The SUNORA – A Superior Experience
by Izabela Pioro
as printed in “The Chronicle Journal” in July 2001
It’s mid July and the summer temperatures are not the only thing heating up around here. Thunder Bay Yacht Club is half way through its hectic racing schedule and one of most anticipated sailing events is fast approaching. The SUNORA or Superior North Shore Regatta, formerly known as The Red Rock Regatta, is the only racing experience, on the north shore, of its kind.
The brain child of the yacht club’s former Head Honcho or Commodore, Bert Blaauw, the event is now in it’s fifth year and proving to be increasingly popular for sailing families from Ontario and the US. In its first year only seven boats participated, but by 1999 that number grew to 16. At least that many are anticipated to join in again this year.
Blaauw, a Dutch native, has explored Lake Superior over the 14 years he’s lived in Thunder Bay, on his 30 foot Pearson Flyer, aptly named Giant Flyer. He loves the rugged beauty of the north shore with it’s many harbors and inlets.
After one particular trip to Red Rock, 104 km east of Thunder Bay, while savoring the view and sucking on a Cuban cigar, he wondered how many sailors realized just what was on their doorstep, and how many where just too apprehensive to venture out beyond the Sleeping Giant on their own. Over a sociable glass of port with the present commodore, Mike Fabius, the idea of a regatta was formed. It’s initial name coming from the original course which took the regatta to it’s furthest point of Red Rock.
As popular a route as this is, however, it was thought that alternative routes could be looked at for future years, making the course varied, fresh and ever attractive to new and regular participants.
For its fifth year the regatta will go to the quaint and picturesque village of Rossport, 180 km east of Thunder Bay, although a large part of the course will remain similar to previous years. Ports of call include Tee-harbor/Silver Islet, Loon Harbor, Moss Island, and Otter Cove. New anchorages include Bowman island/CPR slip and Battle island.
Bert Blaauw
The regatta starts at about 11 am this Saturday. As with the general ambiance of the regatta, most arrangements are relaxed and allow for those delays often presented by traveling with young families. In past years a good 50 per cent of the boats participating had children on board, some as young as 15 months, other’s as old as 75 years!
The SUNORA is a excellent introduction, not only to the north shore but also to racing. The start lines are generally between land marks allowing easy positioning and ample tacking room. The daily races vary in length from 17 to 22 miles following some of the prettiest shore lines on the lake.
The emphasis, however, is definitely on fun. This is reflected in the racing rules which allow for motoring and for pulling a dinghy. A log of motoring times and speeds must be kept, and is factored into the day’s results. The idea being that all boats finish in reasonable time no matter what the weather presents, leaving plenty of time for fishing, games, sauna-ing, hiking, exploring, photography, swimming (yes there are places in Superior where you can swim leisurely without risking the permanent loss of sensation to the extremities!), BBQ-ing, and of-course that old favorite, relaxing.
Each of the anchorages has its own features and attractions, from the warmer waters of Moss harbor, to the invigorating waterfall at the end of Otter cove. Not only picturesque but also very sanitizing. Yes, natures very own massaging power shower!
Many locations hold historical significance, such as the old silver mining town of Silver Islet, with its restored general store and tea room dating back to the 1850’s. Another is little Battle island. It, not only has a light house which was manned as recently as 1992, but was also the unlikely location for a battle between a passing regiment of Canadian foot soldiers and natives who were hiding out on the tiny island.
There is certainly something to satisfy every taste and interest over the nine days of the regatta.
Weather, on the other hand, is a crap shoot! Although the regatta is held in late July, superb weather on Lake Superior cannot be guaranteed. In past years, participants have had everything but snow thrown at them, though the less desirable weather is usually outweighed by the good and most sailors return with at least a healthy glow if not a beautifully bronzed body!
But even those less than perfect days often present unforeseen adventures and result in great camaraderie amongst SUNORA participants. One particular year several boats found themselves in a thick fog just inside Spar Island, an area known for its tricky waters, calling for good map reading skills and a short keel.
They rafted together and anchored while the crews conferred over hot coffee to find that only one had navigated the area before and still had the way points in his Global Positioning System. Joy! After checking them over they set off in convoy and negotiated the narrow path between high sand banks, shallow shoals and submerged rocks in the eery stillness of pea soup fog. Several hours later all arrived safely at Otter Cove as the sun finally showed itself for the first time that day. The fog lifted leaving a warm and golden end to a most trying, yet satisfying, day on The Lake.
In her book The Superior Way (a Superior cruiser’s bible), Bonny Dahl calls the village of Rossport “a highlight of any cruise on Lake Superior’s north shore”. Already a favorite spot for those who travel in from Thunder Bay, it promises to be another successful venue for the regatta banquet on day four.
In previous years, the layover day included a friendly race in Nipigon Bay, in which the local sailors would join in the competition for the Red Rock Inn-vitational Trophy. This was followed by a banquet at the Inn itself with a midpoint trophy ceremony. This year the race will be replaced by a fishing derby, followed by a banquet at the community hall, catered by the excellent “Serendipity Garden Cafe”.
The return leg of the regatta follows a similar route, ending on the eighth evening back at Tee-harbor with a final beach BBQ and trophy ceremony. Here the special awards are given, such as the Best Family Trophy, awarded to the best family crew, the Corinthian Trophy, awarded to the boat that showed the most perseverence through adversity, and finally the infamous Blue Bottle Trophy .
This particular award is given to the boat that manages to stay in the race in spite of its crew! It came from the very first regatta after an otherwise bright skipper decided to make a stew of forgotten chicken that had sat at the bottom of a hold for eight warm days. After filling a pot with water, herbs and the fowl (pardon the pun) he went on a hike leaving a crew member to tend it. The poor swab endured the stench, which had cleared the area of fellow sailors, for more than an hour until he couldn’t take it any longer. He made a mad dash for shore
with the offending stew and buried it, pot and all, while fending off every fly from a 100 mile radius which had descended upon him. The regatta has not returned to Walkers Channel since!
A rule was subsequently added the following year, stating that a Blue Bottle Trophy recipient should not receive the award two years in succession, no matter how well or often they qualify!
In all, the SUNORA is a very enjoyable and safe way to explore the captivating wilderness of the north shore of Lake Superior, both for the experienced sailor and the uninitiated. The atmosphere is relaxed and family friendly. It is hoped that with the building interest from sailors and sponsors alike, the SUNORA will one day be the LAWISA ( Lake of the Woods International Sailing Association Regatta) of the greatest lake.
For more information about the SUNORA, go to www.Isya.org or contact Bert Blaauw on 807 344 4052
or Mike Fabius on 807 683 8935.
Izabela Pioro has been an active member of the Thunder Bay Yacht Club for seven years, both racing and cruising with her family, including her two young daughters, Hannah 7, and Ashley 5. She is a free lance photographer, specializing in black and white lake and land scenes, sailing action and candid portraiture. To contact Email ipioro@baynet.net or 807 473 5153.