Lake Nocona Yacht Club 2012

Welcome to the 19th Annual Lake Nocona Sailboat Regatta - June 23, 2012

Could it be? Is this the Penultimate Regatta?

Reminder: The Annual Regatta is always held the weekend after Father's Day.

History of the Regatta

Bruce Mike Swords

Bruce Major, a lifetime sailor, moved back to Nocona in 1981 into his family cabin on the East side of Lake Nocona. In 1986 Mike Storey, a relatively new sailor, moved back to Lake Nocona on the West side. They both had sailboats and spent all their spare time on the lake sailing. One day Bruce or Mike, no one knows for sure, started bragging, one thing led to another and they started racing each other. In 1994 they made it official and held a race and invited some friends and the rest is history. Thus, the beginning of the Lake Nocona Sailboat Regatta. Each year more and more friends and friends of friends enter the race. Each year one winner gets bragging rights and a silver cup they get to take home until the next Regatta. The Regatta gets bigger every year. This year the race had over 30 boats. Other contests have sprung up over time. The small boat race made up of sunfishes is a site to behold with all the colorful sails. Later in the day we have a Multi-hull race and the Captains Revenge Cup race with a lake full of Sunfishes. The annual regatta is always held the Saturday after Father's day. Come on out and say hi to Mike & Bruce and their friends.

Legend Bank is a long-time sponsor of the Regatta. Many thanks for the ongoing support.

If you don't sail, you might want to go fishing. Wade did.........

2011 Fund Raiser for the Nocona Rural Volunteer Fire Department

For the past few years, the Lake Nocona Yacht Club has used the Saturday Night Awards Party and Dinner to also raise funds for the NRVFD.

Totals for 2011 surpassed $5,000. Thanks to all who were a part of this effort!!!!

As always, but especially in the high winds we had in 2011, we appreciate the support/safety boats supplied by the NRVFD!!!!!!!

Looking back on the 2011 Race

After several years of light winds, last year's 2010 Regatta was blessed with good winds throughout the day. Everyone was hoping the winds for 2011 would be a repeat....WRONG!!! Estimates placed the wind velocity at 20 mph with gusts probably in excess of 30 mph for the morning races. Most big boats had at least one or two "interesting moments" as the winds created challenges to sailing all over the course. One big boat lost its mast and several small boats flipped. Defending Big Boat winner Bruce Major and his crew of John Womble and Brent Womble successfully navigated the 2 lap race to once again bring home the Cup. Newcomer Kevin O'Connell used the big winds to his advantage and raced to a big lead over the rest of the field as he had his first win in the morning Small Boat race.

With even higher winds in place, the Revenge Cup and Multi-Hull races were held with a reduced number of boats as compared to other years. Kevin O'Connell proved his overwhelming win in the morning was no fluke as he won the Revenge Cup with a 5 minute margin. Don Womble and son Brent Womble took their first win in the Multi-Hull division as they beat perennial winner Bill Crowe.

For more complete race results click on the following link Past Results 10-13 and scroll down to 2011.

The start of the 11 am race......