18
Escarpment Magazine Summer 2013
After giving the itinerary to Steve Esplen and his son, Keith at the Billy
Bishop Airport, we decided towait and decide which daywould be best
for flying. It was a challengingweek that began with thunderstorms, fol-
lowed by heavy fog and although it cleared by the third day, the air was
quiet and calm—not even a breeze. Steve suggested that he do a fly over
and radioed back to say “There is virtually no wind and the boats are
bobbing about like rubber ducks in a bathtub.” Finally, on the fourth
day, a stiff breeze blew up from the northwest and we swooped over
the south shore of White Cloud Island. As we passed I held the shutter
down on my Canon and fired off shots like a WWI flying ace.
The Regatta is set up to give all types and sizes of sailboats a chance
at winning a trophy. They use the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet
or PHRF handicap system to put every boat on a level playing field.
Though the system is not perfect, it assures that everyone can take part.
There is also a powerboat division allowing non-sailing craft to cruise
unfamiliar waters in the safety of a racing flotilla.
Many sailors have been coming back to the Regatta for the 27 years it
has been held, so there is a wealth of experience and reminiscing as
well as a tremendous amount of help to be offered after each race when
everyone gets together to discuss their day’s adventures.
Tim has taken part in a number of Atlantic voyages as well as the
Chicago to Mackinac Race. His good friend, Tom Hughes has sailed
through the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean as well as the inter-
coastal waterway. Though both love to travel extensively by sail, they
always come back to the Georgian Bay Regatta. It’s the camaraderie;
the challenge of good competition and definitely it’s the beauty of sail-
ing on the deep blue waters of Georgian Bay.
The 2013 the Georgian Bay Regatta will begin on July 28
th
with regis-
tration in Owen Sound. The racing will start with a race toWhite Cloud
Island, then up to Lion’s Head, Melville Sound, Wiarton, back to the is-
lands then wind up in Meaford on August 3
rd
. The co-chairs for 2013
are Ewan Campbell and Doug Young.
For more information on the regatta go to:
My sincere thanks to Tim Matheson, Ron Owston, Tom Hughes, Steve and Keith Esplen
for their help with this article.
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ESCARPMENT OUTDOORS
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messing around in boats
