2017 Sunfish World Championship - Day 1

by Sunfish Class on 29 Aug 2017 Put 54 champion competitors from 10 different countries in a setting as beautiful as Brant Beach Yacht Club in NJ and mix in winds that ranged from 14-18+ knots and you have a near perfect start to this year's International Sunfish Class Association (ISCA) World Championship.

Well, maybe this wasn't the real start to this championship event, which actually had its official start last night with each country carrying their flag and marching into the clubhouse to the music of their country's national anthem. Each competitor showed great pride in representing their home country with the goal to race to the best of their ability with a chance at a trophy. We teary-eyed softies felt their pride while wishing each of them to race their best regatta ever.

With many redresses going on due to some broken boat parts - mostly rudders and one hiking strap - this report will show only Preliminary race results. Final Race Results will be posted tomorrow. The most common broken rudder part is being replaced tonight with heavy duty stainless steel bolts on every competitor's rudder so that there will be no broken rudders in Day Two's racing. Today's heavy air did more than test the competitors' abilities; the new boats were tested too, and the kinks are being worked out with a lot of effort thanks to Chris McClellan of SunfishDirect and his helpers who have been amazing throughout the whole boat assignment process.

So the #1 competitor on Day One was Alonso Collantes of Peru with a one – two - one who was able to replace his broken rudder between two races and didn't have to ask for redress. Only two points behind Alonso was Clemente Sequel of Chile with a two – one - three. In third place was Paul-Jon Patin of the USA with a five – six - two who also needed a replacement rudder but didn't have to ask for redress. Finishing fourth on Day One was Eugene Schmitt of the USA with a four – three - five. And in fifth place was Jean Paul Trazegnies of Peru who was the last to cross the start line in Race One but managed to finish eighth in Race One (incredible sailing!) and who also had to file a redress due to a broken part.

At this morning's Skipper's Meeting, tow lines were handed out to each competitor in case the predicted heavy air (25-30+) blows in after the races have started tomorrow. But the Race Committee will watch this carefully and will keep full safety in mind before sending any competitor out there in conditions that could be less than safe. If races do get canceled, Thursday's lay day will be used to sail the make-up races.

Tonight is a BBQ celebration for everyone who had fun out there today and for those friends and family members who are here to cheer them on.

Series Summary

Pl	S#	Sailor	S	From	1	2	3	Total
1	15	Alonso Collantes		Peru - Federacion Peruana de Vela	1	2	1	4
2	42	Clemente Seguel		Chile - Cofradia Nautica del Pacifica	2	1	3	6
3	12	Paul-Jon Patin		USA - Sayville - POWYS	5	6	2	13
4	25	David Hernandez		Guatemala - ASOVELA	4.5\RDG	5	4	13.5
5	06	Jean Paul de Trazegnies Valdez		Peru - Federacion Peruana de Vela	4.5\RDG	4	5	13.5
6	08	Eugene Schmitt		USA - Bay-Waveland YC	4	3	8	15
7	16	Edgar Diminich		Ecuador - Salinas YC	7	7\RDG	7\RDG	21
8	24	Diego Silvestre		Guatemala - ASOVELA	6	7	9	22
9	38	Martin Alsogaray		Argentina - CNSP	3	8	19	30
10	17	Jonathan Martinetti Mawyin		Ecuador - Salinas YC	10	10\RDG	10\RDG	30
11	51	Ignacio Antequera Erro		Spain	16	10	7	33
12	28	Stewart Draheim		USA - Rush Creek YC	15	15	6	36
13	56	Hank Saurage		USA - Pontchartrain YC	14	12	11	37
14	10	David Mendelblatt		USA - St. Petersburg YC	12	13	16	41
15	33	Dan Hesse		USA - Saratoga Lake SC	9	20	13	42
16	35	Juan Sebastian Martinez		Colombia	13	11	18	42
17	41	Gustavo Alayon		PR - Ponce Yacht & Fishing Club	17	17	15	49
18	26	Lee Montes		USA - Wet Pants SA	17\RDG	17\RDG	17	51
19	07	Brian McGinnis		USA - Wet Pants SA	18	22	14	54
20	14	John Birkett		Ecuador - SYC & PLYC	11	21	26	58
21	13	Jesus Bailon		Ecuador - Club De Vela San Mateo	22	9	29	60
22	09	Josh Kerst		USA - North Cape YC	29	23	10	62
23	29	Mark Weider		USA -Rochester Canoe Club	24	26	12	62
24	01	Esteban Echavarria		Colombia - Liga de vela de Antioquia	21	22\RDG	23	66
25	36	Juan Mazzini		Argentina - Club de Veleros Barlovento	25	18	25	68
26	48	Alejandro Mago		Peru - Club Regatas Lima	23	19	27	69
27	31	Guy De Chavigny		Martinique - CN Schoelcher	27	16	34	77
28	03	Rob Eberle		USA - MOBYC	30	29	22	81
29	20	Jaime Torres		PR - Club Nautico de San Juan	33	28	24	85
30	34	Gail Heausler	F	USA - Davis Island YC	35	24	28	87
31	43	Nicholas Patin		USA - Point o'Woods YS	31	27	29\RDG	87
32	02	Juan Esteban Restrepo		Colombia - Club 4 Vientos	19	14	55\OCS	88
33	05	William Kresic		USA - Highland Lakes	38	30	21	89
34	21	Chris Houston		USA - Marsh Creek SC	26	34	33	93
35	22	Christopher Williams		USA - Brant Beach YC	20	55\DSQ	20	95
36	23	John Butine		USA - Lake Norman YC	36	25	35	96
37	32	Paul Welles		USA - Oriental Dinghy Club	33\RDG	35	31	99
38	52	Rune Henrik Hansen		USA - Sebago-Seacliff YC	37	32	32	101
39	44	Simon Gomez		Colombia - Club Nautico Acuarela	40	33	30	103
40	45	James Ranker		USA - SBWA	32	38	38	108
41	54	Juan Carlos Barrera		Ecuador - Salinas YC	34	39	39	112
42	30	Jim Koehler		USA - S. Bay Watersports Assoc.	28	31	55\OCS	114
43	18	Luis Mario Acosta		Ecuador - San Mateo	39	36	40	115
44	04	Lyndsay Stockwell	F	USA	42	42	37	121
45	19	Romina DeIulio	F	Ecuador - Salinas YC	41	40	41	122
46	46	Santiago Canziani		Peru - Federacion Peruana de Vela	55\RET	37	36	128
47	49	Tom Katterheinrich		USA - St. Mary's Boat Club	43	43	42	128
48	11	Marguerite Koehler	F	USA -	45	41	43	129
49	37	Griffin Sisk		USA - WYS	46	44	44	134
50	53	Charles Rahn		USA - Coconut Grove SC	47	55\DNS	55\DNS	157
51	50	Lee Parks	F	USA - Newport YC	55\DNF	55\DNS	55\DNS	165T
51	27	Lawrence Suter		USA - Coconut Grove SC	55\DNF	55\DNS	55\DNS	165T
51	40	Nicholas Reyes		USA - Hunterdon SC	55\DNF	55\DNS	55\DNS	165T
51	47	Nicky Einthoven	F	USA - Hunterdon SC	55\DNF	55\DNS	55\DNS	165T