North American Eight Metre Association

For Immediate release

Final News Release

Aluette wins the Mackenzie Investments 8 Metre World Championship at the RCYC in Toronto

Toronto, Ontario, August 31, 2010 –  Fifteen  8 Metre ( 8mR ) yachts from Canada, the United States, Finland, Scotland and Switzerland competed in 8 races from August 21 – August 27 to decide the Mackenzie Investments 8mR World Championship won by Iris Metten’s Aluette from Switzerland. Helmed by Torsten Müller, it is Aluette’s third World Cup Championship since she was launched in 1995.

Aluette finished 3,2,1,1,2,1,2 to sew-up the Championship by the second last day of the races. Scotland’s Alan Manuel in Lafayette, the 2009 World Cup holder was second and Etobicoke Yacht Club’s Ralph Reiman with Sarissa was third even though she had 4 first place finishes.

Aluette’s team consisted of Torsten Müller, helmsman, YCM (yacht club Meersburg Germany), Günter Reissacher, tactics, SVS (sail association Staad Switzerland), Stefan Schneider, tactics, SVS, Seriously Bieri, foredeck, ASC (Altnauer sail club Switzerland), Christian Gasser, ASC,  and Markus Olbrecht, mast, YCRo (yacht club Romanshorn Switzerland).

In the classic Sira Cup division RCYC’s Rick Self and Mark DeCelles, co-owners of Raven were the run-away winners frequently putting modern boats between them and their classic competitors. Only on the last day was third place Sira Cup finisher Venture II able to keep Raven from a clean sweep of the event. Venture II, owned by Diane Corley and helmed by John Dakin placed second overall in a last light air race coming within a point of tying Bangalore, helmed by Terry McLaughlin for second place in the Sira Cup.

The Mackinac Centennial Trophy for older modern 8 Metres was won by Ron Palm’s Mystery.

The PRO was Mike Milner, who once again demonstrated his professional skills in managing a World Championship race course through a wide variety of wind conditions. The first race on August 22, was delayed by lack of wind which built rapidly to 15 plus by the start. The delay allowed for only one race to be started. The second day of racing was cancelled due to increasing winds with gusts over 25 knots and dangerous building seas. The waves had abated some what by the third day, but NE winds up to 15 knots prevailed once again. By Wednesday the lake had flattened with a light 5 – 8 knots from the North but the wind built again to 15+ for the fifth day of races on Thursday, August 26. The last race was in more usual late August range of 5 – 7 from the SSW. Race legs were usually 2 nautical miles and races were in the 2 hour range. The International Jury headed by Terence Brownrigg of the Royal North and Clyde Yacht Club, was not asked to hear any protests.

Post-race events from BBQ’s to dances and dinners allowed the competitors to rehash the day’s races and renew friendships from previous regattas. By the time of the gala final awards dinner a mood of comradeship had clearly been created. Julia Nairne, Debbie Crossman and their team of volunteers worked extremely hard to make sure this essential part of a successful regatta was in place.

Sponsorship allows these events to occur and the organizers of the 2010 World Championships are grateful for the support provided by many individuals and companies, in particular Mackenzie Investments whose long time connection with 8mR fleet has provided us with the means to hold 2 World Championships along with numerous North American Championships in between.

The 2010 Mackenzie Investments 8mR World Championships were co-Chaired by Christopher and Jennifer Mitchele. Without their hard-work, dedication and devotion to details this event would not have occurred. We owe them our most heartfelt thanks.

About the North American Eight Metre

The 8Metre yacht (8mR) dates back over one hundred years. Today, the 8mR class is comprised of the Classic and Modern divisions. Both types of boats must meet strict measurement criteria for the hull and rig in order to qualify in one of these divisions. Generally, the boat measures approximately 14 metres in length with beams (width) of around 2.5.

The Classic 8mR’s are the mainstay of the class. They provide a display of unmatched wooden beauty and are often kept in families for generations. These are the boats that come to mind first when people think about the 8mR class. The fleet’s status was secured when the Canada’s Cup, the most prestigious regatta on the Great Lakes, was sailed in the 8mR class in the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1950’s. Today, many of the 8mR yachts from this earlier era are still competing at regattas on Lake Ontario where they have been joined by restored classics and moderns from locations around the world.

About Mackenzie Investments

Mackenzie Investments was founded in 1967, and is a leading investment management firm providing investment advisory and related services. With $62.4 billion in assets under management as of July 31, 2010, Mackenzie Investments distributes its services through a diversified network of third-party financial advisors. Mackenzie Investments is a member of the IGM Financial Inc. (TSX: IGM) group of companies. IGM Financial is one of Canada’s premier financial services companies with over $119 billion in total assets under management as of July 31, 2010.

Robert Roy

President

NAEMA

Congratulations to all of the trophy winners and to RAVEN in winning the 8 Metre triple crown in her first season!

