2009 National Championships

Mayfield Yacht Club, Mayfield NY

Aug 13-15

The wind and turn-out were light, but the enjoyment and competition were high as 21 competitors ascended on Mayfield Yacht Club located on Great Sacandaga Lake just northwest of Albany, NY. This lake is quite large, and with the Adirondack Mountains in the background, is one of the most scenic venues the Class has visited. The support from the local area was evident. The Japikses and Whalens, the regatta organizers, built a hoist support to weigh boats. The parking, launching and housing were ready to go, and MYC welcomed everyone with open arms. Rondack Roots Marina, where the boat launching took place, also supplied manpower and a motor boat to help with the races. They also acted as regatta photographer, taking multiple pictures of every boat, and having them available to all competitors at the awards presentation! Area Thistlers Dave and John Hudson volunteered their time to be PRO for the event, which proved no easy task given the light, shifty, and mostly absent wind. Long-time Class members Al and Mary Jean Tedrow also helped out on race committee. By the way, thanks Al and MJ for your recent generous donation to the Class!

Boats started arriving Tuesday, and wouldn’t you know….a beautiful breeze all day.

Unfortunately the wind shut down on Wednesday, and the eager Women and Juniors could not get a race off. The Junior regatta was postponed to late August], and we look forward to hearing the results soon [ed: The Junior Nationals was won by Dan and Matt Japikse on the Saturday following Senior Nationals]. The Women took things into their own hands, and decided to have a Bocce Ball tournament on Friday while the Nationals racing was postponed again.  In the finals, the team of Kate Erklauer and Susan Mallows took a  quick 6-0 lead(first team to reach 7 wins), only to see the MJ Tedrow/Barb Joudrey team seize the momentum to make it 6-5. Luckily for Team Erklauer/Mallows, the wind came up, and sailors were sent back out in their boats to try some late day racing, delaying (perhaps forever) the end of the tourney.

The forecast for wind was bleak for Thursday through Saturday --- 5 mph, variable direction. Thursday was a beautiful day….for water skiing! The fleet finally hit the water in early afternoon, and a race was started, then abandoned due to the wind dying to nothing, the first of many good decisions made by the RC. The fleet was in tow toward the club when a light southeasterly appeared. The tow was stopped promptly, and 2 relatively short races were completed. The light, shifty breeze meant big gains could be realized by staying in the wind, and playing the correct side. The middle of the course was rarely good, and it seemed the left side paid more than the right. After Day 1, it was evident the fleet as a whole was going faster than in previous years. Bryan and Tiffany Parker were clearly going faster, and were only a few boat lengths form winning both races.

Thursday evening, although no racing took place, may have had some effect on the remainder of the regatta. A go-fast concoction of a drink was made, and several competitors were seen sipping “The Green”. The only thing known about it is that it tastes good, and makes you go fast.

Day 2 saw the longest delay due to lack of wind. The forecast predicted a late afternoon light breeze, and the hope was to sail ‘til dinner to get races in. Thus, the aforementioned Bocce Ball Tourney was started, but never completed due to a wind fill around 3 pm. 2 more races were completed in light, and somewhat shiftier wind than Day 1. The first race of the day was won by Team Zaugg as they motored through the early leaders. Also impressive were Teams McKenna and Erklauer with a 3,4 respectively. Note: All had enjoyed The Green the nite before. Team Parker won the 2^nd race of the day as they pulled away from the fleet on the 2^nd beat. This put them just 1 point out of the overall lead, assuming a throw-out, with 1 day still to go. Team Zaugg pressed the leaders throughout to grab a 3^rd, showing everyone that The Green is good for more than just a one-race stand!

All had fun that evening at the Class annual meeting, the excellent dinner put on by the MYC members, and the silent auction. Whoever put in the winning bid for the vanilla body spray, please let us know if it works.

Last day……still no wind. The forecast was 5 to 10 mph from the southwest. What did we get?  2 to 5 mph from the northeast. The Parkers once again set the pace, winning the pin at each start, and port tacking the fleet. Nice sailing! Big shifts and big holes gave everyone a mental workout, and when the last race was finished in the dying wind, Team 1151 barely won a hard fought battle with Team Parker. Just 3 points behind, the Parkers were much closer than that. Many of the races were decided by a matter of feet, and with an overlap here, and a port crossing there, the standings could have easily been different. One thing is for sure, Bryan and Tiffany are knocking on the door, and it’s just a matter of time. Marion and Carol Zaugg finished a strong 3^rd, only 3 points behind Team Parker, and they were coming on strong, winning 2 of the last 4 races. Rounding out the top 5 were Doug Brown and Susan Mallows in 4^th, and Class President Ted Reshetiloff and Sean in 5^th. This represents both teams’ best Nationals finish, and both were very consistent with all top 10 finishes. Nice job! (By the way, THANKS TED for serving the Class. Well done!)  Tom grace and Paula Pacheco were also consistent to take 6^th, and Dave and Sue Michos, beautiful new Allen boat and all, took 7^th. Winning the President’s Fleet, finishing 11^th overall, were Chris and Paula Hennon, who actually could not have won this fleet if they won the tie-breaker with team McKenna for 10^th.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

-         The new Allen boat looks great and is fast. Allen has made several small modifications to make the boat easier to rig and sail. Master rigger Dave Michos did a nice job rigging it.

-         Other “new” boats included some actually restored. Chris and Paula Hennon’s #483 and Adam Dunki-Jacobs #677 showed the large amount of time and effort it takes to create awesome Jets.

-          The new generation keeps growing! Congrats to Kerrie and Sean DeFusco (Quinn), and Bridget and Nate Ireland (Vincent).

-          Only 9 points separated places 9 through 17 in the final standings (with throw-out). With no throw-out, there would have been a 5-way tie for 11^th. WOAH! As Brian Duff would say.

-          The Persistence Award was won by Dan Lehane, MYC member who worked hard both on and off the water.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

-          Who will step up to restore the Nationals attendance to previous years?

-          Who will sip The Green?

-          Are Maryland crab cakes really that good?

-          Will Dirk return?

-          Will the streak end?

Again, a big THANK YOU to MYC  and Rondack Roots Marina for organizing and running a great Nationals, and for making our vacations very enjoyable. 

Brent Barbehenn, Jet #1151

Special Awards:

Best 1st Nationals: Dan Lehane
Top Husband/Wife: Bryan/Tiffany Parker
Mason-Dixon Line: Ted Reshetiloff
Highest Junior Helmsman: Dan Japikse
Most Improved: Chris Hennon/Paula Hennon
Persistance award: Dan Lehane
Travelers Series: Dave Michos/Sue Michos

Regatta Pictures
More Regatta Pictures (Whalen)

Results Posted 8/17/09

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