by Jennifer Harker

The first day of the spring North American 5.5M Regatta began on Midland Bay on June 22 2023 with three races in hot and humid conditions. A high pressure ridge predicted some south easterly winds and lots of heating for local thermals, although smoke from raging wildfires continue to affect Ontario weather patterns this month. 

Dan Rossi spent the first day of racing finishing the rigging on his newly restored evolution Jalapena USA 96 while eight boats, including new-to-the-fleet Mavi USA 103, took to the bay.

Mavi represents one of the unique aspects of the North American 5.5M fleet. Last fall Rossi and fellow American Joe Strelow, with the backing of the fleet, launched a last minute rescue operation as Mavi was due to be destroyed in her former California home. Shipped east and safely wintered in Michigan, a May weekend work party had the 1955 Italian boat ready to go for this spring, without an actual owner and looking for a little love. 

Many of the 5.5M have mixed American and Canadian crews with guest skippers and always someone new to 5.5 racing or sailing in general to help with the focus of rejuvenating the fleet in North America. 

Skippered by Midland Bay Sailing Club commodore Hugh Loughborough, Mavi was the one to watch in early racing. In the first race of the day, she was hot to trot and led the fleet off the line at the starting horn, with Summer CAN 80 hot on her heels.

By the second mark the evolutions were rounding into form with O’Kelly CAN 79 on the hunt for Firestorm USA 87.

With owner and skipper Texan William Turner unable to attend, veteran Canadian John Parkhurst filled in as skipper on Firestorm, and foredeck crew Tal Hutcheson said it was a seamless transition. “Parkie got in the boat and was immediately in synch with it.”

That synchronicity saw Firestorm finish the day with two first and a third. “The day was wonderful,” Hutcheson said. “The wind was unexpectedly great. We were going in expecting about five knots and got 10 to 15.”

That is Summer’s sweet spot skipper Dean Harker said. “It was fun today. Summer excels at five to 12 knots. She seems to come alive and really moves in that sweet spot.”

Like many boats today, Summer had spinnaker problems with a triple twist in the first and a sudden wind shift in race three that meant the spinnaker was loaded on the wrong side and foredeck had to scramble for a last minute change. However Harker was pleased with his starts and would finish Day 1 with two seconds and a first in the classics.

He credits some adjustments made this spring for simplifying tactics. “When I got the boat the jib fairleads ran horizontally with two adjustments. I moved the fairleads to traditional orientation which allows a little curve in the sails and keeps it simple.”

Race 2 was a much more tightly packed affair with good tactics seeing Mavi, Summer and Nantoria CAN 22 coming in together to the first mark ahead of the rest of the fleet. Go classics go! (Although Nantoria is racing as an evolution again this regatta to even out the two divisions.)

The question on the downwind leg, with uncertain breezes stirring, was a spinnaker too much trouble for the reward? Firestorm opted for it and the move paid off as they took over the lead.

Confused air continued and frustration mounted as the mark was in sight but boats were stalled before the wind suddenly freshened for a mad rounding at the third mark.

Firestorm lengthened her lead for an uncontested finish to record her second first place finish of the day.

After a well-played race, Purple Haze USA 51, skippered by Matt Cowan was the first classic across the line with Summer close behind and Mavi was moving well at the line to edge out Summer School CAN 31 for third.

Eugene Kokbas was guest skipper at the helm of Summer School for the second time. The boat is now jointly owned by Canadian Matt Thurley and American Joe Lambert.

Kokbas said, “It was a great day, although our results were not.” Last year under Kokbas’s skippering Summer School led the classics to the trophy.

Day one found them still shaking some rust off. “We had our jib halyard and spinnaker halyard mixed up in the first race,” Kokbas said. “By the third race everyone was working well. We can only get better from here,” he said philosophically noting with a laugh that he got to observe the tactics of the fleet from his position at the back of the fleet. “It’s actually pretty to see the fleet ahead, except when you see spinnakers coming towards us. But’s that’s the beauty of sailing, there’s always changes. It’s Midland Bay and it’s a gamble whichever way you go.”

He was interested in Mavi’s performance as he was part of the restoration work party and towed her to Midland in May. “I was surprised by Mavi. She is super quick and she does look good on the water.”

Unfortunately in the third race Mavi was forced to retire with a broken barney post. On shore repairs means she will be back on course tomorrow. Hutcheson was one who lent a hand with the repairs. “The most fun of the fleet is working on other boats trying to make them faster than you,” he said.

He said part of the beauty of the 5.5M is despite the many different methods of design over the years they can still be so close and Hutcheson said that’s fantastic. “Every time a classic beats an evolution is the best.” The speedy classics had them looking over their shoulders throughout the day. “I was shocked by Summer, Dean really had her moving and Mavi blew me away in the first race.”

Race 3 showcased Midland Bay’s unpredictable winds. Race committee reset the course and the fleet was maneuvering hard for the line pushing for every advantage as confidence and familiarity with the boats returned.

O’Kelly dominated the race leading to every mark and without the spinnaker issues that plagued other boats in the sudden shifts of wind. However, it’s never over till it’s over and exciting when a race comes down to the last few hundred metres with the winner uncertain until the horn and Race 3 delivered.

At the end of the day, O’Kelly’s crew was still frustrated by a tactical error at the last leeward mark in the race, that Nantoria quickly capitalized on for the win. Chris Gooding said, “We made a mistake and you can’t make a mistake in this fleet.”

However, with three second place finishes, O’Kelly’s team was thrilled with the day, their best Day 1 results ever. Skipper Don Cameron laughed and said, “We usually blow up at least once in the day. We were really happy with the consistency.”

Spring tune-up and adjustments included moving the mast forward and giving it more rake. “We were pointing with power today,” Cameron said.

Gooding loves the learning curve and is aiming to up their game at the start. “We had less than optimal starts and we can definitely improve in that realm.”

Pride USA 31 used Day 1 to help familiarize a new recruit with not only 5.5 racing, but sailing. Skippered by Joe Strelow and foredeck crew Michael Bloor, they were joined by Bloor’s son Colin for his first ever sailing experience. “It was a lot different than I imagined,” Colin said. “I’ve never sailed, it’s always been powerboats, wakeboarding and tubing. It was a much different experienced today – and I’ve never felt so unintelligent,” he said with a laugh.

He didn’t expect the physicality of it. “I was surprised by how physically demanding it is. I thought it would be easy to move sails around and it is not.

Despite the steep learning curve Bloor said, “I’m really excited to be here. I like trying new things.”

That’s music to the ears of the North American 5.5M group that focuses on introducing new people to the boats and camaraderie of the fleet.

Racing continues until Sunday, June 25.

With her owner and skipper away, Canadian John Parkhurst stepped aboard Firestorm USA 87 and foredeck crew Tal Hutcheson said the transition has been seamless as they sit atop the evolution fleet.

Summer CAN 80 had a strong first day finding her sweet spot in the 10 knot winds and mixing it up with the evolutions all day to be at the head of the classics.

O’Kelly CAN 79 and Nantoria CAN 22 kept it close all day and O’Kelly’s crew was pleased with a consistent day of three second place finishes.