After rigging and a boat ride to IHYC for breakfast and Skippers Meeting, the fleet headed out to the course for 3 races in 5-10 knots, flat water and gorgeous sunny conditions. The teams of Eric Reinke/Kim Couranz, John/Maggie Manderson and new (Jibe Tech) boat owner/skipper Carol Cronin with veteran crew Sherry Eldridge quickly demonstrated they had come to play, showing superior speed and control of the shifty conditions on windward/leeward courses by each winning a race. Consistency was hard to come by except for the team of Pedro Lorson/Watt Duffy, which won the morning with finishes of 2,2,2. To many of the sailors surprise, the entry fee included lunch on the deck of IHYC, and after the morning races the fleet relaxed on the club deck for a civilized lunch.
The afternoon races were moved to the outside course, The Wannamaker, and the breeze picked up to a nice 10-14 kts. Ned Jones/Kari Warren responded well to the lunch and the new conditions by posting a 2,1,1 for the afternoon and pulling within several points of regatta leaders and '99 World Team members Lorson /Duffy. In true to form tradition, the Snipers retired to IHYC for a cook-out with the requisite keg 'o beer. When the yacht club staff broke out the vacuum cleaners the sailors finally got the cue it was time to turn the club back over to the members.
Sunday brought rain and very little wind. The first two races were held on the inside course in front of IHYC in 1-5 kts. Consistency was the elusive goal as the teams mixed up their scores. After a short delay for wind, the final two races were held in 5-12 kts. Lorson/Duffy held on for the win over Jones/Warren and Reinke/Couranz.
IHYC did a fantastic job hosting the event, complete with pictures of the sailing, skipper/crew trophies and most importantly 10 good races all wrapping up by 3pm at the awards ceremony on Sunday. IHYC continues to be supportive of District 1 Snipe sailing and is looking forward to hosting again next year.
-Ned Jones
IHYC Snipe Spring Regatta Sail # Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 Race 6 Race 7 Race 8 Race 9 Race 10 Total Place 1 Pedro Lorson , Watt Duffy 28044 2 2 2 5 2 5 3 2 7(drop) 2 26 1 2. Ned Jones , Kari Warren 28852 7(drop) 5 5 2 1 1 5 6 1 4 30 2 3. Eric Reinke ,Kim Courane 25483 4 1 9 1 10(drop)3 2 3 5 3 31 3 4. John , Maggie Manderson 28065 3 9 1 3 7 4 4 DNS(drop)3 1 35 4 5. Lee Griffith ,Monique Gaylor 29204 5 7 4 10(drop)5 2 6 1 2 9 41 5 6. Carol Cronin,Sherry Eldridge 28702 1 8(drop) 6 4 3 8 1 5 8 6 42 6 7. Dave Applegate,Matt Hastings 27861 6 6 7 7 4 7 10(drop)9 6 5 57 7 8. Paul Cronin ,Melitta King 29592 11 10 12(drop)6 6 9 9 8 4 7 70 8 9. Bill Kelley,Kristen Kelley 28050 10 4 3 8 DNS 6 8 11 12 DNS(drop)75 9 10. Ray Schmit ,Diana Marsh 25659 8 12(drop)11 12 8 11 7 7 11 8 82 10 11. Bob Coyle ,Chuck D'Antonio 24695 9 11 8 11 9 10 11 4 10 DNS(drop)83 11 12. Darryl Waskow and crew? 27734 12 3 10 9 11 12 12(drop)10 9 10 86 12