Team Paradise visited Lake Hopatcong this past weekend. Once again, it was time for the annual Tomahawk regatta. The incredible hospitality and friendship from the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club (LHYC) members make this event very special.
Ever since I first came here, we talked about bringing some 2.4mR boats and disabled sailors to the Lake, but it took six years for it to materialize. This year it happened!
We loaded a couple of boats on Danny's Ford 250 and he let Miami on Tuesday night. Danny missed out on Wednesday Night Racing, but as it turned out, it was well worth it.
We met up on Thursday night in the Garden State and headed to the Lake. Two other 2.4mR were brought in as well. Disabled sailor Tim Ripley came to play in his own boat and another boat was brought down form Canada by fellow Star sailor, John Finch.
The Tomahawk Regatta runs on Saturday and Sunday and the organizers usually come up with some fun racing in a different format. Last year there was an E-Scow race around an island and that was a lot of fun. This year was time for the Team Paradise Fleet Challenge. The first raced had sailors representing each sailboat class on the Lake, Thistle, Star, E-Scow and A-Cat. The winner of that race was then pitted against two Team Paradise sailors and my team mate from the 2000 Olympics, Mark Reynolds. It was exciting to watch. Local sailor, Lloyd Kitchin won the first heat and earned the rights to represent the lake sailors. Mark Reynolds got the early lead, but Lloyd was sailing very well and pulled off the victory.
This was the great opportunity to allow club members and fellow Star sailors to see what we do at Team Paradise. Danny and Tim had separate starts in the Tomahawk Regatta and ended up sailing just as much as we did.
Special thanks to the Murphy Family for making it all happen. Also a great big Thank You to Cindy and Kenny Heaton for allowing us to stay in their fabulous home on Point Pleasant. Last, but not least, a Thank You to all Team Paradise supporters around the Lake. We will see you again next year.
Lloyd Kitchin