Blue Chips Recap
Oak Hollow Sailing Club celebrated the “Third Annual Nancy Valego Blue Chips Charity Regatta” on Saturday, July 16, 2016, in memory of Nancy Valego, and to raise money for cancer research. Nancy had a passion for sailing and showed it with her many years of volunteer work with Oak Hollow Sailing Club, until her passing in July, 2013, from pancreatic cancer. She trained many new members to sail, and was responsible for establishing Oak Hollow Sailing Club as the trainers for High Point University’s “Basics of Sailing” course each Fall Semester. Her boat “Blue Chips” has remained in our club since Nancy’s death, under the ownership of Melissa Palmer, a long time friend of Nancy’s. We had a beautiful day to remember Nancy, celebrate what she has done for our club, and raise money for cancer research.
In spite of the poor wind and weather forecast leading up to Saturday, we ended up with a very comfortable day to sail. It was overcast, keeping the temperature comfortable, and variable SW winds ranged from 4 to 7 mph. Thirty-six members attended the regatta, which was also attended by Nancy’s husband, Tom. The following volunteers are thanked for their work on Saturday:
Breakfast set-up: Linda Marsh, Les Eger, Dari Starkey, Sally Leigh, Paul Walter
Apparel sales and donations: Dari Starkey, Sue Cole
Lunch: Dari Starkey (thank you for picking up pizzas!)
Race Committee: John Whiting, Chris Malcolm, Mary Dusek, Paul Walter – PRO
Melissa Palmer welcomed everyone at 9:30, and spoke about Nancy Valego and the importance of Nancy’s contributions to the club. Following that Paul Walter (Regatta Primary Race Officer), covered the weather forecast, and the course that was set up (due to light winds and the potential for thunderstorms moving in by noon, a fairly short Windward/Leeward course closer to the marina was set in order to allow for quicker return to the dock, just in case bad weather approached). The weather and wind cooperated, and we were able to complete three races and get off the water in order to have our luncheon and awards beginning at 1:30. At 2 pm., Paul Walter and Linda Marsh presented scoring for the event and Linda presented the awards.
First Place: 2 First Places and 1 Sixth: total 8 points: Dan Shuee
Second Place: 2 Second Places and 1 Fifth Place: total 9 points: Susan Cole
Third Place (tie): 2 Fourth Places and 1 Ninth Place: total 17 points: Roger Bates
: 1 Third Place, 1 Sixth, 1 Eighth: total 17 points: Carl Simmons
Congratulations to our top finishers, and “Thank You” to all of you who attended and supported this most important regatta!
Submitted by Paul Walter
