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Emory Heisler aboard Chris Smith’s J/80 as the sun begins to set on Lake Pleasant. Photo: Chris Smith.

Temperatures in the mid-80s, wind mostly in the comfy 8-10. Pretty much perfect—and the sailors who spent the Governor’s Cup Saturday (11/24) sailing to and fro on Lake Pleasant were pretty much all smiles.

How do you sail 26.2 miles on Lake Pleasant? According to the diabolical plan of organizer Mike Parker, you do it by sailing north, south, east, and west in intersecting lines around obscure buoys, a floating porta-potty, and a couple islands. Surprisingly, the wind was willing to play along. William Fairchild brought his runner’s GPS along for the ride on Peter Hartleb’s J/80 and found that they logged just over 28 miles for the race, finding they didn’t need to do much upwind tacking that could have lengthened the race.

That pirate planner, Mike Parker. Photo: Fatima Chaoui.

In fact, the first finishers were back home before dark and didn’t need the nearly-full moon for navigation. Who won that gigantic Governor’s Cup Trophy? We’re waiting for word from the official scorekeeper and maybe some more conversation about which of those obscure buoys were intended to be rounding marks. All to be sorted out shortly, we hope.

From left: Keith Kintigh, new members Austin and Kirsten Clary, and Brenda Shears tense up for one of the mark roundings during the all-day Governor’s Cup Regatta. Photo: Fatima Chaoui.

Gathering for the morning start to the 26-mile race. Photo: Fatima Chaoui.

Gorgeous conditions during the 2012 Governor’s Cup, with good breeze and warm temperatures. Photo: Fatima Chaoui.

By Mike Parker, AYC Cruising Director

Does the little sailboat racer inside of you feel a bit cramped, congested, or perhaps confined?

Don’t race much, but want to have a “semi structured” event to cruise our fine Lake Pleasant—perhaps exploring new stretches of water?

Is that a trophy or what? Court Roberts hefts the Governor’s Trophy, won last year aboard his Melges 24. Photo: Mike Ferring

Leave our excellent “round the buoys” racing for a day and stretch your sea legs for 26.2 miles up, down, and around Lake Pleasant in the  Arizona Yacht Club 2012 Governors Cup Regatta.

Aside from the fame and fortune, you could become the proud caretaker for 12 glorious months of the largest trophy AYC has to offer.

This year’s regatta will be similar to last year’s, with a start off the south Pleasant Harbor Marina entrance buoy, crisscrossing the lake, and ending up at the north ramp No Wake zone.

Preliminary guidelines (really):

• There will be strategic legs that round the floating pottys (just in case crew needs to go)
• Uber close legs near the bar/restaurants on the water, with phone numbers on the map for pickup orders
• Open water legs (as much as we have in Arizona) will be scheduled for the later parts of the race, just in case darkness falls before the end
• Multiple classes with take-home trophies for top finishers
• A special prize for the most “Holiday Inspired” boat and crew (and TLAPD is a Holiday)
• Minimal entry fee and NO WHINING! — mostly because your Cruising Director wants to race too this year.

And this addition:

I have received some questions about the Governor’s Cup Regatta that I would like to share with those interested, along with my answers.

1. Will there be a short course for small boats.
2. YES, there will be a “Half Marathon” of 13.1 miles, same start – Portsmouth only
3. Will there be a Single Handed class? If I have 5 boats that want to race single-hand that can fall into ONE rating system, I will make it happen. Fleets will be determined from registrations completed Tuesday, November 20.
4. Will there be “Course Marks” distinguished from other navigation aids? The course marks are islands, floating potties, and navigation buoys. All are listed in order and GPS coordinates are included on the long race SI.
5. For the buoys, your requirement is to round one buoy in the direct vicinity, along a line of buoys. You can round whatever one is more convenient, trying not to gain a DISTANCE advantage. I have tried to make the approaches to the buoy lines equidistant from the previous mark. Of course, not as sexy as 7 Vipers rounding one mark all together with the yelling and churning up the water, but you can watch that during the Fall and Spring  Series and the Birthday Regatta.
6. YOU will be the Race Committee. Keep an eye on your fellows on the water, encourage and assist as needed.

I have received some questions about the Governor’s Cup Regatta that I would like to share with those interested, along with my answers.

1.       Will there be a short course for small boats

a.       YES, there will be a “Half Marathon” of 13.1 miles, same start – Portsmouth only

2.       Will there be a Single Handed class

a.       If I have 5 boats that want to race single handed that can fall into ONE rating system, I will make it happen.  Fleets will be determined from registrations completed Tuesday, November 20.

3.       Will there be “Course Marks” distinguished from other navigation aids?

a.       The course marks are Islands, Floating Potties, and navigation buoys.   All are listed in order and GPS coordinates are included on the long race SI.

b.      For the buoys, your requirement is to round one buoy in the direct vicinity, along a line of buoys.  You can round whatever one is more convenient, trying not to gain a DISTANCE advantage.  I have tried to make the approaches to the buoy lines equidistant from the previous mark.   Of course, not as sexy as 7 Vipers rounding one mark all together with the yelling and churning up the water, but you can watch that during the Fall and Spring  Series and the Birthday Regatta.

4.       YOU will be the Race Committee.  Keep an eye on your fellows on the water, encourage and assist as needed.