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Vernon boats dominate at regatta

Annual Okanagan Women’s Regatta won by Vernon boats in coached fleet and Kelowna in the PHRF fleet
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Three Vernon boats dominated the coached fleet during the 10th Annual Okanagan Women’s Regatta.

Vernon Yacht Club hosted the event July 7 to 9, where 12 boats divided into two fleets were manned primarily by women racing under the hot Okanagan sun.

The Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF) consisted of boats only crewed by female sailors while the coached fleet allows for a coach (male or female) to be on board in case of an emergency. PHRF is a general rating system that provides the basis for fair racing between dissimilar yachts.

The regatta is a time for women to hone their sailing skills and have the chance to connect with other female sailors on the lake. Sailors had a slow start on Saturday but winds picked up to a light breeze to allow for six races to be held. Sunday started with little to no wind that grew to a light breeze, only to die away by noon so only three races could be held.

By the end of the weekend, Vernon took away the wins in the coached fleet while Kelowna had three boats take the win in the PHRF fleet.

Wy Wurrie, a Santana 525 boat from Kelowna, was helmed by Marsha Hales and crewed by Bev La Casse, Aline Vance, and Shelley Bakker and emerged the winner of the PHRF fleet.

Ayesha, helmed by Cathy Appleby, was crewed by Edie Doerkson, Del Welsh, and Jen Martz and won the coached fleet with the help from coach Don Craske.

In the PHRF fleet, second place went to Razzle Dazzle, third to Always Something. In the coached fleet, second place was won by Mystique with Gypsy Soul taking third.