Race 1 - SSE 5 mph & cloudless sky
Fifteen boats on the line at 10:00. Joining nine Fleet 45 MC's were four sailors from Fleet 54 from Hoover YC, Columbus OH and one sailor from Fleet 7 Spring Lake, MI - the 1999 defending champion and proud holder of the "Cowbutt " trophy, Glen Walborn, with his son Reed as crew.

A modified Olympic course was set by our very capable committee, the Cowan Lake Lightning Fleet. Homelake advantage proved true as Phil Weiler (1st) and Carl Pratt (2nd) led Glen Walborn (3rd) and Cowan's Bob Bellafronto (4th) across the line in increasing winds.

Race 2 - South 5 - 8 mph
Mark White, Brian Pace and Jack Sanderson of Fleet 54 mounted a challenge and finished 1st, 2nd , 3rd with Bellafronto and Weiler filling out the top five spots.

Race 3
After a short break for lunch, we went back out to the race course for a pair of long windward-leeward races (with an offset at the weather end and an inside gate at the other). The wind had picked up to 8-10 mph and we spent most of the afternoon (still cloudless and mild) on the high side of the deck. The visitors came out strong, taking the top three spots: 1st Brian Pace (HYC), 2nd Glen Walborn (SLYC), 3rd Doug Keiser (HYC) topped two CLSA sailors - Phil Weiler and Mark Schoenberger for the first five spots.

Race 4
Winds remained at about 10 mph (now out of the SSW). Another long windward-leeward (2x) course was set and Mark White (HYC) led the pack around the bouys with Doug Keiser (HYC) 2nd, Bob Bellafronto (CLSA) 3rd, Brian Pace (HYC) 4th and Glen Walborn (SLYC) 5th. We broke early for dinner with everyone tired and ready to sample the keg of Amber Bock.

Sunday 10/1:

When we woke on Sunday morning, three Columbus sailors (Brian Pace, Mark White, and Doug Keiser were vying for the Cowbutt Trophy, with Phil Weiler and Bob Bellafronto within striking distance. A super "Cowabunga" breakfast complete with an eggs, cheese and sausage "Strata" fueled us for Races 4 and 5, the deciding races of the regatta. Two modified Olympic courses were sailed in light air 5-8 mph. In a must-do effort, Phil Weiler won them both. Bob Bellafronto, Mark White and Brian Pace put in strong showings but when the dust settled, Phil Weiler's three bullets gave him the winning margin and the hometown boy assured that the "Cowbutt" would stay at Cowan Lake until next fall.

The trophies were presented after pull-out and lunch. Glen Walborn, who was kind enough to bring the "Cowbutt" all the way from Spring Lake Michigan personally handed it to its new caretaker, Phil Weiler, winning his 1st regatta. The other results: 2nd - Mark White, 3rd - Brian Pace, 4th (and 1st Master) - Bob Bellafronto, 5th - Doug Keiser. CLSA Commodore, Judy Hearn, won the 1st Womens prize.

Ron Stryker of Hoover Lake Fleet 54 presented the Ohio Trophy based on the combined results of both fleets' regattas. Bob Bellafronto left the lake with two trophies for his efforts.