This regatta consists of two races on Saturday and one on Sunday. Both A's and B's started together but were scored separately.

The winds were medium to light with the "classical" approach of working the left shore working well. For those not familiar, there is a Boy Scout Camp on the starboard tack layline off the starting line (1/2 mile away?) that every one drag races to. The key to success is a clean start and getting a clean upwind lane. Though playing the shifts more towards the middle of the lake seems attractive from time to time, in the end those that dominated theses races played a conservative "left shore" game. Stu, of course, always breaks the mold by cutting over to the right side of the lake to strike it rich and pass a few boats at a critical time. That's Stu for you!

Stu, who the Sail Bear Regatta, wasn't untouchable, just consistently in the top three boats. The first race, for example, saw Yates with a large lead at the windward mark (located 2+ miles upwind at the first dam), only to find out that he had rounded the wrong way. He lost many boats unwinding, leaving Stu with the opportunity to overtake Roger Patterson (who was having a stellar 1^st race in his brand new 6127 hull) on the ensuing long down wind and reaching legs. In some races, the lead change three or so times. Consistent front pack sailors also included Bob Yates, Kurt Wiese (failed shroud in race 1), Ken Campbell, and John Papadopoulos. It's no surprise that these folks were also consistently taking advantage of the favored pin end of the starting line. Bob reported that it was favored as much as 20 degrees at times!

Though the Lido 14 turnout was down from 1997's 35ish boats (high due to the 1997 Class Championships held in conjunction with the 1997 High Sierra Regatta), the 26 boats that did turn out represented a consistent number of participants compared to years prior with a broad cross section of new and well established sailors. Finally, it was great to see the return to the wood burl trophies!

Reported by John Papadopoulos