Sailboats from the Northeast will be on Lake Champlain for the 40th annual Mayor’s Cup Regatta at 10 a.m. today.
The regatta, a signature event of the four-day Mayor’s Cup Regatta and Festival, will feature races divided into three divisions — Racing, Cruising and Multihull.
Regatta coordinator Dr. Kjell Dahlen said the regatta brings talented sailors to Lake Champlain and also helps showcase Plattsburgh and the North Country.
“I do think this event means a lot to the area,” Dahlen said. “That’s one of the main reasons I have done this as long as I have. There’s always quite a bit of work involved, but I feel that it’s good for the area and great for sailing as well.”
Plattsburgh native Michael Parsons captured the Mayor’s Cup trophy last year, winning in the racing division with a corrected time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 50 seconds.
Richard LeBoeuf, of Dorval, Quebec, placed first in the Cruising division, clocking in at 2:01:55 to take the Rotary Cup, which has been awarded by the Sunrise Rotary Club since 1997.
Hampered by poor weather conditions last year, no boats in the Multihull division competed.
Dahlen said he expects much less wind at this year’s regatta compared to the 2016 event and noted that it will be important for sailors to anticipate quick wind shifts if they want to excel.
“It’s important that they all anticipate wind shifts,” Dahlen said. “If the winds change to the right and you end up on the left side of the course, you’re in bad shape. They need to try and be on the right side of the course before the wind shifts.”
This morning’s forecast calls for showers and thunderstorms, according to The Weather Channel. The temperature will be 71 degrees with winds coming from the south-southeast at five to 10 mph.
“It does look like it is not going to be as windy as it has been,” Dahlen said. “It could be tricky because it sounds like the wind is starting out from the south. There will definitely be some strategy involved.”
Dahlen also acknowledged the threat of possible lightning at race time and said the weather will be monitored. If lightning does present itself, Dahlen said the regatta may be pushed to Sunday.
The regatta will conclude with a post-race barbecue beginning at 4 p.m. followed by an award ceremony at 6 p.m.
Both events will be held at the Plattsburgh Boat Basin on Doc Street.
Click here for the Regatta entry list (does not include boats who entered day of the race)