2007 Storm Trysail Club - IRC East Coast Championship
Latest Event News
November 2007
Art Silcox, owner of KA’IO, winner of Ben 36.7 Class (IRC 5)
Overall winner, John Kilroy, Jr., skipper of Samba Pa Ti (TP 52)
(L-R: Bill Kardash, Regatta Chairman John Kilroy, Jr, Dick Neville,
PRO and (front) Liam Kilroy
Photographs provided by: JH Peterson
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West Coast's John Kilroy Wins
IRC East Coast Championship
ANNAPOLIS, MD (Nov. 4, 2007) -- Anticipation ran high in Annapolis this weekend at the Storm Trysail Club's three-day IRC East Coast Championship. Not only was there an important title at stake but also defending champion Dan Meyers (Boston, Mass./Newport, R.I.) showed up with a longer, better version of his champion racing yacht Numbers, now a new Judel-Vrolijk design purpose-built for the IRC rule.
After seven races, however, it was a west coaster, John Kilroy (Los Angeles, Calif.), who stood taller in IRC stature with his "Box-Rule" Transpac 52 Samba Pa Ti. Kilroy and his team, which included multiple world and national champions as well as America's Cup talent, including Annapolis resident and Emirates New Zealand tactician Terry Hutchinson, won IRC Class 1 and became the overall IRC East Coast Champions when the Race Committee deemed them to have the best cumulative average corrected time for the regatta. The event hosted a total of 45 boats, divided into five classes, and was the final event in the 2007 IRC Gulf Stream Series.
In the remaining classes, leaders emerged early and posted comparatively large margins of victory. Tsunami, a NYYC Swan 42 owned by Preben Ostberg/John Aras/Bud Dailey of Rockville, Md. won IRC Class 2; Sarah, an X-41, owned by Greg Manning of Warwick, R.I., won IRC Class 3; Rush, a J/109, owned by Bill Sweetser of Annapolis, Md., won Class 4; and KA'IO, a Beneteau First 36.7, owned by Art Silcox of West River, Md., won Class 5 for the one-design
Beneteau 36.7s.
The 2007 IRC East Coast Championship was sailed on Chesapeake Bay with shore-side activities at Annapolis Yacht Club.
It was sponsored by Annapolis Yacht Sales with support from
Beneteau USA and Lewmar. |
Click Link for more information........
2007 First 36.7 North American Championship
September 2007
Race Report of the 2007 Beneteau 36.7 North Americans.
"Bravo Zulu"
What do BMW, Warren Buffet, Beneteau and Richard Reid all have in common? For each it's a slightly different reason, but in a general sense, they think Buffalo, New York is a pretty cool place during the hot summer of '07.
The story backdrop is the BMW Saint Gobain Beneteau First 36.7 North American Championships were concluded on Sunday at the Buffalo YC. An astounding 47 boats competed. While several boats had moments of brilliance, it was the steady sailing of "Zingara" sailed by Richard Reid from Toronto that won the regatta, never winning a race, but also avoiding the big flaw.
Last week 40 relatively large boats from out of town descended on Buffalo, this week an international business development symposium comes to town, with none other than Warren Buffett serving as Honorary Chairman. All this in Buffalo? Anyone who has not been to Buffalo will be saying "isn't that the place with all the snow". Partially true - but having lived in southern California for a long time and experiencing their four seasons - fires, mudslides, earthquakes and riots - let's just say every place on the planet has good and bad points.
The winners - we'll get to that in a moment. But let's first talk about something I've rarely seen at other events, things that made this regatta different, in a good way. There's always a lot of people who do a lot of work to make a club run regatta happen - Tom Lewin deserves a lot of credit for this one. But two groups of people around Buffalo Yacht Club will never get the proper credit - every 36.7 had their own slip in the BYC marina - this is a marina that has a waiting list of, oh, several decades. That means roughly 40 boats moved to other places on the Buffalo waterfront, which like most waterfronts, it isn't exactly easy to find spares slips. With the short season that we have around here, every moment in the sun is precious - so thanks to all those owners who made life a lot easier for the out of town guests. And the 20+ J22's that live in the BYC drysail area all moved out too, to make way for more parking.
