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This year’s Fleur de
Lis Regatta was once again held in conjunction with the Pamela Sintes
Memorial Regatta on April 17 & 18, with the major difference this year being
that all three races were on the same weekend.
Fourteen boats
hit the starting line on Saturday in 20+ knots of breeze, which, at times,
gusted up to 30 knots. RC Principal Race Officer Wallace Paletou had his
hands full and found the conditions somewhat challenging when the starting
mark kept drifting off course, but 2 anchors on the pin finally kept it in
place. After a short postponement the racers were off. Gusty winds didn’t
keep the ladies from flying spinnakers on the Windward-Leeward course, with
only a couple of mishaps – a testament to the experience and skill of these
women sailors.
Sunday’s race,
the Pamela Sintes Memorial Regatta, was the opposite from Saturday’s. Light
to non-existent, shifty conditions finally gave way to a WSW breeze, just as
everyone was about to go bonkers from the bugs! While the B Fleet boats
dominated Saturday’s fleet scores, the A boats came on strong on Sunday.
But nobody was able to best Pam Brierre on Zephyr, who was the 2003
Fleur de Lis Spinnaker Fleet winner for the 2nd year in a row.
Pam took home the newly acquired Fleur de Lis Perpetual Trophy. This silver
loving cup was originally won by Dr. Reichard Kahle, in the Southern Yacht
Club to Biloxi Yacht Club long distance race in 1939. Through the
generosity of individual donors and the Lake Pontchartrain Women’s Sailing
Association, the cup was refurbished and engraved, and will be presented
annually to the winner of the spinnaker fleet in the Fleur de Lis Regatta.
A wooden base will hold engraved plates with the names of the winners. It is
currently on display at Southern Yacht Club.
Trophies for individual races were presented by the participating clubs.
Once again, the Sintes family donated the trophies for the overall FDL
series. Their generosity has enabled this event to flourish, and through
their continued support of women’s sailing, it is hoped that this regatta
will develop into a premier women’s event on the Gulf Coast. If you missed
it this year, be sure to get it on your schedule for next spring. It’s a
great way to compete against some of the best women sailors on the Lake, as
well as to meet new friends.
Mamsie Manard, Regatta Co-Chairman |
