The 4th annual Trout Lake Poker Race was held on Monday, June 30th in warm but changeable weather - a little of everything - just as our weather personalities, Claire Buoyant and Hip Nautical had predicted: sunshine, clouds, showers and winds from 3 to 15 knots plus. Our six-boat fleet was highlighted by the presence of Don Paine, former W112 and W1338, who was one of the founders and early mainstays of the powerful Trout Lake Wayfarer Fleet in the 1960s.

1969: Don and Barb (yellow hull, W1338) head out to the Nationals races on Trout Lake.

Dr. Paine and his wife, Barbara, were both in attendance along with various children and grandchildren, who enjoyed the post-race BBQ picnic at the cottage of John Richardson, also an early member of the Trout Lake Fleet. In this, the year that the Canadian Nationals came to North Bay for the first time since 1969, it was fun to have with us Don and Barbara who placed 6th of 39 Wayfarers in the Nationals held on Trout Lake. The Paines also  have their names on the beautiful Cruise Race Trophy, having won it in 1965.

W1556 (2nd from right) was sailing the '69 Nationals as well, helmed by Dr. Gordon Ross.

This year, Barb was sitting out, and Don sailed W1556 with his son and grandson, Richard and Max, his first go at the Poker Race which involves sailing to five pick-up points to pick up a total of ten playing cards. The tour of Trout Lake to the five way points and race back to the finish line (below) at our hosts' cottage was the first of three "races", the other two being how well your hands #1 and #2 stacked up against the other five hands in the category.

Once more, race organizer, Dave Hansman, had built in a handicap system by having a staggered start of Bob Brown's beach on Delaney Bay. The handicaps were loosely based on performance in the weekend's racing just completed. As Dave recalls:

Don Paine and family
Robin and Andy
Dave and Lori B.
Sue & Steph
Dave and Carol
Al and Julia

I remember that the Paine boat had already reached Ken’s place before Carol and I started.  Seems to me you really gave us all an advanced start.  However, the up/down, shifty winds made things ‘interesting’.  I can remember Carol and I almost broaching in a gust on the way from Ken’s to Richardson’s.

What actually happened in the sailing portion is detailed on the Poker Race pictures page. Here it will suffice to say say that winds, which began light, picked up to go solid hiking strength by the finish. Last year's winners, Dave and Carol Hansman - picture-taking and all - carved their way into the lead on the final long beat after their much delayed start, only to have Dave Richardson and Lori Beehler outshift them near the finish and take a well earned first-place beep. Even so, the Hansmans had two 2nd-place poker hands, by far the best of anybody, and would have won the "series" had it not been for the points penalty - see Dave's explanation and complete results below: