Thursday October 8, 2026 dawned and the Weta East Coast Championships / 52nd Indian Summer Regatta was in danger of being blown out.  The forecast for Saturday and Sunday was pushing the envelope for safe Weta racing.  There were also prospects of some storms in the back draft of Hurricane Isiaias.  I was on my way down from the North Carolina Mountains and pulled over for some weather studying and communications with Waccamaw race officials and out of town Weta sailors also planning to head towards Waccamaw.  After much deliberation we believed Friday’s weather would be great for the planned on water coaching clinic to be led by Gareth Ferguson.  The racing forecast was borderline.  The best summary of the decision came from Baxter Gordon who said, “It’s worth the trip for me if we just get to do the clinic.”  So we pressed on.

I arrived at Waccamaw Thursday…

Location: Saratoga Lake Sailing Club

Dates: September 18–20, 2026

Strong Turnout and Competitive Racing on Saratoga Lake

The Saratoga Lake Sailing Club hosted the 2026 Saratoga Multi-Hull Open Regatta (SMOR), welcoming a total fleet of 15 multihulls for a weekend of sailing, social events, and competitive racing. Weta trimarans led the charge as the largest fleet of the event, fielding 7 Wetas alongside competitive Open and Hobie 16 divisions.

High-Tactics in Light Air

While persistent light and shifting breezes limited the regatta to two completed races over the weekend, the tight competition kept tactical boat handling and breeze management at a premium. Weta sailors showcased impressive performance in the light air, taking the top spots overall in the combined handicap scoring.

Overview

The Ithaca Yacht Club hosted its annual late-summer multihull gathering along the western shore of Cayuga Lake. Bringing together a fleet of five Weta trimarans and four catamarans, the weekend offered destination sailing, relaxed fleet social events, and stellar conditions on the water.  A special thanks to Liz, Ranjit, and Keith from Ithaca Yacht Club for their outstanding hospitality.

Event Highlights

Day 1: Friday, August 21 – Arrival & Setup

• Arrival & Camp Setup: Participants arrived Friday afternoon to unhook trailers, set up Wetas and catamarans in the boat staging area, and set up tents for the evening stay.

• Evening Social: Sailors joined the IYC community for Friday night trivia starting at 7:00 PM, followed by informal dinner plans and planning for the weekend.

Racing this time of year in Florida, (the lightening storm capital of the USA) is always exciting. There are light and variable winds except in the vicinity of a Thunderstorm. Saturday it rained until around 10:30AM, then no wind until the Sea Breeze which started around 1:30PM and we had 3 good races in 10 gusting to 12 knots of wind Saturday afternoon.

Sunday it was supposed to start raining around 12 Noon. We were told by the Race Committee to try to get to the starting line by 10AM so we could get some racing in before the rain and quit early so people who have to work Monday could get on the road. Sunday AM the wind was light, gusting to 4 knots from the North, so it took a while to sail South to the starting line. When we got there, We noticed dark ominous clouds build…