Star North Americans Day One

by Betsy Crowfoot on 20 Aug 2005 Leading the regatta overall with a 3-3 record are San Diegans Rick Merriman/Rick Peters; followed by John Dane/Austin Sperry – who won the tune-up regatta for the King of Spain; and Australian’s Iain Murray and Andrew Palfrey.

It wasn’t just a weather postponement that delayed the first race of the Keane 2005 Star Class North American Championship. Eager racers swarmed over the line early triggering two general recalls. The third, and successful, start saw eight of the 48 teams on course side (OCS).

It’s a fine line between an aggressive start and an early start, pointed out Erik Lidecis, who won the first race.

‘We went right to the committee boat and went right,’ said Lidecis, sailing with Michael Marzahl. ‘We felt the right was going to fill in eventually and we were just waiting for it. And when it did come in, it was huge. It paid off and we were gone.’

At the recent King of Spain Regatta, Lidecis said he was hampered by conservative starts. Although they led after the first day of races, on Day Two, ‘we got hosed,’ Lidecis admitted. ‘Our starts killed us. I decided I’m going to get a lot more aggressive on the starts: stop that conservative game and just go for it.’

Go for it, they did. Lidecis/Marzahl – Olympic hopefuls – led the fleet around the course in Race One today, fending off a last-leg rally by Australia’s Iain Murray/Andrew Palfrey. ‘We just covered and stayed inside,’ said Lidecis, holding on to win the first of six races in the four-day event.

As Race Two began, the breeze built to nearly 12 knots and chop increased. Star
2001 North American champion George Szabo said they had ‘pushed too hard’ in Race One, learning of their OCS and disqualification at the windward mark. ‘We had a sneaking suspicion,’ he said, ‘It was too good of a start.’

But a clean start in Race Two paid off. ‘The wind picked up and we were able to be in the right place at the right time,’ said Eric Monroe, crew, earning them a bullet in the second race of the day.

Leading the regatta overall with a 3-3 record are San Diegans Rick Merriman/Rick Peters; followed by John Dane/Austin Sperry – who won the tune-up regatta for the King of Spain; and Murray/ Palfrey.

Lidecis/Marzahl, who started deep in Race Two, broke their pole at the top mark of the second run and watched six boats inch by, to place fourth overall so far.

Marzahl, who ended up being a ‘human pole’ on that last run, declared, ‘We work
real hard together and never give up.’

‘We have three more days here and we’re just looking for four perfect races.’
Racing continues from California Yacht Club through Sunday August 21.


1. Rick Merriman/Rick Peters 3-3
2. John Dane/Austin Sperry 5-2

3. Iain Murray/Andrew Palfrey 2-6

4. Eric Lidecis/Michael Marzahl 1-12
___ John MacCausland/Robert Schofield 4-9