Trail Mix for July 9: Huntington quiet as High Sierra Regatta postponed again

Two years ago this weekend, just as it had been for the 59 previous years, Huntington Lake was filled with sailboats for the High Sierra Regatta.

But just like last year, the big sails will again be absent from the lake in 2015 because of low water levels due to the drought.

The regatta will be postponed until next year. Two other races at the lake, the Commodore’s Classic and Mile High Regatta, also have been canceled.

“We got no water,” said Daniel Irwin, commodore of the Fresno Yacht Club, the High Sierra Regatta’s organizing body.

“Sailing is dying here and we’re having some big challenges. We’ve put this in a box and we’re ready for next year.”

Last year was the first time the High Sierra Regatta was not held in its 61-year history. Huntington Lake can hold 89,000 acre-feet of water. But as of Monday, the lake held 50,363 acre-feet, or 57% of capacity, according to Southern California Edison.

For the regatta to take place, the lake has to be nearly full, Irwin said.

“If the lake is up 70-plus percent, the docks are still not floating,” he said. “We can do beach boat stuff, but we’re not going to put the effort in if we can’t do the whole thing.”

Event chairman Bob Comstock vows the High Sierra Regatta will be reborn once the lake gets enough water.

“It’s a passionate group of sailors and Huntington Lake is one of the best sailing lakes in the world,” he said. “The enthusiasm we’ll receive will be undiminished.”

The group already is planning next year’s event,scheduled for July 10-11 and July 17-18. Organizers are working with the U.S. Forest Service to add two additional races, beefing up the total to five.

Water Polo invite returns to Shaver Lake

Shaver Lake will be buzzing with water polo action next weekend for the second annual Open Water Invitational.

The tournament will take place July 17-19 at Dorabelle Cove.

Organizer Tal Cloud says more than 45 teams are already registered, from as far away as Florida and Canada. More than 1,000 people are expected to participate, making it the largest open water tournament in the country this year, Cloud said.

Divisions, for males and female, are 16-and-younger, 18-and-younger and masters.

The tournament is a fundraiser for the Sanger Rebel Water Polo Club.

Events

iCAN TRI Youth Triathlon

When: 6 a.m. July 19

Where: Clovis North Education Center, 2770 E. International Ave., Fresno

Triathlons aren’t only for adults. Youths ages 6 to 18 can run, swim and bike at next Sunday’s fourth annual iCAN TRI Youth Triathlon. It will serve as USA Triathlon’s Southwest Region Youth Championships. Events will start in 15-minute waves beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The deadline to register is noon July 17 at icantri.org. Cost is $60 per person. There is no race-day registration. Athletes are required to have a USAT single-day ($10) or annual ($15) membership.

Finisher medals will be given to each participant and individual awards to the top five in each one-year age group from 6-12, and the top three in the junior group ages 13-18. Chip timing will be provided.

Courses vary by age, with 6-8-year-olds doing a 50-meter swim, 2-mile bike ride and half-mile run. The top-division course for F1 Youth and Junior Elite athletes has a 300-meter swim, 6-mile ride and 2-mile run.

NEWS & NOTES

▪ The Central Sierra Historical Society hosts free interpretative walks at 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays at Shaver Lake.

Walks take about 90 minutes, starting at the caboose by the museum at 42642 Tollhouse Road.

▪ The archery deer hunting season opens in Zone A on Sunday and closes Aug. 2. Zone B4 opens July 25 and closes Aug. 16.

Hunters can use general season A or B zone tags or an archery-only tag as long as they use authorized archery equipment.

Details: wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/deer

This story was originally published July 8, 2015 at 3:28 PM with the headline "Trail Mix for July 9: Huntington quiet as High Sierra Regatta postponed again."