The Montana Cup

We packed up the Rocket and headed to our next destination, Flathead Lake and the Montana Cup. We were invited there by Mike Seth (proud owner of Rocket #9, completion date early October) and his crew Rod and Jed. My son and I were looking forward to a little less wind and fresh water and that is exactly what we got! After 21 hours of driving we couldn't get into that lake quick enough! Flathead Lake reminds me a lot of our home Lake, Okanagan. Both have crystal clean, warm water, warm sunny weather and the lake is surrounded by beautiful mountains.

We arrived on Thursday and put the Rocket into the water which gave us time relax and catch up on some sleep. It also gave me a bit of time to look at changes to the club that Mike had talked about. The host club, North Flathead Lake Yacht Club (NFLYC) had previously that winter, put in new moorage, landscaping and now had a top notch marina and clubhouse.

I also got a chance to observe our competition as they arrived from across the lake and neighboring states. We were put in "A" fleet, boats like the J-24's and Ultimate 20's were in "B" fleet and J-22's and SR21's in "C" fleet. The local boats in our fleet, a Schock 35 "Limerick", an Olson 30 "Jolie Blon' " and a Santa Cruz 33 "Maria" were already at the Marina. One by one the visiting boats arrived. Last years winner a Hobie 33 "Spirit", then the J 90 "Eye Eye", a Frers "Dream Catcher" arrived from the other end of the lake. Then, what I thought was the boat of the week was the extremely well preserved 38ft A-Scow "Camel" followed by her junior cousin a 28ft E-Scow "Sympathy for the Devil". To say it lightly, a very diverse fleet!!














They had a warm up race on Friday night which gave the boys a good chance to get familiar with the boat. As tactician, I ignored the one thing you always do when you come into a new club and unfamiliar waters and that was "follow the locals"! Quite simply, we got slaughtered.

As I was having a beer after the race Mike suggested that we "Hit the Hay", white flag comes early. How early I ask? Skipper's Meeting 6:30, white flag 7:30. I couldn't believe it!! WHY?? Mike explained, at the north end of the lake you have early morning thermals from the north, as it warms up the breeze fades, so by noon its calm. Later in the day it switches and blows from the south and by evening its coming from the west!























Next morning true to their word, a nice 10-12kt breeze and a 7:30 white flag. Quick out of the gates were the Olson 30, Hobie 33 and much to our surprise we corrected over the Schock 35 for third. For the rest of the day (morning) as the wind got lighter we got quicker, especially down wind with the asso. Our philosophy was to try and hang up wind and motor down hill, which we did. As I quickly discovered, even though the boats were diverse, it was a very talented fleet. We were very aware that it was our wind, if it got stronger and wavier the results would be quite different and that is the nature of the one number PHRF beast.


















Next morning, the beast had indeed changed. Wind was stronger and the Greyhounds were flying!! When the J-90 got clear of the fleet she was gone, luckily for the rest of the fleet it only happened a couple of times but everyone saw her potential. The Hobie 33 started to hit last years form but the boat of the day was the Olson 30. All we could do was hang around and stay close enough to correct over on handicap. Things that helped us was the ability to tack as soon as we got a shift and not slow down. Once again our downwind speed put us back in contention. In the end, the Olson couldn't overcome its 5th the day before and since its a "no drop" regatta, we managed to win on a tie breaker with that 5th being their "double edged sword".

If anybody has the ability to tow their boat to regattas you have to consider this regatta www.nfyc.org. The location is phenomenal, competition is excellent, the famous Montana hospitality shines but I will never get used to a 6:30 Skippers Meeting.