Park Runs Interference to Win Lightning Title

Skipper Colin Park watched 13 boats beat him to the finish of Friday’s championship heat in the 50th Lightning North American Sailing Championships off Mission Beach.

Odds are, three of the 21 skippers behind Park never saw those boats. About all they saw for most of their trip around the 7-mile triangular course was the back of Park’s boat, Bill The Cat, named after the Bloom County comic strip character.

Park’s blocking tactics kept his three closest competitors in the point standings from passing him and ensured him the overall championship, culminating six consecutive days of racing.

Although he did not win a race, Park had only 22 points in seven races, a total that represents the sum of his five best finishes.

Matt Fisher, a former junior North American Lightning champion, finished second with 23.

Park and his crew--his wife, Karen, and Glenn Hallett--along with the next 14 finishers, qualified for the World Lightning Championships in July off Athens, Greece.

Park, as he had throughout the regatta, chose a middling layline for the opening leg, which was to windward. Most important, he beat Fisher off the mark.

“He moved us back about five or so boats (by blocking),” said Fisher, a 32-year-old pharmaceuticals manager from Columbus, Ohio. Fisher finished 17th Friday, three spots behind Park.

Park, a scientist for a chemical company in Midland, Mich., said the light breezes, which ranged from 4-10 knots, suited him well.

“It’s tactics and strategy,” he said. “Plus, it helps me because I am small (5-feet 5 inches). It took less strength.”

In other heats Friday, Lenny Krawcheck of Charleston, S.C. won the President’s Cup and Chuck Ellery of Davenport won the Governor’s Cup. John Lyon of the Mission Bay Yacht Club finished 29th in the championship division.

The quick but sturdy fiberglass Lightnings, which cost about $7,000, are considered family boats.

Even if the competitors consider sailing an avocation, some could have pictured themselves sailing off Point Loma for the America’s Cup next month.

Park, a native of Vancouver, Canada, competed in the 1976 Olympics and has sailed against David Barnes, skipper of New Zealand, the Kiwi entry in the America’s Cup.

Fisher sailed in the Pan American Games last year. John McIntosh, at 64 the oldest entrant, once had Ted Turner on his crew.

Regatta chairman Myron Lyon used to sail Lightnings against Dennis Conner.

But somewhere down the line, these folks decided to sail for fun only.

“Conner intimidated the hell out of me,” Lyon recalled.

Park thought back to his encounter with Barnes. “Yeah, I remember him, he kicked my butt.”