by Dave_Branning » Mon Oct 31, 2016 2:57 pm
Thoughts and Thanks
Thoughts: While waiting for the link to pictures
- There were a few good decisions for this championship. One was the choice of TAYC as a venue and the other was the 20’ x 30’ storage tent. The tent was brought to you by contributions from Benson & Mangold Real Estate and Ilex Construction. Both the club and the tent were a great respite from the wind and brief rain and the tent reduced the necessity of breaking down your boat every day.
- The partners that signed up immediately were Dave Brawner, who agreed to RD the show and EC12 Class Secretary, Joe Walter, who was tremendous to work with designing the web site, keeping it up to date, and our classy logo graphics. We are the best informed class in AMYA and lucky to have Joe. A third teammate was Roger Baldwin who was my partner in crime as we strategized the additional ingredients to make this event one to remember. Roger was the champion for two nights of great dining at local restaurants for over 35 people each night. We gave you two free nights but so many wanted to stay together. Thanks, Roger for making it memorable.
- This NCR was certainly the most wind and chop we have seen in sometime. Skippers were alerted, months before the NCR, that the “C” sail might be a wise choice to bring “just in case” we get a fall breeze with puffs in the high 20’s. We did.
Being an Olympic year, we created Gold, Silver and Bronze fleets, with matching clothes pins, with horn & flag alerts for next fleet launching.
- Day One: Definitely B rig day with five races scored. Alex Ramos’s boat sinking was the harrowing event of the day and we spent the next two days making U-boat jokes out of the incident. Scott Todd even came down to help try a “body drag” to find it but, in 30 feet of moving water, it was too no avail. Luckily his dad makes a winning EC12. Just sayin’! After day one: dad-Dave Ramos, Alan Perkins, Danny Thomas, Ricky Gerry, and Richard Kahle were the top five with Ted Flack back in 10th.
- Day Two: Strong(er) winds greeted us and the RD gathered a heat of volunteer Bronze/Silver enthusiasts to launch. After that exciting heat, Brawner ordered a 3 hour wind delay....waiting for it to subside. Starting up again at 3pm we were able to achieve a four race day. After 2 days, Alan Perkins, now leading, gave us some thought that 2016 would be Alan’s year to grab the championship. He was going so well in conditions Florida sailors do not see, a testament to his skills as a top sailor. Ted Flack rose to 7th (from 10th), Jamey Betz to 5th (from 8th) and Ricky Gerry fell from 4th to 10th. Jarl Wathne worked the 3+ year rust off to sneak from the teens to 11th while Reichard Kahle, Mark Rinehart, Jamey Betz, Chris Harmer and Skip Allen stayed in the top ten.
- Day Three: Five races were sailed in building winds in the teens to the low 20’s. Dave Ramos just punished the fleet right out of the chute with three top three races while Alan Perkins, although winning a race today, spent some time in the B fleet. The big shifts in the day were Detroit’s Ted Flack moving from 7th to 3rd, capping a terrific regatta. Reichard Kahle nailed two back to back wins today to move to 4th from 6th.
- Since we had a Silver Fleet and a Bronze fleet, we added carvings of a Chesapeake Log Canoe as prizes in those fleets. In a completely arbitrary decision, Don Ouimette and Skip Allen were the top two in the Silver Fleet and Frank Vella and Dick Reinke were the top two in the Bronze Fleet. To Liz Perkins, who was eagerly grabbed and kissed by Donald Trump at the skippers meeting, was awarded the First Woman prize.
- There were six former National Champions competing, some with multiple championships. Five of them left with a glass bowl trophy. This is a very competitive class and Dave Ramos is our 2016 National Champion, a repeat winner. Congratulations, Dave, and to all the great competitors who came and competed.
Thanks
- The YC facing team for this regatta was certainly Vicki Van Loo, TAYC Manager, and her team of Steve, Nancy, Alyssa, April, Erin and Jason. They were the best support with the positive smiling “can do” attitude anyone could ask for and, I’m sure all agree, the food was the best ever at a NCR.
- Huge thanks to Dave Brawner, the most talented RD in our sport, and his experienced team of Ken Shaw, Skip Hall and Bob Roe who were totally focused as they created a fair and successful racing venue all three days. They managed 42 heats over three days in a 36 boat fleet. Another good decision made!
- Crack boat handler and a guy who never met a guy he didn't like, Bob Roe, selected a busy team for the very active chase boat (thanks to Rick Boulay) with Harry Mote, Roger Baldwin, Roger Vaughan, all knowing how to carefully retrieve an EC12 with a rig down.
- Thanks to fleet mates Roger Compton and Claude Maechling for being there to lend a hand when needed.
- Thanks also to Scott Todd, who not only helped look for Alex’s boat, but he brought crab claws for post-race treats. Goes great with the beer. And, less we forget, Scott gave an informative slide presentation Wednesday evening on the Twelve Meter Americas Cup history.
- Thanks to Chris Harmer from New Zealand and Boots Boutillier and Jim Goddard from Nova Scotia, Canada. Y'all talk funny but added to the international flavor of the regatta.
- You guys love drawings, especially winning them, and we sure had two good ones with top notch contributions from boat builders (4 people left with 4 new hulls and two had decks, rudders and keels added from Dave Linville), three top class sailmakers, a mast-head fly maker, industrial supply distributors, the TAYC, a bed and breakfast and two local restaurants. Thanks to all the contributors and Avon-Dixon Insurance, our beer sponsor. You all made it very special.
- Big thanks to Judy Bonanno, Bob Roe and Jim Flach for taking so many pictures we will see when they are packaged into a link. Stay tuned and don’t rush them.
- Big thanks to Desne Roe for helping me with entering the scores into the data base. That allowed Joe Walter and I to get you the scores every day as soon as available.
- Thanks to Commodore, HD Slaughter, for his support and the support of the TAYC Board to hold this NCR. Tred Avon is a forward thinking yacht club that recognizes the value of RC racing as it extends the racing careers of many of our members.
- Finally, and not least, to Elaine Hepkin, who jumped in feet first helping me package this event as one to remember for our guests. While we are still dizzy from the experience, we’re inviting you all back again for another EC12 NCR......but not next year, See you in Atlanta in 2017.
Dave
EC12
Grace