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SPORTSRECREATIONPONDSAILORSREGATTATuesdaySeptember220149OldTownpondsailorsbraveweatherforregattaByJACKDANYLCHUKHeavyrainthatthreatenedtoswampthefthannualOldTownPondSailorsRegattastoppedlongenoughSaturdayeveningfor31captainstolaunchtheirvesselsfromtheGovernmentDock.Despiteseriouschallengesfromsomesleekvesselstherewerenosurprisewinners.BoatsdesignedandbuiltbyAnthonyFoliotandLarryJonestookthetopthreeplacesastheyhaveinmostofthepreviousregattas.ItwasadisappointingresultforStephanFolkerswhodevelopedareputationinpre-viousregattasforboatsthatwerecutebutdidntsail.FolkersputtogethertheCohibaasleekmetre-longhullofcedarandvarnishsal-vagedfromthedumpwithashelfbracketforthekeelandrudderandtheremainsofatentforthesails.IhaditoutonthewaterthisafternoonanditgoeslikesnotFolkerssaidbeforetherace.Foliotstartedtheregattaasafuneventthatencouragesfamiliesworktogetherandfostersasenseofaccomplishmentthatcantbeduplicatedbyahigh-techgadgetorgame.Regattarulesprohibitelectroniccontrolsontheboats.Skippersmustsetthesailsandruddersaccordingtotheirbestestimateofthewind.Oncetheboatsleavethedockthereisnoturningbackforadjustment.DespiteseatrialsFolkersgotitwrong.TheCohibastartedsmartlyheadingforthenishlineintheleeofJolliffeIslandbutthenturnedintothebrisksouthwestbreezeandheadedforHayRiver.GaugingthewindbeforetheraceLarryJonesmadelastminuteadjustmentstothesailsonDuckyllandCatandMoletheves-selshebuiltoverthewinterwithhisgrand-sonsAshleyandKym.IthinkweneedmoresailareafortheselightwindsbutImwithinsixsquareinchesofwhatthesehullscantakewithoutcapsiz-ingJonessaid.ThedesignsarebasedonthehullsofAmericasCupwinnersofyearspastscaleddownandloftedbyJones.Theboysplanedsandedandpaintedthehullslaminatedfromboardsfoundbe-sidetheroad.Noteveryonewenttosuchlengths.YellowknifecitycouncillorDanWongwasatthedumpwhenspiedalikelypieceofplasticfoamintheapproximateshapeofaboat.Mastandsailsweretapedinplace.Ittook45minutesandacaseofbeertomotivateusthroughtheprojectsaidWongwhowatchedhiscreationturnturtleatthedock.AshleeKanatsiak5clutcheshisentryinthefthannualOldTownRegatta.Ashleewhowonlastyearsracecameinthirdthisyear.LauraHodginsacceptsthewinnerstropyfromAnthonyFoliotoriginatorandorganizeroftheannualOldTownPondSailorsRegatta.FoliotdesignedtheboatthatHodginssailedtovictoryonSaturday.SailorslaunchtheircraftattheOldTownRegatta.Battlingaheadwindmanyoftheimprovisedboatsdidntevenmakeitoffthedock.Thewinnerstookabout15minutestocrossthenishline25metresout.HelenTurcotteandhergrandsonsEdmondLacoursiereandAugustineLacourisereBerthagetsettolaunchtheirboatsatthepondsailorsregatta.PhotosJackDanylchukandBillBraden