A message has just been sent out to those skippers who qualified this year for the CR to be held on March 15th and 16th, 2014. This is an invitational event held in Charleston, SC every year based on performance in the four qualifying series Dixie, Florida, Colonial and New England. The topic has been opened for future comments.

Boy, was I surprised to be invited. I have not campaigned for this in years. Lucked in, I guess.

There is nothing like the experience of the cabins...
Yea, I know it is a dim light on the horizon but I need to get a cabin shortly (#5) before the national public wakes up to their 2014 James Island schedule and they are all gone. The reservation will be for three nights beginning Thursday. A two night commitment is needed for three bodies which comes to $104 total including the tax that is a ridiculous 14.5%. I would like to see four. I will cover the first night for just me, as I need the time after driving in from the West Coast. However, the more the merrier and we can sail Friday. You can' do the Motel 6 for that...

Check out the last CR as seen from space. It just so happens that Google Map's current image is that of our regatta.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=871+Rive ... 33&z=16&iw

If you listen closely, you can hear the dogs barking!

Qualifying skippers having committed to compete as of 10/30/13

Defending.......Reichard Kahle

Dixie.............Gerry Cobley
...................Scott Vernon
...................David Linville
...................Rick West
...................Rick Gerry

Colonial..........Jamie Betz
...................Dave Ramos
...................Don Barker
...................Victor Oberg

Florida...........Alan Perkins
...................Jon Luscomb
...................Bob Greer
...................Fred Pfeil

New England....Chuck Luscomb
...................Ken Shaw
...................Jack Baldwin
...................Dave Branning

Waiting to hear from: David Brawner (Colonial), Dick Hedderick (Florida) and Al Dion (New England) before contacting standbys. So far only one has declined and that was Bob Shluger from New Egland. Thanks to all for the quick replies!

Anyone looking for accommodations, we have room in our cabin. We have a pull out couch and the bunk bed room available.

Looking forward to this one...

Likewise for cabin 5. Looking for one more at least for solo in the bunk room; Friday and Saturday nights.

Day 1 of the Champions regatta is in the books.
After 13 races with one throw out the standings are:

Skipper. YRN Place Score
David Ramos 5 1 40
Alan Perkins 14 2 43
Chuck Luscomb 84 3 68
Reichard Kahle 67 4 68
David Brawner 53 5 81
David Linville 99 6 89
Jamey Betz 34 7 91
Jon Luscomb 45 8 92
Rick Gerry 63 9 92
Fred Pfeil 15 10 109
Robert Greer 0 11 115
Dave Branning 71 12 122
Don Barker 25 13 124
Scott Vernon 80 14 135
Rick West 94 15 152
Martin Gray 62 16 159
Jack Baldwin 12 17 173
Victor Oberg 75 18 182

RD Gerry Cobley will have results soon. The top five stayed the same with light air today and a mouth full of gnats.

Thank you guys for putting us up and putting up with us. Driving north into the snow again and not liking it. As tough as the conditions were I still had fun. Enjoyed seeing folks I had not seen in awhile including my Bro and his lovely bride. Hopefully you all can come to Newport where lack of a consistent breeze is not our problem.

Best to all

Had a great time, despite the 2 hr traffic jam on the way home. The cabins were awesome and I had a great time hanging out with everyone over a few cocktails. Thanks, Gerry, Reichard and crew and it was great seeing Merv out there again.

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

This is my favorite regatta. This year gave us tough conditions, but Mr. Ramos didn't seem to let it bother him. Great going Dave. It was great to get whooped up on by my brother and to see everyone. It was fun.

Gerry did a great job under tough conditions. I think that anyone who can come to this regatta should. It is worth the drive to a beautiful city, great pond and the top sailors......the things we can learn!

Photos from Karen Luscomb

https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A1GWZuqDGoWPa8