Chippewa Bay has a reputation in the Thousand Islands. It is one of those shoal infested spots that only the most knowledgeable pilots venture without a chart.
The CYC’s Gold Cup course passes by quite a number of areas that are capable of removing the bottom of one’s boat. The up-river competitors all elected to have a “rock guy” from the CYC race with them.
As the racers made their way to their boats, a flotilla of spectator boats had collected off the down-river end of Oak Island. One of the organizers had to take to a boat and request the spectators move farther into the River, to open the starting line. The racers rumbled to the starting line and were sent off with a cannon blast.
After the race, several of the speedsters delighted the spectators with bat turns and high-speed passes. Eventually, they made their way back to the Oak Island docks for refreshments and the delivery of the Thousand Islands Cup to Jim Hendler. His Baby Gar “La Te Da” proved to be the fastest boat on the course.
By John Kunz
John Kunz and his wife Kelly are summer residents of Chippewa Bay. They winter in Watertown, NY. Along with their three sons, they enjoy the River on a four-season basis - Sailing, Rock Climbing and Skijoring. In February 2016, John took us Skijoring in the Thousand Islands. Read that article again, so you are ready for Winter 2018!
Comments
Comment by: Cliff Yates
Left at: 7:28 PM Tuesday, October 16, 2018
This was such a great event. John and Kelly Kuntz, and their whole family are boat lovers. John's son Dave has a fantastic book available on Amazon detailing the history of Wooden Boats of the area. Just a perfect day for this event and a great crowd gathered on the island, and in boats along the course. I'm looking forward to next years race. John and Kelly Kuntz worked tirelessly for months on this event. I was happy to see it such a success.
Comment by: sidney manes
Left at: 12:39 PM Thursday, October 18, 2018
What a day. My gusts from Syracuse, boating enthusiasts, Art and his wife Nancy, my Daughter Katey and her husband Andy and Amy and I stood on the veranda at Ojibway Island with binoculars and watched every inch of the race. Louis Benton one of my neighbors on Shambo Island was in the race and did himself proud. I commend John and Kelly Kunz for a wonderful afternoon turning back the clock. Lets do it every year as a remembrance of times past.
Posted in: Volume 13, Issue 10, October 2018, Places, Sports, People, archive
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