The competitors who made the event great - there was some really good sailing to watch. Lots of clumps of boats finishing overlapped. Some outstanding sail handling. Great starts. Very aggressive moves at the finish. Perhaps the top half of the fleet isn't as well crewed as say a TP52 or Farr 40 on the world circuit, but the difference in crew work is not much either. However, that isn't what stood out in my mind - the first thing I saw, which I've never seen before, was some poor soul in last place on Sunday, by a long way, in the light air and drizzle (the first three days had spectacular weather). From our observation on the hospitality boat, it looked like a close rounding, could have gone either way with hitting the mark. But this boat - whose name I failed to write down, and wish I had so as to make an example of proper sportsmanship - did their circle. They were at least 10 lengths behind the second last boat, and probably at least a third of a leg behind the leader. So, for all the bumper boats that were played during this regatta - and there were plenty - there were also random acts of genuine sportsmanship too. That one move is an example of why people should want to sail in the 36.7 class.
After the last race, all the boats were in their slips, and people were doing what they do at the end of a regatta. Suddenly, a bit of clapping starts, then a bit more. Pretty soon, the entire fleet was on their feet cheering. The race committee boat had just come into the harbor. I'm pretty sure in 40 years of yacht racing, I've never seen a moment like that to honor a race committee. This was not the standard "Thanks a lot, well done RC". It was almost like a U2 encore (well, OK, not really, but it was a great gesture). Perhaps part of the experience was because the BYC marina is shaped somewhat like an arena, but whatever the case, it was another gesture by a class you should want to be part of. The RC work was virtually flawless all week - a lot of really good communication with the fleet via the VHF, with lines and courses that were as square as could be.
The conditions - as usual, it's never like this around here. First week in September in the Great Lakes, and you'd think for the first three days you were midsummer in LA. Awesome, spectacular weather. Day one, light air, like Newport Beach. Start of day two, like Long Beach in the morning. Race two, day two, almost like San Francisco - a steady 22 - and we saw puffs to 26 once in a while. It backed off a bit after that. Day three more perfect medium air sailing. Day four, now it's like small lake sailing, in rain like Seattle. A great mix of conditions.
Who came? For all those who say the 36.7 is a boat not worthy of whatever you seem to think it not worthy of, then explain to me why the current US Yachtsman of the Year (Jud Smith), a Lightning World Champion (Larry MacDonald), a J24 North American Champion (Geoff Moore) and J22 World Champion crew (Paul Grenauer), a prospective Canadian Olympian (Martha Henderson) and a host of other luminaries showed up to sail. Even those who get paid to sail have options of when and where to get paid. The 36.7 NA's in Buffalo proved to be a good choice. Former ISAF President Paul Henderson came to watch big boats race for a day, something he rarely has ever done - but he loves one-design.
The racing - do we really care about who tacked on who when? Nope. Just look at the scores here. Suffice it to say that two Lake Ontario boats, "Zingara" and "First Today" were the class of the fleet. "Legend" might have won, but is seems they need to dial back on their aggression a bit. Four of us witnessed "Legend' stick their bow in at the weather mark in the last race, trying to jam it in while tacking from port to starboard - it was a move out of desperation, and had they not taken their penalty in arbitration, we would have witnessed to get them tossed. It was stupid move that wasn't going to help them win the regatta, and ended up moving them down further in the standings. Dudes, you are studs, you sailed really well, just chill a bit.
Rumors - what would a big regatta be without them? There was a lot of chatter at the post race parties about this boat or that boat having more than the allowed one Group 3 sailor. There is a very simple solution to this problem and that is the class should require everyone at major events to sign up for the ISAF Sailor classification. It's simple and free, with a good arbitration system. If you haven't registered for it, just go here and do it now.
On the way home from the regatta, I spoke with Tom Ehman, who had just a few weeks ago been Chairman of the Jury for the Farr 40 Worlds. We discussed the quality of the Farr 40 and 36.7fleets, and the common benefits, and issues, they have. Tom reminded me about the system of "on the water rules observers" that the Farr 40 class uses - not umpires per se - not police - just observers who note infractions and blow whistles when they see them. During the last two Farr 40's, there have been only three protest hearings in each regatta. There were probably that many, and maybe more, every night in the 36.7 NA's. This system needs to be more widely used for highly competitive classes, especially groups like the 36.7 where some of the Grade B rock stars push their owner/drivers a little harder than they ought to be pushed.
