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2024 Champagne Regatta was held the weekend of June 21/22/23 2024 at the Keuka YC, in Hammondsport NY.
This year the modern fleet had 11 boats sailing, and the classic lightning fleet had 13 that actually finished a race, 14 boats sailed. Total regatta turnout 26 boats, largest attendance in several years.
In recent years we have started this event with dinner and social on Friday evening at the Finger Lakes Boating Museum. This year we had 58 people come to the dinner, which included the opportunity to see the recent donations by Dick Hallagan of all his posters from Lightning World Championships and other major events over the past 60+ years. The donations are displayed along with Lightning # 167 and the original mold used to build Lightnings by Skaneateles Boat Company. Special thanks to Lori Foster who was the driving force behind this project.
Dick also came by and visited with us during the awards presentation on Sunday.
We had 3 races on Sat. in light shifting winds. 2 races on Sun. in a brisk 12 - 22 mph breeze from the south. We were fortunate to get the races in, have lunch and completion of awards before the storm front came through on Sunday, very fortunate. Attendees came from all over the east coast, Toronto, ME, NC, MD, VT, VA, IN, as well as Stephen Webb who owns a Lightning in Hawaii and flew to the mainland to join us for some racing as part of his vacation. Dave Starck also attended who is the Lightning class President from Buffalo Canoe Club. Dave also finished 1, 1, 1, 1, 2 - pretty good sailing!
In the classic fleet Bob Astrove, sailing yet another classic boat he has been restoring prevailed with finishes of 2,1,1,1. This year with a wooden mast. Second went to Craig Thayer and third to Dave Chervenic. Mike Yates took first in the wood mast group (Bob isn't allowed to win both), and second went to Mark Schieber.
Thanks to everyone at KYC and our Lightning fleet members and family who helped out this weekend as it takes many people to make these events successful. Special appreciation for Mike Kalinich who received our volunteer award. Mike shows up every year and gives us 3 days of his time to help us in any way he can, such as moving boats, running the boat crane, setting up tents, cleaning up, etc. Thank you Mike! Also want to thank the Doyle family for ensuring this remains the " Pleasant Valley / KYC Champagne Regatta" for their generous donation of Great Western Champagne to award to our regatta champions in the modern and classic divisions.
Thanks to everyone at KYC and our Lightning fleet members and family who helped out this weekend as it takes many people to make these events successful. Special appreciation for Mike Kalinich who received our volunteer award. Mike shows up every year and gives us 3 days of his time to help us in any way he can, such as moving boats, running the boat crane, setting up tents, cleaning up, etc. Thank you Mike! Also want to thank the Doyle family for ensuring this remains the " Pleasant Valley / KYC Champagne Regatta" for their generous donation of Great Western Champagne to award to our regatta champions in the modern and classic divisions.