main event featured moderate easterly winds, a challenging direction on this north/South oriented body. Race Committee Chairs Berta Swanson and Jim Fraser were greeted by light air following the juniors and so sent the sailors back in for a terrific lunch of pulled pork sandwiches, courtesy of Ray Schmit and Bob Coyle. After a hearty lunch and a spot of beer the wind gods smiled and the RC was able to get off 4 good starts before happy hour. The first race, an Olympic, was won handily by local champ and previous winner of the MLO, Jimmy Bowers, Emily Randall crew. Second place went to host club member Bob Coyle, with crew/son Tommy, with Harry and Sarah Levinson taking third. The Second Race, also Olympic, went to past MLO champ and recent Worlds competitor, John MacRea, with Jan Walker crew Second were John Manderson, teamed with Sue Colie. In the third race Governor Pedro Lorson with perennial crew Mimi Berry reminded the fleet how they won the event two years ago by dominating in a lightening breeze. John Manderson and Stu Colie took second with third place taken by defending MLO champion, John Tagliamonte and crew Erin Sheridan. The fourth and final race was marred, however by a disconnect between the finish boat and the RC, due to a radio failure - the fleet was given erroneous finish horns one lap too early! Several appropriate protests ensued and a revered protest committee (consisting of 2 Rousmanieres and Ken Legler, Tufts sailing coach!) settled them by deciding that the race ought to be resailed. Wise sailors set course for the dockside keg and a anecdotes from the Snipe worlds in Sweden dispensed by Johns MacRae and Manderson who ably represented their fleets and country in Sweden in August.

The great appetizer/cocktail hour, Chinese food dinner, gourmet desert by Chuck D'Antonio, and protest committee distraction barely left time for the traditional Kill-the-Keg Bocci tournament but several stalwarts rolled balls into the wee hours. It was a great evening.

Sunday brought moderate air under overcast skies - very comfortable conditions which allowed Jim and Berta and crew to hold 3 more races despite the Easterly, including one of the famous Butterfly Courses - a Berta Swanson creation which sends boats off in a figure-8 pattern, providing 5 windward legs and a great test of sailing skill!

Race 4 saw John Manderson reveal what he learned in Sweden, winning a race where he rarely had another boat on the SAME LEG. Sean Bennett, new to the class in a borrowed boat , showed it ain't so hard, taking a strong second. Sean, with crew Debbie won the 'travel award', hailing from San Francisco, and were a great addition to the weekend - we hope to see them on the circuit next year! 'Tags', never far from the leaders, took third in that one. The second race Sunday saw Jimmy Bowers assert his usual dominance on his home lake, but John Manderson and Pedro were never far off, taking 2 and 3.

Going into the last race it was Manderson and Bowers, separated by less than 2 pts, followed a couple back by MacRea and then Lorson, and just 1 point was between and Tags, Levinsons and Bennett! The last and deciding race was quite a test, with breexe at the start waning to whispers at the finish. John Manderson was able to master these challenging conditions to win another race and seal the regatta - Pedro took second and Jimmy third while John MacRae was victimized by a Mystic Hole and dropped to 8, dropping his final place to 4th. Tags, Levinsons and Bennetts finished 4-6-5 to set the final places, moving Sean up into trophy range - quite a promising 'newcomer'!

Another great fall regatta on the Mystic due to the efforts of Suzette and Barbara Fraser, the Karons, Disciullos and all the MBC crew - thanks to all!

Respectfully submitted,
Martin Fraser