Richardson wins Farr 40 title, Ichiban second

by Bill Wagner, Staff Writer on 26 May 2006 Barking Mad skipper Jim Richardson was as surprised as anyone to win the Farr 40 East Coast Championship.

Richardson’s team entered the final day of the regatta in third place – four points behind the Australian entry Ichiban. That gap grew larger after Ichiban got the gun in Race 7 while Barking Mad placed seventh.

That increased the margin to ten points with two races remaining - a seemingly insurmountable lead.

'We didn’t have any great confidence that we would win the regatta. Our goal going into the final day was to sail the best we could and let the chips fall where they may,' Richardson said.

A funny thing happened on the way to the awards ceremony. Barking Mad suddenly got hot and closed the regatta with back-to-back bullets while Ichiban suffered disaster in the ninth and final race.

Skipper Matt Allen and tactician Hamish Pepper got themselves into an overlap situation with Pegasus that resulted in Ichiban performing a 720 penalty turn to absolve itself. The Australian entry wound up finishing 11th – resulting in a ten point swing that vaulted Barking Mad to the overall victory.

'It was a very improbable way to win a regatta, which was exciting,' said Richardson, who lives in Boston and Newport, R.I.

Richardson is a six-year veteran of the Farr 40 grand prix circuit and currently serves as international class president. He has been blessed with a talented and stable crew that includes several Annapolis residents.

Trimmers Dave Scott and Skip Baxter were brought aboard by Harwood native Terry Hutchinson, who has worked as primary tactician for Richardson since he joined the class.

Skilled amateur sailors Mike Buckley and Tony Rankin have recently joined the Barking Mad crew, which has helped Richardson capture two Farr 40 World Championships (1998, 2004).

Scott trims the jib upwind and the spinnaker downwind.

The North Sails professional has also played an instrumental role in sail development and rig tune, Richardson said.

Baxter serves as main trimmer and has proven adept at figuring out the tiny speed gains that prove crucial in a one-design class as closely contested as the Farr 40.

Buckley, a former All-American at Washington College, assists with trimming and tactics. Rankin works the mast while assisting on the bow.
'I’m very fortunate to have an outstanding team and the Annapolis guys are a big part of it,' Richardson said.

With Hutchinson committed to Team New Zealand for America’s Cup activity, Richardson has been forced to find substitute tacticians. The East Coast Championship, hosted by Annapolis Yacht Club, marked the second time Richardson has worked with California pro Vince Brun, a multi-time America’s Cup veteran.

'Vince is a wonderful sailor and I think our communication has improved since the first time we sailed together at Key West,' Richardson said.
Despite light and variable conditions, Richardson had high praise for Annapolis as a venue and the race committee headed by Wayne Bretsch.

Ramrod, owned by Rod Jabin of Annapolis, finished fifth in the 12-boat fleet.
Jabin opened the regatta with a bullet and entered the final day second in the overall standings.

However, the team filled with Annapolis sailors finished with a tenth and an eighth to fall out of contention.

Farr 40 East Coasts

1, Barking Mad, Jim Richardson, Newport, R.I., 4-9-6-5-2-3-7-1-1=38
2, Ichiban, Matt Allen, Sydney, Australia, 3-2-5-1-5-9-1-2-11=39
3, Appreciation, Jeff Siegal, Riverside, Conn., 9-7-4-2-1-7-4-6-2=42
4, Temptress, Alan Field, Los Angeles, Cal., 7-3-1-12-7-10-2-4-3=49
5, Ramrod, Rod Jabin, Annapolis, 1-4-7-8-6-2-5-10-8=51

www.hometownannapolis.com