This year the New England States Championships were hosted by the Cottage Park Yacht Club in conjunction with their Make-a-Wish multi-class regatta. The regatta serves as a fund-raiser for the Make-a-Wish foundation which grants wishes to terminally ill children. Last year, around $9,000 was raised which enabled the foundation to grant wishes to 3 children. In addition to Snipes, there were Stars, J105s, a variety of Catalinas, a 210, and youth classes in Lasers, Optimists, and N10s.
Fourteen Snipes competed (on our own line) right off of Logan airport, just out of the flight path. Saturday saw moderate and shifty breezes from the East-Southeast, with a very noticable ebbing tide down the middle of the racecourse. Pedro Lorson/Mimi Berry had a stellar first day, posting a 1-1-2. The left was the place to be, and they always seemed to be the first ones to get there.
After getting off the water at about 4:30, the competitors hung around the bar until the Rum Party sponsored by Bacardi started at 6pm. Dinner was provided at the club to sailors from all of the classes, followed by an A Capella group and dancing (yes, with the right combination of Motown and 50s music, you can dance to it). As usual the Snipers dominated the partying and dancing.
Sunday brought perfect conditions: sunny and warm with breezes in the 10-12 range out the Southeast. The race committee provided 3 olympic courses, with everyone regretting having to go in. Pedro and Mimi cooled off a bit, while Jim Bowers/Myrna Fong turned on the jets, sailing a 1-2-2 for Sunday and throwing out a 3 for the regatta. John MacRae/Melitta King also sailed solidly with all keeper races in the top 3. Neither was able to catch Pedro and Mimi though. The team to watch in the future is Art/Adam Rousmaniere, who finished in a solid 4th in their first open water regatta together - son Adam is about 9 years old and 80 pounds. They were extremely fast downwind and held their own upwind, winning the second race on Sunday.
Many thanks to the Cottage Park YC for accomodating the Snipe class in every way. We really enjoyed being there and are looking forward to sailing there in the future.
| Skipper | Crew | sail no. | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | total points |
place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedro Lorson | Mimi Berry | 28044 | 0.75 | 0.75 | 2 | 3 | -5 | 0.75 | 7.25 | 1 |
| Jim Bowers | Myrna Fong | 28440 | -3 | 2 | 3 | 0.75 | 2 | 2 | 9.75 | 2 |
| John MacRae | Melitta King | 26451 | 2 | -10 | 0.75 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10.75 | 3 |
| Art Rousmaniere | Adam Rousmaniere | 25412 | 5 | -6 | 5 | 4 | 0.75 | 4 | 18.75 | 4 |
| John Manderson | Maggie Manderson | 28065 | 6 | 4 | -8 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 27.00 | 5 |
| Dave Lence | Alex Elger | 27101 | 4 | -9 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 31.00 | 6 |
| John Lally | Keri O'Brien | 28542 | -13 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 37.00 | 7 |
| John Mullane | Rita Mullane | 27591 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 11 | -12 | 38.00 | 8 |
| Steve Keckler | Michelle Morphew | 27238 | 11 | 8 | -13 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 42.00 | 9 |
| Sue Lodico | Jan Tabor | 25003 | 7 | -12 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 43.00 | 10 |
| Joe Donis | Margaret Read | 26452 | 9 | 5 | -12 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 43.00 | 11 |
| Bob Coyle | Chuck D'Antonio | 24695 | 8 | -13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 50.00 | 12 |
| Rick Fontana | Dianne Ahmann | 25416 | -14DNF | 11 | 9 | 14DNC | 14DNC | 14DNC | 62.00 | 13 |
| Dave Ryan | Jane Codman | 28443 | 12 | -14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 65.00 | 14 |