during the first race. On the last downwind were faster than the Melges 20s and the more pressure on the breakwater.” Derek
leg the leaders sailed into a hole and the Rocket 22s.” Campbell said, “Friday we were learning
last two boats ended up first and second. Competition was close in the 11 boat the boat, but got 2nds in the last two races.
The importance of a good start cannot Melges 24 fleet. By the end of Friday, three Sunday, we won the start, but got stuck
be overemphasized.” Jaime Storkman on boats were tied for first: Fast Forward, with boats in other fleets.” Dan Kaseler,
Fandango led off the line all the way to Elwood and Pteron. Derek Campbell of pTeron, said, “Going into the final race,
the finish. Invader finished a point ahead borrowed Todd Fairbank‘s boat Fast you could feel the energy crackling as
of Predator and two points ahead of Water Forward, racing with Darren Towe, who the favorites wedged in at the boat end
Torture who won the first race. joked, “We called it Wicked Fast Banshee”. of the line. Four boats could have won
Division B, raced Friday and Sunday. Friday Dalton Bergan steered Elwood since the regatta at that point. We were really
Friday the Meadow Point RC headed by Matt McGregor had work committments, aggressive at the start, really close to being
PRO Charlie Rathkopf, finished three but Matt drove Sunday. Rich Demmler over early."
or four races in division B. Saturday’s of Puttanesca said, “Friday’s racing was Rocket 22s and Melges 20s started
winds were barely perceptible, so the interesting because the current shifted to together but scored separately. Michael
RCs postponed at the dock and though a flood and the right was hugely favored Mechaelis consistently did well in the
it was sunny, the wind never came up. going upwind. Coming back we saw Rocket 22s, taking first overall. Joe
Sailors socialized, discussing rig tension, continued on next page
racing strategy and past regattas, played
trash ball or swam. The enthusiastic and
resourceful San Juan 21 fleet tried to get
in a competition in the ripples off the
breakwater between the Meadow Point
buoy and a piece of driftwood with some
success. Sunday looked equally grim
for sailing, but in a valiant attempt to
end the regatta on a positive note, two
race committees produced racing out of
(nearly) thin air.
Mercedes-Benz
Eight Etchells completed four races
Friday and some on Sunday. Jeff Madrigali
summarized the racing with, “We had
decent wind early on, racing in 7-8 knots PITCH 2009
from the north, but then we had big shifts
and the wind died. We got three short races
in the “Meadow Point Hurricane.” The RC
tried to keep fleets apart, but we had lots
of multiple fleet mark roundings.” Carl
Sutter on Sutter’s Gold took first place and
Labor Day Weekend
Paul Taylor took second.
September 5th and 6th 2009
Self Abuse dominated the J-24 fleet
finishes. Harry Dursch explained, “The
Hosted by
fleet inverted itself a couple of times.”
Bellingham Yacht Club
Mike Johnson borrowed Tundra Rose
to race in the regatta, since Hot Pursuit
was holed recently. Canadian Recidivist
stopped on the way back from Annapolis
Worlds last week. Jaime Tiampo, foredeck
on Recidivist said, “Local knowledge
Kelly O’Neil
really helped. Everyone went right. We
Team Trophy
went left and got spanked. Then at the
PITCH is a Grand Prix Qualifi er
pin end of the start, we were too early and
and 48° North Top 25 Boats Qualifi er
had to duck the entire fleet, making us go
the right way. We won that race.” Tom
Niccoli, trimmer on Tremendous Slouch,
Sponsored by
said it was a tough call between being
aggressive versus going for the breeze at
the starts.
Ray Hines worked 11 months to get
enough SB3s for this regatta. Zack Maxam
drove his boat from San Diego. The boats Photos courtesy of Jan Anderson, 2008.
are new, so competitors spent a lot of time
setting up the rigging and trying to figure
www.byc.org/pitch
the boats out. Tim Cleary said, “The SB3s
48° No r t h , Ju N e 2009 Pa g e 67
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