Arctica sails into regatta's first place </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 8:23 PM on Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Arctica sails into regatta's first place

By McKibben Jackinsky
Staff writer

With a first place Saturday and a second on Sunday, Arctica, an Islander 29 with Capt. Craig Forrest at the helm, took overall first place in the 13th annual Homer Yacht Club Land's End Regatta.

Twelve boats crossed the starting line Saturday, with 11 returning on Sunday, making for some tough competition for the crews and exciting viewing for spectators lining the beach in front of Land's End Resort.

Forrest credited his crew and a bit of good fortune for the win.

"Everything we did wrong turned out right," he said, laughing.

In addition to Clancy Hughes, who frequently crews for Forrest, the rest of the crew members aboard the Arctica were newcomers. While that's not a good race strategy when every second counts and the ability to understand and follow a captain's orders must be done without delay, this was one instance when it worked. And worked well. Even when Forrest misjudged his position at Sunday's start.

Photographer: McKibben Jackinsky, Homer News

The Arctica left, with capt. Craig Forest, led the competition in the 13th annual Homer Yact Club Land's end regetta.

Concerned the Arctica would cross the line prior to the starting gun, thereby earning Arctica a penalty, Forrest pulled back. With precious minutes slipping by, he watched the other sailboats distance themselves in an effort to reach the "green can," the first point in the course.

"We were falling behind at the start, with the fleet pulling away from us. Then we got into a current that sent us toward the buoy," he said. "We were just lucky."

Kachemak Bay's uncertain weather also was in the sailors' favor, with steady 15-20 knot winds.

"The winds were wonderful, absolutely incredible," Forrest said. "The seas weren't bad. And all of the boats were able to just have fun, as near as I could tell, with no major problems."

This wasn't the first time Forrest and Arctica have won the regatta. At Sunday's award dinner, the trophy presented to Forrest by Darrell Oliver of Land's End notes several previous wins.

Although Forrest enjoyed a brief time to wrap his arms around the silver cup, the trophy remains on display year round at the resort, waiting for another name to be added next year. Perhaps another vessel. Perhaps the Arctica.

"The competition was great. There were still at least four boats that could have easily beaten us," Forrest said. "But I had a fantastic crew. Everybody did their best and when push came to shove, when we really needed to do things, everybody fit together and did it."