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The 27th Gold Country "Go For The Gold" Regatta
was held June 7-8, 2008 at Scotts Flat Lake
(typically starting the first Saturday in June each year)


Go For The Gold Regatta Awards Table
with vials of gold in oak chests for winners and gold pans for runners up

Annual Gold Country Regatta (since 1981)

Invitation:
In early June of every year (June 7-8 for 2008), the GCYC hosts the “Go for the Gold" Gold Country Regatta (Official Notice/Invitation for 2008). Sailors from all over California and the west coast come to participate. The competition is tough as several fleets hold their regional qualification trials during this event. For example, the 1996 Regatta included the Region 10 Catalina 22 Championship, the Sunfish Western Regional Championships, the Lido 14 Northern California Championship, plus one design classes for El Toro and Laser, and Open classes for Keel, Multihull and Centerboard. The year 2002 saw Capri 22, Catalina 22, Byte, Snipe, Sunfish, El Toro and Open Keel and Open Centerboard fleets. Again in 2008 - special pricing ($10 off the entry fee) and special marks (shorter "inner" courses) specifically for Junior Sailors in El Toro and Opti fleets, with their own starts (if there are enough juniors participating).

For additional information, please contact Vice Commodore Gary Dowd via email or telephone (530) 477-7771.

Rules/Scoring:
The Racing Rules of Sailing 2005-2008 as prescribed by US Sailing shall apply and race committee results are considered final. There will be five races held on picturesque Scotts Flat Lake utilizing Olympic Circle courses (Illustration A) varying from 2.0 miles to 6.8 miles around the 8 bouys (every 45 degrees around the compass) (Illustration B). Boat-for-boat scoring where Class rules apply; modified PHRF (SoCal) for open keel boats and Portsmouth Yardstick (DPN) for open centerboards and open multihulls. Trophies presented based on the number of boats in each class (three for a class of 5, four for a class of 9, and five for classes over 12).

Sailing Instructions:
Based on the GCYC Club Race Series, the 2007 Regatta Sailing Instructions include specifics for the new starting sequence, the "I" flag 'around the ends' rule, yacht check-in procedures, race area, courses, time limits, restricted start line, protests and scoring. Unsure of the starting sequence, Click HERE for 2007 Gold Country Regatta Starting Sequence for full color explanation with various flags used in starting and during racing.

(DOWNLOAD Word 2000 version of Sailing Instructions, 36KB - or the Adobe Acrobat version HERE, 15KB)

Non-sailing highlights:
A highlight of the regatta weekend is the "barbecue" dinner on Saturday night with live music (area group Fade2Blue) and a “tall tales" storytelling competition followed by raffles and games.

Sunday morning offers a continental breakfast for early risers followed by a hot dog / soda snack while waiting for the scoring/trophy presentation.

GOLD in them thar hills, sailor!
In keeping with the locale (in the heart of the high sierra Gold Country), the First Place prizes for the regatta are hand-crafted oak chests (carved by local artisans) with vials of real gold; with second and third (and some fourth) place finishers in each fleet receiving gold pans with "gold" nuggets. The Go for the Gold regatta has become a major Northern California sailing event and is a favorite among its competitors with wonderful facilities, great camping, flat water and fresh breezes.

2007
The 26th Go for the Gold regatta was held June 2-3, 2007 with 55 boats in seven classes. The six starts included Open MultiHull, Ultimate 20/Open Keel, Catalina 22, Laser, Open Centerboard A and Open Centerboard B.
Official 2007 Regatta Results

2006
The 25th Go for the Gold regatta was held June 3-4, 2006 with 63 boats in eight classes. Seven separate starts included Open Keel, Open Centerboard, Byte, Lido 14, Coronado 15, Buccaneer 18, Ultimate 20 and Catalina 22.
Official 2006 Regatta Results

2005
The 24th Go for the Gold regatta was held June 4-5, 2005. 41 boats hit the start line for the weekend's five races on Scotts Flat Lake. Seven class fleets in seven separate starts included: Ultimate 20, Open Keel, Catalina 22 (Region 10 Championships), Byte, Coronado 15, Sunfish and Open Centerboard.
Official 2005 Regatta Results

