09/05/2017
Hot, Shifty, Challenging Conditions…Martin 242 North American Championships -
Shifty, sweaty, serious fun, family affair, are all good descriptions of the Martin 242 North American Championship held at C*C August 31st through September 3rd. In the days approaching our event, it became clear that the weather was going to challenge our fun factor, and Co-chairs Miriam and Steve Moses and Paula Cameron would have their hands full. Fifteen fierce teams comprising many of the best racers in Southern California registered.
Thursday began with registration, crew weigh-ins, and tee shirt sales with the assistance of the C*CWA Hospitality ladies. An afternoon clinic sponsored by Ullman Sails was run by Bruce Cooper and Alex Curtiss. The clinic focused on current thinking on course management, boat handling, rig tuning and light air conditions. Participants motored out to the sailing area and were greeted by a reasonable breeze of six to eight knots. After half a dozen starts and two short races we returned to the Club for a meaningful debrief.
Friday, the first day of racing: Was that a zephyr or a puff? Does that look like a wind line? How much water do we have on board? A forty-degree shift was followed by another, and then nothing happened. We bobbed around looking at the Cat in the Hat (AP) flag, postponed for two hours on Friday before our PRO, S/C Bill Stump, was confident the wind was reasonable enough for a championship level race. Our race committee deftly rotated the course under our boats keeping it as square as possible and we worked our way through shifts, lulls, and current to the finish line. Following a general recall, race number two was started under a U flag and the immediate disqualification of three boats that were over early. Note to self, don’t be over early and know the “U” flag rule. Brack Duker and his all pro crew on Velerito handily won boat of the day with a first and a third, while Mark Sand’s Sandbox team followed up with a second and a third place just a point behind.
Friday night was good for two hoots. The race committee and volunteers were treated to an after race cocktail party on the dock under the hoist with delicious food and wine. The M242 teams hosted a beautiful off site party at the home of Mike and Denise George where laughter met margaritas and burritos. Notably, our beloved Len Abbeduto graciously accepted the 2017 broken mast award and Trolleycar took home our high point trophy for the second year in a row. Does that trophy still exist, I hope they let us see it for five minutes next year.
In a show of mercy, the Cat in the Hat flag flew from the C*C flagpole Saturday morning allowing us to hide in the air conditioning while the wind gods worked out their stalemate. There was serious talk of postponing the Saturday and Sunday races until October. After many bags of ice melted race number three started a little after 3 pm in light air and some lumpy seas. Three quarters of the way up the first weather leg boats on the left saw their fortunes rise and fall. A forty degree shift from the left allowed a few of us feeling brilliant only to be followed by an abandonment. We bobbed back to the starting area for another attempt at races three and four. Boat of the Day went to Peter Stazicker and his dream team crew of Trolleycar after they demonstrated mastery of these challenging conditions with a second and first place finish. It sounded like a swarm of bees coming to life as we all fired up our little outboard engines for the race to the dock, beer, dinner and, most importantly, to find out who would win the new jib.
No one knew a thing about how this jib would be won as the regatta organizers were determined to find a fun game where all teams had an equal chance and no previous experience. Sanna Pollanen and Will Tetrick provided the equipment and taught us how to play mölkke, a Finnish lawn game also known as Viking Bowling. After intensely fought eliminations it came down to Wombat vs. Strange Crew. In the end, Kiren Shocklee knocked down the number seven skittle and Strange Crew took home the Ullman Sails jib provided by Mike and Denise George and Ullman Sails.
Nine o’clock Sunday morning and ninety seven degrees at the hoist the first, second and third place boats, Velerito, Trolleycar and Strange Crew were weighed in. It felt like Miami with no wind. Sailors hid in the shadows and in the bar as the AP flag rose and dangled lifelessly from the C*C flagpole. The forecast was not optimistic and included thunderstorms. Before noon PRO Bill Stump and the crew of the Charles Hathaway went out to investigate. Suddenly a fresh breeze swept through the marina and we passed the small craft warning at the coast guard on our way out. The R/C waited for the breeze to stabilize and we were off with a fresh ten knots and some shifty shifts. Wombat steered clear of Velerito and Trolleycar, who were busy match racing, and won race five. Velerito edged out Blarney in race six by a mere sixteen seconds as we all limped to the finish. Bill Stump could have started another race but the fleet decided to go back to the club before we ran out of fresh water.
Back on the front lawn the sailors were greeted to a lovely reception with cold beverages and delicious food. Each skipper received a beautiful framed photo of their boat provided by our photographer Bronny Daniels. The gorgeous glass trophies created by Julie Coll, a M242 Racer, were presented by Commodore Kellie Fennessy and PRO Bill Sump. Fifth Place went to Denise George and her crew of All In. Tom O’Connor and his Blarney crew won fourth place. Third Place went to Steve Hathaway and his Strange Crew. Peter Stazicker and the crew of Trolleycar took home second and the First Place Trophy went to Brack Duker and the crew of Velerito. Congratulations to all the winners.
M242 Fleet #3 couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who made this a remarkable event in spite of the trying weather. There were over thirty RC volunteers each day. Special thanks to the C*CWA for providing Hospitality. The C*C staff (catering, dock and grounds) was spot on all throughout the weekend. We’d also like to thank M242 racer, Jennifer Arrington for designing the awesome shirts, which sold out, and our sponsors, Ullman Sails, MG Marine and Z Blok, Serious Sunscreen.
note to self: next time bring a bathing suit!
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