Kudos to Woody!!! As part of it’s centennial celebration, Dryden was chosen to host the Canadian Masters and Woody and his team made sure it would be THE showcase event. They had daily live music, food venders, magic shows and shore-side bleachers for spectators as well as PA coverage of the racing. The Can-Am Challenge helped draw over twenty competitors from south of the border, even though most would have been there just to race and because it was Woody’s big event.

Mother Nature provided sunny skies, but just enough wind to complete seven races and a long distance race around the island over the three days. Friday, the wind came in spurts, oscillating over 90 degrees, pushing the race committee to reset marks most of the day, just to complete four races. Saturday was even weaker with only one race being completed, but with the festival atmosphere, no one seemed to mind. A truckload of windsurfing gear, donated by Neil Pryde, was given out after the banquet, just before the band started to rock the dance floor with surfer music.

Sunday brought the most consistent wind of the weekend, but not by much. Pushing 8 knots as they set up for the start of the long-distance race, it of course shifted, then faded as the start sequence wound down. Fortunately, it built again and held long enough for most to make it past the halfway point. Then pumping techniques took over. Despite the conditions, the onshore finish line provided excitement and great cheering. Two more races were completed after lunch.

The competition couldn’t have been tighter. Andy Gratton of Oshkosh, WI and Nick Cox of Ottowa, ON tied for first overall. Nick was the most consistent in the fluctuating conditions finishing in the top seven in races counted. But Andy had four firsts including the long-distance race which gave him the tie breaker and first overall. Jeff Adamski returned from his nearly two-year sabbatical from racing to help the Americans take the Can-Am Challenge and extra cash for the ride home. John Darling of Toronto was first in sport fleet.