2010 Arms-White Regatta

June 19-20, 2010

 

PICTURES

 

Saturday Photos:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/51395343@N03/sets/72157624210927029/show/with/4725736734/

Sunday Photos:  tbd

 

RESULTS

 

Pl.

No.

Skipper

Crew

Fleet

Cat.

R1

R2

R3

Points

1

8395

John MacCausland

Kevin Murphy

CR

 

3

2

3

8

2

8269

Jock Kohlhas

Josh Revkin

BisB

 

1

5

5

11

3

8067

Tomas Hornos

Mike Nichol

BH

 

6

7

1

14

4

7741

Ben Sternberg

Will Christenson

CLIS

 

2

4

8

14

5

8063

Bert Collins

Jake Doyle

AN

M

4

3

9

16

6

8007

Bill Watson

Roger Sharp

CLIS

EGM

8

6

6

20

7

7728

Peter Cusick

Roman Gotsulyak

Mid

 

dns

1

2

21

8

8218

Nelson Stephenson

Drew Polanski

CLIS

GM

9

11

4

24

9

8112

Joe Bainton

Todd Raynor

CLIS

GM

5

13

7

25

10

7565

Jack Button

Christian Tremo

Mid

EGM

10

9

10

29

11

8132

Witold Gesing

John Hepburn

CLIS

M

14

10

12

36

12

7952

Craig Morgan

Mark Laser

Mid

M

7

15

16

38

13

7959

Thorsten Cook

Mike Young

CLIS

EGM

16

8

14

38

14

8152

Don Gray

Jessica Kirchoff

Mid

EGM

11

12

15

38

15

8035

David Bolles

Jim Revkin

Mid

EGM

15

14

11

40

16

7724

Joe Giunti

Don Cronan

Mid

VEGM

12

dnf

13

43

17

7306

Lou Roberts

Kevin Elterman

Mid

 

13

16

17

46

 

 

2010 Arms White Regatta Won By John MacCausland and Kevin Murphy

 

Despite drifting conditions at the start of both Saturday and Sunday’s annual Arms White Regatta, the Milford Yacht Club Race Committee was able to start and finish the minimum three races to complete the 68th running of the event.  Seventeen boats representing 6 different Star fleets from as far away as Florida participated, including many champions from past events.  And in true form, a few stories were generated that will be talked about in the congregations of Star races throughout the area.

 

The weekend started with a tuning and strategy day on Friday lead by international-renowned Star champion John MacCausland who generously donated his time in the morning to check the tuning of any boat in the parking lot ready to be inspected, and the afternoon to an on-the-water coaching session in which John jumped from boat to boat to fine tune the rig and discuss individual strategy with the crew. 

 

Saturday’s two races started with a two-hour postponement until the sea breeze finally kicked in providing a steady and building southerly 10 knot wind in what turned out to be ideal Star racing conditions.  PRO Alan Pritchard’s relentless quest for steady winds finally paid off and the first gun went off at shortly before 1 pm.  Boats choosing the left side of the upwind leg found better breeze and rounded the leeward leg first and for the most part kept the lead throughout the rest of the windward/leeward course.

 

In the first of the stories to be generated during this year’s event, the winner of Race number one was Jock Kohlhas who began the day with a sleep-deprived induced, consciousness-altering ride out to the race course.  Once revived, Jock’s crew, Josh Revkin, turned the boat back to the dock to seek medical attention, but after the conclusion of a brief discussion, Jock insisted on racing.  He won, provoking new backroom strategy discussions about how sleep deprivation might improve racing performance. 

 

The second race was started soon after the last boat crossed.  During the final downwind leg, much of the forward part of the fleet was scattered by a tug and tow that intersected the race course which demanded the best barge-management strategies by the skippers and crew.  Most, but not all, boats were able to negotiate the crossing successfully; however, the final results were clearly affected as a result.  Peter Cusick and crew Roman Gotsulyak deftly avoided tug-to-Star boat contact and took Race number two.

 

Saturday evening was highlighted by a gathering at Star Fleet Secretary Lou Roberts’ home at the head of Milford Harbor, attended by a dozen or so Star racers. Thanks go to Darlene Elterman and Lois Button for preparing and serving the food and beverages. 

 

Sunday’s conditions were identical to Saturday’s with another multiple hour postponement.  The course proved to be quite tricky and playing the wind shifts was key for a success outcome.  Tomas Hornos and Mike Nichol found the right combination of tacks to win Race number three.

 

The post-Regatta events consisted of the Awards Ceremony in the Milford Yacht Club pub area.  Congratulations go to John MacCausland and Kevin Murphy for their First Place finish.  According to the best information this writer has, this makes approximately fifteen Arms White wins for John MacCausland, a record which will probably never by challenged.  During his acceptance speech, John MacCausland noted the absence of Emil Karlovsky, the oldest active Star racer in the world and MYC member, who was not able to attend this year’s Regatta.  Full results are posted on http://www.mycstar.org/.

 

Participants were then treated to a sumptuous outdoor barbecue buffet sponsored by the Milford Yacht Club for both the Star sailors and the participants of the annual Blessing of the Fleet event.  Thanks to go Wim Jessup for the great food and arrangements as well as MYC Fleet Captain Mark Laser for pulling the right strings for a seamless event.  Lastly, thanks go to Mid-Conn Star Fleet Captain, Kevin Elterman, for staging a great event in his second year as Fleet Captain.

 

Lou Roberts,

Mid-Conn Star Fleet Secretary

June 21, 2010