all photos by Susan Burden
2021: Return of the High Sierra Regatta
by Tom Burden
Back in 1887, an engineer named John Eastwood traveled around and explored the Big Creek area above Madera in the Sierra Nevada mountains. He envisioned a network of six dams, three lakes and eight tunnels, using the 4,500 foot drop in elevation to generate electrical power.
Eastwood’s ideas convinced Henry Huntington, head of the Pacific Power and Light Company, (now Southern California Edison). In 1909 construction began on his namesake Huntington Lake, the crown jewel of a vast engineering project, a technological wonder that at that time was considered second only to the Panama Canal.
Eastwood’s ideas convinced Henry Huntington, head of the Pacific Power and Light Company, (now Southern California Edison). In 1909 construction began on his namesake Huntington Lake, the crown jewel of a vast engineering project, a technological wonder that at that time was considered second only to the Panama Canal.
The High Sierra Regatta, which recently celebrated its 68th anniversary, with two full weekends of racing, got its start in 1953. How that happened is an interesting tale. After the lake began filling in 1913, a road was built along the north shore. Development began, including a summer campus for the Fresno State Normal School (now California State University Fresno). A student there by the name of Francis Keran was a local sailor, who noticed the fantastic, reliable wind that blew daily. It started like clockwork every day around 10 a.m. Word soon spread about this magical lake. The local sailing club, the Lake Millerton Sailing Association (now the Fresno Yacht Club), got involved.
That’s how it came to be in 1953 that seven Thistles and four Mercuries trekked up the original road, as Highway 168 didn’t open until 1955, and the High Sierra Regatta was born. This iconic two-weekend sailing festival now draws competitors who make the multi-hour drive from all parts of California and beyond. Many one-design classes hold regional, national and North American championship events at Huntington. Sailing writer Stewart Walker compared the lake, elevation 6,950’, with Lago Di Garda in Italy.
That’s how it came to be in 1953 that seven Thistles and four Mercuries trekked up the original road, as Highway 168 didn’t open until 1955, and the High Sierra Regatta was born. This iconic two-weekend sailing festival now draws competitors who make the multi-hour drive from all parts of California and beyond. Many one-design classes hold regional, national and North American championship events at Huntington. Sailing writer Stewart Walker compared the lake, elevation 6,950’, with Lago Di Garda in Italy.
Generations of sailors have childhood High Sierra Regatta memories. I was helping my dad lower the mast on our Thistle after racing on July 20, 1969 as Neil Armstrong took “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” Many sailors like me have been to 20, 30 or more events over the years. We collect our High Sierra Regatta glasses and teeshirts, and look forward to next July.
The last decade, however, has been rough for the High Sierra Regatta. Drought forced the first cancellations in 2014 and 2015. Then bark beetles decimated the local forests, and finally the Creek Fire caused terrible devastation, along with COVID-19 causing the cancellation of 2020’s event.
There was triumph, grim determination and resilience in the face of great odds as we kicked off the Skipper’s Meeting and the High Sierra Regatta’s return on July 10th. Regatta Chair Bob Comstock opened the ceremony with the brash snarl of a Fender Stratocaster guitar, as a local musician delivered a Hendrix-inspired rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Our flag, this regatta, and sailing at Huntington Lake were still there.