And thanks to Jamie Farquharson for being my Price Waterhouse in providing audit and an excel program to check the results and calculations.

2009 Season Scores (download)

NAEMA – NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS PORT CREDIT YACHT CLUB AUGUST 8 – 10, 2009

A very successful and well-run 8mR North Championship was just completed over 3 days at the Port Credit Yacht Club. Ralph Reimann sailed a nearly perfect regatta as his SARISSA dominated as overall Champion and winner of the Sodus Bay Trophy. Richard Self and Mark Decelles in their brand new classic yacht RAVEN won the Sira Cup championship and the Globe and Mail Trophy. RAVEN placed second overall with a first place finish in the 3rd Race Sunday afternoon. Bert Reimann helming ISKAREEN another Classic 8mR, got 3rd overall and second in the Sira Cup championship. Diane Palm’s VENTURE II held down 3rd in the Sira Cup races.

Challenging at all times with several 2nd and 3rd place finishes were Guy Jones in his new modern 8mR Yquem being raced competitively for the first time and John Fowler’s modern Natural.

The erratic weather kept the fleet on the docks till afternoon over the weekend with no wind ( Saturday ) or the threat of line squalls ( Sunday ) but conditions improved and most races were held in just under 10 knots of wind. The exception was the final race on Sunday when the wind died to nothing at the final leeward mark and half the fleet suffered DNF’s.

NAEMA would like to thank the Port Credit Yacht Club, the home of the 1991 8mR WORLD Championships for welcoming us back and staging a great event. Commodore Peter Howells welcomed the fleet Saturday morning and was present at our post race party to recognize 8mR sailors from the past who are still with us. Dick Mitchele of THISBE a former PCYC Commodore was recognized with an Honourary Life Membership at PCYC. Congratulations Dick.

The races were managed with precision and effect by Pat Lymburner and his Race Committee. NAEMA would like to extend its thanks to the entire Race Committee and the Jury headed by Don McIntyre. There were no protests for them to consider.

Our sponsors and contributors also need to be recognized and thanked for their assistance – Jeff Burcher: COACH-BOATS – for the 1st place battle flags, event yacht pennants, and the race course start mark and Media Partners – for keg refreshments at the Sunday après race dock party

Caullyn Godfrey: Regatta Brands – regatta wear supplier and the keg refreshments at the Saturday après race dock party

Hugh Beaton: North Sails – prize table corporate wear

John Dakin: Quantum Sail Design Group – prize table corporate wear and sailing instructions folder

Brian Chapman: UK-Halsey Sailmakers – prize table corporate wear

The real credit for the success of this event and our fleet’s gratitude for all his hard work belongs to Cedric Gyles, Jr. ( SEVERN ) who put in many long hours organizing all aspects of the regatta with Martin Lomas who represented the PCYC as Regatta Chair. Our thanks indeed must go to both gentlemen.

As part of our long term strategy to promote the 8mR fleet as the Best Big Boat Racing on Lake Ontario we are moving the North American Championships around to different yacht clubs in order to give our fleet as wide an exposure as possible. We invite inquiries about ownership, crewing and sponsorship and of course future locations for the North American Championship. In 2010 the event will be held at the Etobicoke Yacht Club prior to the 2010 8mR World Championships at the RCYC in Toronto.

My congratulations to all competitors, and my thanks to our contributors and supporters. Robert Roy President, NAEMA

Thanks to Ced Gyles for this report: The photos will be in the next posting.

The 2009 8 Metre Ski Weekend event was held at Blue Mountain on Saturday, February 14th under sunny skies, with perfect ski temperatures and fabulous snow conditions.  And though we had representation attend the event from all of the yachts in our Fleet, we were a little lighter in the participation for this year’s race.  The yachts that did participate had some very competitive and fun racing which of course was carried over afterwards at the après party with the “shot ski”.  We again had a race course that was a little longer than in prior years, which received good reviews from the competitors, and some for their first time!  Many thanks to Blue for the day and the race course organizing.

Of note was that Michael Jones representing Broad Reach introduced himself and the Charity at lunch.  He not only invited all of our group to attend their event next year but issued a challenge to the winner of our race to compete against the best from theirs.  And in turn, we have reciprocated and invited them to our event next year.

With the great weather, participants were able enjoy their Pastissima sausage and salads lunch on the balcony looking out at the hill from the Gyles chalet.  Joe Balogh conjured up another batch of his famous Hungarian goulash for the dinner, perhaps even spicier than usual, followed by some excellent strudel, (though you can’t smile and show your teeth after eating the poppy seeds until you have rinsed your mouth).

