The Halloween Regatta is a great way to end the sailing season for the Snipe Fleet.   As with the previous 60 AYC Halloween Regattas, the only way an event of this caliber happens is through the willingness of so many people to contribute to make it exciting and fun.  We want to thank all of you who so generously volunteered time and/or resources to make the 2015 Halloween Regatta a great success.

We had 100% Snipe fleet volunteers’ participation. From loaning boats and cabins, helping with meals, kitchen duties, registration, cleaning, traffic control, design, marketing, and decoration, donation of supplies, sponsoring complimentary race committee meals, awards, appetizers, and of course sailing.

We had committed sailors enthusiastic to make the weekend a great mix of sailing and fun. We had very skilled sailors coming from Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Maryland, California and of course from our own AYC Snipe Fleet 330.

We had the best of PROs:  For the Jr. Regatta, Clint Hodges from the Y Flyer Fleet, and for the main Regatta, Bryce Dryden from the Thistle Fleet.  Both Clint and Bryce put together great race committees willing to do whatever was needed for a great sailing competition.

To make it all legal, Carl Owens and Brainard Cooper provided support as Judge and SCIRA representative respectively, keeping the races fair and compliant.

We cannot be remiss in thanking our Corporate Sponsors for this year: Coral Reef Sailing Apparel, APS, Boat U.S, and Quantum. 

The welcome from the Snipe Fleet 330 with the traditional Friday night Chili was enhanced with the incredible show that the band of Tut Campbell gave.  Tut is a Snipe Sailor and a musician.  Our own Dave Blauvelt and Russell Plunkett joined the music performance.  While adults enjoyed food and music, AYC children enjoyed a Halloween Custom party and Trick or Treat around the Cabin Colony.

Framing the weekend, this year’s weather conditions were very favorable:  overcast, not too cold, not too hot.  Wind was there, shifty and all, but that is Lake Allatoona and we take it as it comes.

The Junior Regatta with 7 boats 

• First place:  William Kibler and Timo Krauss. (Georgia/Germany Team)
  
• Second place:  Christopher Syrul and Carlyn Blauvelt. (Tennessee/Georgia Team)
  
• Third Place:  Jasper Frazee and Nicole Ryan. (Annapolis Team)
  

Thirty eight (38) boats made up the Spooks group and 7 boats participated as Goblins.  After a Saturday filled with sailing, a cup of Hot Buttered Rum energized people to start an evening of fun.   Appetizers, a great catered meal, music, dancing, costumes and then the traditional costume awards for the most original, the most controversial, and team effort were awarded by the Judges of the night Mark and Mindy Sherry.

This year we had a Chez Pas Boxswine Pig – Craig McLean- wining the most original, and The Chesapeake Crab Feast, The Annapolis Teams from Snipe Fleet 532 winning for the second year the prize for Team Effort. This fun group of sailors is already planning next year’s trip and is inviting all AYC to go to Annapolis soon.  

Sunday morning’s competition determined the winners of Halloween. 

In the Spooks group:

• 1.       Paul Abdullah and Marie (Thompson) Abdullah - Florida
• 2.       Tarasa Davis and Merrill Varn - Georgia
• 3.       Sonya Smith and Steve Pickle – Maryland
• 4.       Christopher Stang and Lindsey Stang – South Carolina
• 5.       Ian Elliott and Rita Fullick – Georgia

In the Goblins group:

• 1.       Tut Campbell and Ross Copenhaver
• 2.       Woody McLean and Amelia McLean
• 3.       Jamie Peva and Trish Peva
• 4.       David Blauvelt and Carlyn Blauvelt
• 5.       Craig McLean and Gayle McLean

At the end of this busy weekend, we were tired but proud of all that AYC had accomplished for the Halloween Regatta.  Sailors left with great memories and the desire to come back next year.  If you have never attended a Halloween Regatta and its many social opportunities, please join us next year.