Frostbite Regatta, Elephant Butte Lake, Saturday, January 24, 2009

Three race boats move in light air before the first race of the Frostbite Regatta. The Hunter 28 Erebus, Etchells Caliente, and C&C 29 Nessie were among 13 boats racing in addition to the committee boat and a cruiser watching the races. The quiet conditions shown in these photos belied the winds that soon developed, with steady breezes reaching 18 knots before settling down to 14 knots for much of the racing, giving the boats plenty of power. The Etchells and J/24s did three buoy races while the cruising boats and scows set off on a long distance race that had them circling Rattlesnake Island and the central part of the lake.

MC scow and more

"Seymour" and his MC Scow.



Committee boat and five racers: Shonto, MC Scow 609, Hunter 28 Erebus, Etchells Caliente, J/24 Kachina, C&C 29 Nessie.

Two cruisers at left, probably 4774 27' Santa Cruz Warm N Fuzzy next to S2 34' Cultural Infidel. At right, MC Scow no. 609 and race committee boat (Ranger 31 Shonto).

Four boats on the water (probably Catalina 30 Salud, Etchells Caliente, C&C29 Nessie, and J/24 Kachina).