Frequently we hear a lot of talk about how the sport of yacht racing is in decline in North America. To some extent that is true. Certainly, things are different now than they were 30 years ago. But, it's not all doom and gloom. The dinghy fleets might have fallen off to some degree, but they have been replaced to some degree by classes like the 36.7. 30 years ago we never saw 47 36 foot one-design cruiser/racers have a North American championship regatta. The numbers of people who participated in this regatta equal or exceed the number of people at the Lightning North American's. If we presume 8 people on each boat, that equals 376 racers. What other single class has that many people at their North American Championship?
So, like an old rust belt city like Buffalo, yacht racing is on the revival with classes like the 36.7. Great racing, great people. What else do you need to have fun in a boat?
Peter Huston
GOVERNOR'S CUP 2007
August 3rd - 4th 2007
It has been a great summer for me since the two boats I have raced on regularly are on limited schedules due to cruising and baby commitments, this has allowed me to race on other boats and gain more experience and perspective.
The Governor’s Cup is a 70 mile overnight race from Annapolis to St. Mary’s. Jim Praley and Wally Miller, co-owners of the Beneteau First 40.7 “Making Waves", asked me to join them for the 34th running of this race. “Making Waves” is a real family affair with Jim’s brother Mike and son Jimmy as part of the regular crew. The rest of the crew was rounded out with bowman Chris Foscue, Nate Paquette (Captain of the St. Mary’s College Offshore Sailing Team), and the husband and wife teams of Brent and Chrissie Hart, and Bob and Cindy Gibson.
Weather predictions for the night called for 20-25 knots at the start then the wind was to shift West around 2:00 am and diminish as the morning came up. The current was also predicted to flood most of the night.
Before the start we debated whether to use the heavy No. 1 genoa or the No. 3 jib. About 2.5 minutes with the No. 1 up confirmed we were way overpowered and we quickly set the No. 3, got an OK start and headed down the Bay. The weather predictions were absolutely correct as we saw consistent 20 – 22 knots with gusts into the low 30’s. We decided to stay on the Western shore and seek current relief as we tacked down the Bay. I stayed up forward on the boat and did my best to call wind and waves. Wally did a great job getting us off the line and once settled in the boat was fast and the ride not terribly uncomfortable. We kept most of our competition in sight until darkness settled in. Young Jimmy and Wally would switch off driving about every hour as the challenging conditions made it hard to concentrate and steer for more than that. The crew did a great job of hiking out and Nate worked the jib like a man possessed to help move us through the waves. Bob did an awesome job trimming the main and making sure we were going forward not heeled over too far.
Around 10:30 a few of us elected to get some early rest which was not easy as we were tacking about every half hour. Just as you would get settled in you would feel the boat roll from side to side underneath you and you would switch side and try and get settled again.
I got back up on deck around 2:00 and found that the wind has started its shift west. We changed up to the heavy No. 1 and started a long starboard tack to the Potomac River. (To the crew of “Making Waves”, I promise I have been working on my bowline!) The crew was great as most of them stayed on deck until the wind diminished enough that it allowed them to go below and get some well deserved rest. As near as we could tell we were the second boat in our class out in front of everybody except eventual class winner David Andrill on his Beneteau 44.7 “Valkyrie”. Jimmy and Wally traded driving duties from time to time while I tended the main and genoa and Jim kept a close eye on the chart plotter to keep us on course and out of danger from shallow water and fish traps.
We turned the corner at the Potomac and started up the river. As the sun came up we were just approaching the St. Mary’s River with 12 of the 15 boats in our class in sight. By now the wind had all but gone away and we ghosted up the river under spinnaker. It was a little disheartening to see several asymmetrical kite boats pass us under these conditions. We officially finished at 7:28 am and proceeded to crack open a number of well-earned beers as we anchored and awaited the launch to shore.
I won’t talk much about the delivery back the next day other than to quote Wally “Just when you thought it could not get any worse the flies moved in.”
