Eric Oetgen wins 2018 ISCA Master Worlds
by International Sunfish Class Association 21 Mar 2018 05:05 PDT
17-20 March 2018
2018 ISCA Master World Championship © Susanna Russell
Thirty-five brave sailors attended the inaugural 2018 ISCA Master World Championship at St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club March 17 – 20. Competitors endured a mixture of weather conditions over three days of racing which included light and moderate shifty breeze, sunny skies, morning fog, rain, and the complex currents of Saint Andrews Bay.
Eric Oetgen (GA) took the lead on day 2 after the throw-out came into effect and never looked back. Former ISCA World Champion Paul-Jon Patin (NY) recovered from a slow start and put on a strong challenge, but could not catch Oetgen's 10-point lead. Martin Willard (NC) finished 3th, while former ISCA World Champion Donnie Martinborough (Nassau, Bahamas) took 4th overall. Gail Heausler (FL) finished 5th and earned the top female spot and the Grand Masters Division.
On the Senior Masters Division, Dick Tillman (FL) edged out Don Bergman (MI) to take the top spot. Other winners include Joe Blouin (FL), Great Grand Masters division. 2018 ISCA Master World Champion Oetgen also took the Masters Division.
Overwhelmingly, sailors noted that St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club and its team of volunteers did a top-notch job organizing and promoting this event on local and social media. Event Chair Christine Reiss brought together staff, volunteers, and local officials to create a professionally-organized event, and secured sponsorships by Destination Panama City, B&C Technologies and Coral Reef Sailing Apparel which made it possible to invite a team of international sailing judges to umpire the regatta. Principal Race Officer William Zehner ran the on-the-water courses for competitors.
The International Sunfish® Master Regatta was recently rebranded as the ISCA Master World Championship to help boost the class' credibility by having a third world title, in addition to the Open and Youth World Championships.
Some of the Master Worlds participants will stay in Panama City for a few more days to join their younger counterparts to race at the 2018 USSCA National Championships at Midwinters and Pan-Am Games Country qualifier starting on March 22.
For final results click here.
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