Many thanks to Barb & Ced Gyles for hosting the lunch and Joe Balogh for the dinner at their chalets.  Their hospitality is much appreciated!  And special thanks to all of their helpers in the purchasing, preparing, serving, and clean-up of the meals and the party.  Also thanks to North Sails, Quantum Sail Design Group, and UK-Halsey Sailmakers for supplying this year’s prizes.

We had a great time on and off the hill and look forward to seeing everyone again as we get our boats ready for the 2009 sailing season.

The overall result summary:

Order of Boat Team Scores:
1st – Severn 112.65
2nd – Norseman 117.97
3rd – Bangalore 122.56
4th – Quest 132.95
5th – Thisbe 136.64

Match & Win winners: Hillary Molnar – Peter Epstein

Winner of the Ski Trophy: “Sarissa” – Ralph Reimann was selected as the worthy recipient this year.

Nine 8 Metres sailed in this year’s regatta.  Great series under a variety of winds starting from 5 knots in the first day at first and up to 25+ knots by the end of the last race.  It was a regatta that saw a boat, and not Iskareen this time, sail a near perfect series.  Congratulations to Thisbe!  It saw two collisions, the first one between Bangalore and Norseman.  And the second one between Venture and Severn.  It was a series where Iskareen and Venture each only got one bullet.  It was a series where Severn & others beat Iskareen twice and Venture three times.  It was series where Bart and not Terry McLaughlin steering got a bullet after leading the entire race. Close racing throughout the series including the starts, laylines, mark roundings, and finishes.  Just a great series.  (And the evening parties were good fun too.   Thanks Derek for the Clamato and Andrea for the vodka which complimented the rum blender drinks nicely).

Hot weather all weekend under mostly sunny skies with some good winds.  We also had the opportunity back at the dock after racing each day to try our new tarp supported by battens; great sun cover!   Also great to sail again with Joan Smart, a Severn alumni, who re-joined the crew for this regatta.  

News Release

Wednesday 18th July

The third day in the International 8 Metre Class Centennial World
Championship saw seven times world champion Gefion from Canada win the
first race of the day. The day began with sunshine but little or no wind. After
a long wait the race committee took the fleet several miles down river in
search of wind. The first race was started in five knots of northerly breeze.
At the first mark Gefion was in the lead, followed by Hollandia and the two
Swiss boats Aluette and Yquem.
After a course change due to a wind shift to the east, at the next weather
mark Gefion was still in the lead, then Hollandia and Aluette, with Lafayette in
fourth place, having improved from fifth. This remained the order at the finish.
Aluette, however, was disqualified for a premature start. First of the classic
boats was Anne Sophie from Germany.
The second race of the day started in 7 to 8 knots of wind.
At the start most of the fleet were at the starboard end of the line, with
Lafayette in the middle, allowing Aluette to start in clear air at the port end.
On the first leg Gefion went up the left hand side of course, the rest of the
fleet going right.
First to the weather mark was Aluette, followed by Yquem then Hollandia and
Lafayette. Lafayette then overtook Hollandia round the mark. On the next leg
Aluette extended her lead. Second at the leeward mark was Yquem with
Lafayette and Gefion immediately behind.
On the last two legs of the race, Aluette maintained her lead to the finish.
After several place changes in a tricky shifting breeze, the boats were barely
able to hold spinnakers on the final downwind leg. Yquem finished second,
followed by Gefion and Lafayette.
After an exciting tussle involving several boats over the last hundred yards of
the race, the German boat, Wyvern, in 6th place in the fleet, was first of the
classic boats.
Lafayette, skippered by the host club’s Allan Manuel remains in the lead
overall, despite a disappointing day in the lighter conditions.

News Release

Tuesday 17th July 2007

The second day of racing in the International 8 Metre Class World
Championship at Rhu in Scotland saw a welcome change in the weather, with
sunshine all day, and a south westerly breeze of around eleven or twelve
knots providing two good races for the twenty one yachts from eleven
countries.
After a postponement Hollandia made a perfect start followed by the local
boat, Lafayette. Gefion, from Canada, led at the first mark after a tricky first
leg, followed by the Swiss boat, Aluette, then Gefion, Hollandia, and
Lafayette. At the beginning of the third leg the first three boats went one way,
and Lafayette the other. When the boats next came together, Lafayette was
in the lead from Aluette, with the German boat Wyvern leading the classic
boats from the Australians in Saskia and Finns in Windy. Lafayette scored
her second win, and Aluette her second runners up spot. Hollandia, a
previous champion, was third. Saskia passed Windy to finish once more first
of the classic boats, followed by Windy, and the Japanese Aun.
A second race was started after a long delay caused by a shifting wind and a
general recall, when virtually the whole fleet was over the starting line early.
At the first mark Aluette had a lead which she held throughout the race,
chased all the way by Lafayette. Hollandia fought her way up to third place
from fifth. Aun was first of the Classic boats. After three races the Scottish
boat Lafayette leads from Aluette.