2004 (Photos here)
The 23rd Go for the Gold regatta was held June 5-6, 2004 with perfectly high puffy clouds and variable breezes. 39 boats in 6 classes enjoyed the weekend racing on Scotts Flat Lake. Six class fleets in five separate starts included: Open Keel, Catalina 22 (Region 10 Championships), Open Centerboard "A", Coronado 15, Sunfish, Open Centerboard "B".
Official 2004 Regatta Results

2003 (Photos here)
The 22nd Go for the Gold regatta was held June 7-8, 2003 with perfectly clear skies and light breezes, which did little to lessen the 90 degree heat. 42 boats in 6 classes enjoyed the warm weather, full lake, and great sailing. The RC did excellent work with many varied courses all around the lake's Olympic Circle. Our just-completed clubhouse BBQ worked out great for the steak/chicken dinner on Saturday night. Sunday morning's continental breakfast was well attended and lots of hot dogs (of special interest this year - bagel dogs!) eaten while waiting for the awards presentation mid-afternoon. Official 2003 Regatta Results

The UNION, Nevada County's local newspaper June 9, 2003 article covering the 2003 Regatta.
The UNION's June 5, 2003 article announcing the upcoming 2003 Go For The Gold Regatta.

2002 (Photos here)
The 21st Go for the Gold regatta was held June 8-9, 2002 with cloudy skies and strong winds (10-20 mph). 51 boats in 8 classes enjoyed the wind and waves, the great BBQ dinner Saturday night, Sunday morning's continental breakfast and hot dogs while waiting for the scoring and awards presentation. Official 2002 Regatta Results

The UNION, Nevada County's local newspaper June 13, 2002 article on the 2002 Regatta results.
The UNION, June 6, 2002 article announcing the upcoming 2002 Regatta.

2001
The 2001 Go for the Gold regatta was GCYC's 20th running of the Gold Country Regatta, held June 9-10, 2001 with wonderful blue skies, warm weather and freeze breezes (5-10mph). 57 boats and over a hundred participants were rewarded with nice racing, perfectly set Olympic Circle courses, a great BBQ dinner on Saturday night, continental breakfast on Sunday morning and hot dogs while waiting for the scoring (a bit later this year due to a Protest Hearing). Official 2001 Regatta Results 57 boats in 7 classes

2000 (Photos here)
The 2000 Go for the Gold regatta was held June 10-11, 2000. The 19th Annual Gold Country "Go For The Gold" Regatta saw light and variable winds with sunny blue skies on Saturday and high thin clouds on Sunday. 37 boats in 4 classes (Open Keel, Snipe, Open Centerboard, El Toro) competed and had a fun time manipulating around the lake and the numerous "wind holes" that moved all over the lake, never twice in the same place, never twice from the same direction. This year required luck as well as skill to win your share of gold to take home! For the final results, click this: Official 2000 Regatta Results.

The UNION, Nevada County's local newspaper June 13, 2000 article about the 2000 Regatta.

1999
The 1999 Go for the Gold regatta included 46 boats in six classes with nice breezes (although a bit light to start on Saturday morning). All competitors and regatta participants enjoyed the 18th Annual Go For The Gold Regatta, with its two days (three races Saturday, two Sunday) of high sierra lake racing. Classes included Open Keel (10 boats), Open Centerboard (9), Snipe (6), Byte (6), Sunfish (8) and El Toro (7). The 1999 winners are here.

1998
The 1998 Go for the Gold regatta
The 1998 winners and their pictures receiving awards from our 1998 Commodore (plus miscellaneous 1998 photographs) of the 1998 regatta are in the archives. The 1998 Regatta included Snipes, Bytes, Open Keel, Open Centerboard, El Toro, Sunfish, and Catalina 22.

Directions:
To get to Scotts Scotts Flat Lake, click directions.