Parsons' progress at High Sierra Regatta

Competitor gets the better of two legends in winning pair of heats.

Published online on Saturday, Jul. 19, 2008

LAKESHORE -- When it comes to sailboat racing, Bill Parsons can hardly be considered a young upstart.

But when compared to Ruth Barcus and Jerry Hansen, two Fresno Yacht Club legends with two dozen national championships between them, the description fits the 66-year-old Parsons pretty well.

With most eyes fixed on Barcus and Hansen, Parsons stole the show at the High Sierra Regatta by winning both Saturday heats in the competitive San Juan 21 fleet.

"We sailed two near-perfect races," said Parsons, who lives above Auberry. "We had a great start, great headings and just pulled away. But I've had the same thing done to me [by Barcus and Hansen], so it feels good to get even."

Just last weekend, Parsons finished third behind Barcus and Hansen at the San Juan 21 Western Nationals in Coos Bay, Ore., a venue known for its light, shifting winds. The wind was anything but light and shifting at Huntington Lake, which combines strong, consistent gusts with sublime mountain scenery.

"It's a great sailing lake, one of the best in the world," Parsons said.

Eighty-five boats participated in day one of the regatta's second weekend, including a Ranger 24 captained by U.S. Rep Jim Costa, D-Fresno. The 55th annual event concludes today with an 11 a.m. race, followed by the awards ceremony.

Parsons, who also serves as the Fresno Yacht Club commodore, can clinch his second High Sierra Regatta title by finishing fourth or better today. But he doesn't really count the first victory in 2005 because Barcus crashed into Hansen during warm-ups, damaging both boats and knocking them from the competition.

Barcus endured a similar rough patch in Saturday's second race, assessing herself a two-revolution penalty for crossing the starting line early after swerving to avoid another boat. She rebounded nicely to finish third, just behind Hansen, but Parsons was so far ahead he might as well have been in another zip code.

"Crime doesn't pay in sailing either," Barcus joked.

Meanwhile, Fresno's Dean Iwahashi picked up two second-place finishes in the Thistle class, the first one coming after a near-collision with good friend and adversary Dave Keran.

As both boats rounded a mark no more than 100 yards offshore and in full view of dozens of spectators, Keran's boom clipped Iwahashi's in a moment of pure sailing chaos.

Keran penalized himself for the collision, which drew oohs and aahs from the crowd. He went on to finish sixth.

"Sailing is a contact sport, we always say," Iwahashi said.

Huntington Lake's famous gusty winds started slowly but really picked up during the afternoon race, capsizing at least two boats that needed assistance from race organizers.

"That wind was crazy," Keran said. "Even if you don't win, you're still doing something that gives contrast to your life."

More sailing is on tap this week as Huntington Lake plays host to the Ultimate 20 North American Championships. Racing begins at 11 a.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.