2004 North East Districts

by Joe Konecny

Chris Reil and One Two Many took top honors at the 2004 Fleet 10 Thunderbirds North East Districts (NEDs). The regatta was held on the July 31st weekend, at Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club, in Toronto.

It was “The Reilmeister’s” second NED victory in his 14 years at the helm of a Thunderbird. The former wind surfer has finished in the top three on six previous occasions.

The NED regatta featured six tight races between a half dozen ‘Birds. The weather was unseasonably cool, under clear, sunny skies, with a puffy, 10-to-15 knot northwesterly churning up a light chop.

 One Two Many over came strong performances by Wendy Loat and Looney Tunes, as well as Drew Robertson and Full On, who finished second and third respectively. Other competitors included Joe Konecny and Desperado (fourth), Diane Reid and That Damn Thang (fifth), plus John Morris and Rockit (sixth).

 The Reilmeister faced stiff competition from a Looney Tunes crew focused on recovering a crown she last won in 1998. Since then, Looney Tunes has finished mostly in second place, either behind David Holmes and Rattle Ya Dags, or more recently Oliver Lennox-King and Strange Device, NED champion for 2001, 2002 and 2003.

 Asked about his greatest challenge at the 2004 NEDs, The Reilmeister said: ”Having to defend the lead (in Race Five) at the weather mark by covering Tunes very hard, to the point where they could not make the mark anymore and lost several boats in the process. We sailed off with an even grater lead.”

 The 2004 NED triumph concludes a One Two Many campaign interrupted this year by her dismasting in a collision in the first 100 metres, of her first leg, of her first club race of the season.

 The Reilmeister instead raced in a dozen or more different categories of sailboats this year, particularly onboard David Wolff’s Eight Metre, Jackeen, as well as Wally Hogan’s J-35, Jake.

 Reflecting on his learning curve aboard One Too Many he said: “On the Thunderbird, learning to go fast involved getting the boat balanced. Going the right way was a much slower development, but for me, it happened when I figured out that a knock is not a bad thing if you are on the correct side of it.”

 About his cross-training in recent years, The Reilmeister added: “The value in racing in different fleets is the different tactical situations you face, with the possibility of experiencing other boat handling skills that can be tried in our fleet.”