by gcobley » Mon Mar 17, 2014 6:48 pm
Class: EC12
Date: March 15th & 16th 2014
Location: Charleston – James Island
Host Club: Charleston MYC
# Entries: 18
Winds: 5-10 mph SW: light E
Races: 16
Scoring: Low point
Organizer: Reichard Kahle
Race Director: Gerry Cobley
The Invitational EC12 Champions Regatta was held the weekend of March 15th and 16th 2014 with top skippers from the four participating EC12 groups: Florida, Dixie, Colonial and New England.
With some fun “Friday Rules” racing, and a good meal at the local Crab House behind them, 18 skippers showed up on Saturday morning for a full day of single fleet competition. A brief delay of the start allowed the wind to build enough to see off most of the pesky no-see-ums, and all welcomed a further delay in order to congratulate our favorite scorekeeper – Becky Gerry – on the announcement that she and Ricky are expecting a new skipper later this year.
Saturday racing proceeded on a nominally upwind/downwind course with the many interesting variations that Charleston can offer to challenge the skippers’ choice of moments to tack. Competition was intense, and the slightest lapse in concentration could put you out of the running for that race. Dave Ramos and Alan (grandpa to be) Perkins began to pull away at the top and were tied on raw scores after 16 races when some signs of tiredness began to affect the sailing, and the RD called it for the day.
Sunday winds had shifted 180° to the East, and just would not build enough to see off the no-see-ums, but with the threat of rain in the forecast, racing began on a shortened course. 3 more races were completed in slightly better breezes, but at the first break they began to fade again. With the risk of ingesting no-see-ums rising (though this did keep the fleet much less vocal that Saturday!); the threat of rain; and the likelihood that any more racing would become a drifting match the regatta was called a little early. Dave Ramos had shown some excellent light air sailing and sealed the deal becoming this year’s winner of the “Sir Francis of Graham” trophy with a 20 point lead after 2 throw-outs were factored in.
Place Skipper Score
1 David Ramos 38.0
2 Alan Perkins 58.0
3 Chuck Luscomb 67.0
4 Reichard Kahle 74.0
5 David Brawner 90.0
6 Rick Gerry 91.0
7 David Linville 102.0
8 Jon Luscomb 112.0
9 Jamey Betz 116.0
10 Fred Pfeil 125.0
11 Robert Greer 133.0
12 Don Barker 136.0
13 Dave Branning 141.0
14 Martin Gray 157.0
15 Scott Vernon 166.0
16 Rick West 166.0
17 Jack Baldwin 185.0
18 Victor Oberg 210.0
Gerry
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