Mike Ingham is US Champion of Champions

by Event on 2 Oct 2005 The USA Dinghy Champion of Champions event was completed Saturday at the Bayview YC. The event involved 20 dinghy class champions, sailing in Flying Scot dinghies.

'Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory...' That's a quote from Eduardo Cordero's crew after two OCS starts on the final day of the Dinghy Champion of Champions series at Bayview YC. That's 42 points in two races. Too bad for Eduardo.

But good for Mike Ingham, 2005 Thistle National Champion from Rochester Canoe Club in Rochester NY. Proving that it isn't over until it's really over, Mike sailed a consistently conservative race today with finishes of 3-5-5-5-5 to end with 59 points and the Championship of Champions title.

Even after two OCS hits, Sunfish Champion Cordero (Sayville, NY) still finished in second place with 69.6 points, followed by the youngest competitor, Optimist Champion Matt Wefer (Glen Head, NY) with 75 points.

Conditions were again ideal with 10+ knots of breeze and flat water. Five races were sailed today prior to the 1:00 pm cut off making for 19 races for the series, one short of the full round-robin.

Bayview YC Commodore Greg Thomas expressed his appreciation of BYC's member volunteers and staff working to make this event such a stand out presentation, and to the event sponsors Rolex, Dry Creek Vineyards and WeatherWave. Special thanks went to Regatta Chair Dr. Mike Tapert.

US Sailing C of C National Chair, Jeff Johnson thanked the competitors for making the commitment to attend this unique event and encouraged all the one design classes to consider hosting a future Championship of Champions regatta. Bids are being accepted for 2007 and beyond.

2005 competitor Drew Daugherty/Y-flyer was introduced as the 2006 C of C Regatta Chair to be held in Y-Flyers and hosted by the Grande Maumelle SC outside of Little Rock Arkansas.