Ode to Halloween 98 by Nancy Gilreath Spooks and goblins, witches and ghosts, lunch and dinner and great AYC hosts, cause me to compose yet another dumb rhyme, an ode to this year's Halloween time. I felt like I won the Snipe lottery, after a week of such camaraderie! The masters event was nothing but fine, competitors there were forty-nine. The masters are the way to sail, for those who are ready to go upscale. We gorged ourselves on food and drink, Until it seemed our boat would sink. We excelled at trivia and other games, We wore Snipe tags that showed our names, We even managed to sail a few races, focusing on fun and not the places. When all was over and said and done, we were not surprised to see Birger had won. The Fisher duo were the US Champs, the trophy soon will bear their stamps. But the masters did not say good-bye, they stayed around and this is why: To participate in the fun Halloween causing turn-out like we've never seen. Seventy boats graced the autumn lake but unfortunately, none made wake. In past Halloweens I know I've never, seen the lake without a zephyr. The biggest puff we got was none, but that didn't stop us from having fun. Somehow we managed to drift two races, sending us through the usual paces. Are we moving now? we're working hard - but we seem to be drifting straight backward. Are we on starboard or maybe on port? Pole up, pole down, oh what a sport! Forget the sailing, don a mask, the costume contest was a blast! George from the west coast made a boat composed of cardboard, it did not float. The band played dancing southern tunes, as people cavorted across the room. We laughed and talked and stayed out late, knowing the forecast was not great. We had our fun upon the shore, of wind we would have liked some more, but who is there that we can blame? we enjoyed ourselves just the same. First place went to the Atlanta Irvines Followed closely by the Clines, If you want to see more scores yet, please look it up on the internet. The Atlanta fleet planned a lot, crossed their fingers for what they could not. Don't let us realize our greatest fear - support the fleet, come back next year!

A total of 70 Snipe teams competed in this year's Halloween Regatta held 10/24 and 25 at the Atlanta Yacht Club on Lake Allatoona in Atlanta, GA. Several international competitors were in attendance from Norway and Argentina. The high pressure filled in very fast after the cold front rolled thru Atlanta on Thursday of the Masters. With the BIG H right on top of us there was virtually no wind on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. On Saturday after waiting for wind for a few hours Craig Wagner the RC was heard to say ' I am not going to be the first Halloween RC that had no races'. So we did what we came to do race, despite there being not a single puff on the entire lake. What wind there might have been detected was from the north and all 3 fleets were off. The course was shortened to a triangle and Birger Jansen/Liv Ulveie from Norway starting in the 2nd start beat all competitors around the course. Greg and Martha Fisher won the first start. Scott and Steve Adams, new Snipers (son/father) won the Goblins race but failed to check in givng fist time skipper Clay Burnup with father Lee crewing finishing 2nd the lead.

The coustome party was great with the best costumes in years. Yes Monica and Bill did show up, as did viagra, but the neatest ones were the George Szabo designed cardboard snipe which was measured in by Dan Williams and sailed by Alex & Lisa Pline, Jerry Thompson, Sherry Eldridge, George Szabo, Dustin Kays, etc. Jerry was the rudder, and the boat was off course a lot. Also 'plugged in and turned on' won an award. Also several transvertities showed up in leather, with chains and whips.

Sunday was more of the same , after looking promising as the thermals were apparent early as the air heated up and the fog burned off. Those that stuck closest to the shore did the best. The Races were won by John & Leslie Irvine, new proud parents of Max. This clinched the regatta for them by one point over Scotty and Cindy Cline, newly weds. Yes he is married and a homeowner now !

The other fleet was won by Alan Carscaddon who played the puff out of the club cove the best and cruised around the leward mark and to the finish in the puff.

Top Master was Birger, top female skipper was Tarasa Davis with Brian Hackbarth crewing and Top Junior Team was Kays/Adams.

The Goblins was won by Clay Burnup with his dad crewing, 2 nd was the Adams team of Scott and dad Steve crewing. Bob Witman and Vicki Casto were in 3rd Lee and Courtney Bradley in 4th and Jason Snyder and Regis Eagler, new snipers in 5th.

Thanks ya all for coming and we hope to see more new faces next year.

--Don Hackbarth

Pictures from the Regatta