Atlantic Coast Championship

Surf City, June 8-9, 2013. Results and regatta report by Lee Griffith

Surf City Atlantic Coast Championships Serves Up

A moderate-size but very competitive fleet gathered on Long Beach Island on the Jersey Shore for the 2013 Atlantic Coast Championships. Travelers from St Louis, Ft Lauderdale, Boston, and Annapolis braved monster rain storms on Friday to arrive for the Friday night barbecue at Griffith’s house and compete for sleeping spots. Clearly the party trophy was going to be tough competition as Peter, Julia, and Karla spent Friday afternoon at a local pub warming up with steamed clams and sampling the local wine products. As the rest of the regatta arrived the grills were fired up and the corn was shucked. Surf City annually brags three warm meals (two barbecues and a few left over pork loin sandwiches for the road) and some excellent sailing on Manahawkin Bay.

(Photo: Waiting for the Wind on Sunday Morning. Left to right: Stephan & Monica Irgens, Jensen McTighe, Lexi Pline, Peter Commette, Julia Melton, Jessica Claflin, Stephanie Muto, Bob Coyle, Eric Reinke, Gavin O’Hare).

After admiring the clean up and restoration work on Surf City Yacht Club after Hurricane Sandy, the boats rigged up and headed out for the Serious Sailing part of the regatta. The normal Surf City sea breeze was trumped by the storm systems and the conditions were moderate to light from the West, then the South, then the West, and then the South again. You get the picture as everyone was up and down in the tricky conditions, but the our Lightning class race committee worked hard as usual, and managed to get in four challenging and fair races.

Gavin and Holly O’Hare won the first race declaring that they were going to defend their 2012 ACC title stoutly. Lisa and Lexi Pline were 2nd, with rest of the fleet clawing across the line in a tight pack. After a short delay as the wind settled down, Peter Commette and Julia Melton shook off the effects of their Friday party win and managed three straight bullets. It wasn’t as easy as the results indicated though as lots of pressure changes and wind shifts mixed things up in every race. Eric Reinke/ Sandy Westphal, Henry/Christian Filter, and Andy Klein/Jensen McTighe rounded out the top five after day one. Griffith/Jessica, Lisa/Lexi Pline, Bob Coyle/Stephanie, and Stephan/Monica Irgens were all nipping at their heels.

Now it was on to the main event, the pork loin and Jersey corn on the cob barbecue, which has come to define the Surf City regatta. This year it was whiskey pepper marinade that was the favorite with Mediterranean olive oil, garlic, and herbs a close second. After putting a serious dent in the pork, everyone headed to the Big Dipper for an ice cream cone to cap it off. There were rumors of some prancing in the Atlantic Ocean surf to finish the night.

Sunday dawned very, very quietly. So quiet that the wind forecast of wind at 1 knot with gusts to 1 came true. No races were possible and everyone packed up early for long drives home. Peter and Julia were Atlantic Coast Champions and, as was their right, they declared that the ACC’s will return to Surf City in 2014. Karla brought out the left over loins and corn and everyone drove off with several sandwiches to sustain them on the road home. Naturally, the famed Surf City sea breeze appeared just as everyone was finishing packing up.

If you haven’t been to our regatta, you are missing it big time. You even have second chance this year in September for the Surf City Annual regatta the weekend after Labor Day. Come enjoy our island, the great hospitality and great racing! We’ll try to find a bed for you!