Thirteen boats from the “AYS Family” started the race with nine finishing. Congratulations to the following boats and there finishing place:
1st place A-1 “Valkyrie”, David Andrill Beneteau 44.7
7th place A-1 “Making Waves” Praley – Miller Syndicate Beneteau 40.7
8th place A-1 “Lanikai” David Kim Beneteau 40.7
11th place “Magic Dragon David Poff Beneteau 44.7
4th place A-2 “Jubilee” Keith Mayes Beneteau 36.7
5th place A-2 “Molto Bene” Richard Ewing Idarae Prothero Beneteau First 42
21st place A-3 “Wandering Star” Rick Ward Beneteau 473
Very Special Congratulation to Bill and Lila Roos and the crew aboard their Beneteau 36.7 “Southern Cross” and their first place finish in the non-spinnaker class. Great job!!!
Special Congratulations also to Bruce and Barbara Taylor and the crew aboard their Wauquiez 40 “N’Titled 2” for being one of only four boats to finish in the 34 boat fleet in non-spinnaker.
I promised not to mention any thing about Garth and the Hulcher’s trip down. I hope I have not broken that promise!
SCREWPILE 2007
July 22nd - 24th 2007
I was indeed fortunate and honored when I got a call Saturday night from Robert “Smitty” Smith mainsail trimmer on Jim Keene’s Beneteau 36.7 Foxtrot Corpen and was asked if I could come down to Solomons and call tactics for them on the last day of three day Screwpile Regatta.
I got down to Solomons Monday night meet Smitty and the owner over a couple of beers and discussed what I could bring to the boat the next day. I also spent time talking to other people about the conditions so I could bring myself up to speed on the regatta.
Tuesday morning we got to the boat early and I was impressed to see that most of the crew was already there including the pit guy TV who is also the bottom cleaner. It was obvious from the outset that Jim and the crew of Foxtrot take their racing very seriously. The boat is in great shape and well maintained.
On our way to the course with great tunes supplied by the bow girl Kristine (who also should this old bow man a neat trick to keep the genoa sheets clean during jibes) everybody was focused as we discussed current, probable winds and strategy as the boat was place first in the regatta. We knew who we had to beat and who we did not worry about.
The first race of the day we saw a persistent shift to the left, in 7-10 knots of breeze with very little current, so racing 101 dictated we head to the left, tack and sail the port lift up to the mark. When we got to the windward mark we were amazed that the boats that went right were ahead of us. We later surmised that they may have been in an ebb current coming out of the river that helped push them to windward. Bob the mast man and Kristine had a great set as we headed down wind. Robert on spinnaker trim and Buddy on guy trim did an awesome job with the chute and worked well with Jim to drive the boat low. Foxtrot reeled back in most of the other boats and a good leeward rounding found us in the parade up the right side of the course. We ultimately finished this race in 5th which very much narrowed our lead.
The second race was started in a building Southerly breeze and for most of the time between races we had the small jib up on deck ready if the breeze really built. We got a good start in 15 knots of breeze. However we let the Annapolis based Beneteau 36.7 Team Aegis get to weather of us and they pinned us out to the left side of the course. Note to self if you have one boat to beat don’t let them get to weather of you. The Foxtrot crew had another great rounding and down wind leg, Jodie the sewer girl and wind seeker did a great job of packing the chute quickly and getting back on the rail to look for wind. We had a real close rounding with several other boats and with Robert on genoa trim and Buddy on release they did a fantastic job of getting the big sail in quickly in the big breeze. Another good windward rounding and downwind leg found us still in contention. A small disaster struck at the final rounding with an override on the genoa sheet. Trying to grind it out did not work so the decision was made to cut the sheet (Foxtrot inside joke: “But TV always has a knife) and we lost a few boats getting sorted out.
We finished up wind in fourth place, two points behind the regatta winner Team Aegis. My thanks and congratulations to Jim Keene and the entire Foxtrot Corpen team for the opportunity to race with you guys, it was a great day. It is hard to beat good music, great breeze, cold beers and a fast boat. I look forward to racing with your team again soon.
Fred Wagner, Annapolis Yacht Sales
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