Johnson and Barbehenn Top Sailing Events

Sailors from all over the northeast came to Lake Hopatcong over the weekend for E-Scow and Thistle sailing regattas, but local knowledge prevailed.
Doug Johnson and Brent Barbehenn—two sailors who grew up sailing on Lake Hopatcong—won their respective regattas in the E-Scow and Thistle fleets.  Strong, puffy winds on Saturday resulted in three races with more than a few capsized boats.  On Sunday, however, the wind died down and only one race was completed in very light air.
In the end, the E-Scow Fall Series Triple Crown was won by Johnson, followed by Pat Flinn of LHYC in second place and Bill Nolden of Lavallette Yacht Club in third.
Barbehenn won the Goetz Regatta, part of the Thistle Class East Coast Fall Series, winning the last two races.  Chris Murphy of LHYC came in second place, followed by Brian Kitchin of LHYC.
The club’s A-Cat fleet has two sailing regattas to close out the LHYC season; one this weekend (October 2 and 3) and one on October 17.

Doug Johnson accepts his trophy for winning the Triple Crown regatta.  (L to R: crew Bob Rosevear, regatta organizer Mike Blair, skipper Doug Johnson, and crew Renee Rochelle)

Brent Barbehenn accepts his trophy for winning the Goetz Regatta.  (L to R: crew Bryan and Tiffany Parker, and Brent Barbehenn.  In the background, Fritz Goetz, whose father is memorialized in the event, watches.)