Day 2 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta

by Media Pro Intl. on 30 Apr 2007 After another long wait for suitable wind conditions, racing at the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta in Annapoli, finally got underway this afternoon.

The 270-boat fleet floated helplessly on the Chesapeake as the wind began to fill in and build. By early afternoon conditions had changed somewhat so the Annapolis Yacht Club’s race committee started racing on two of the four race courses, while on the other two, it was a slow afternoon of waiting through wind direction changes, overcast skies and light drizzle.

The Etchells class, on Division 1 race course, completed four races although farther down the Bay, three of the classes on Division 4 race course did not finish within the time limit.

After four races in the 17-boat class, Rob Hitchcock tied on 12 points with Raymond Harrington for first place, but using the ‘who-beat-who’ formula, the top slot goes to Hitchock as he won the day’s last race. Along with the Etchells on Division 1, the J/22 and J/24 classes completed three races. Devils Play, owned by Bill Abbott leads the J/22s with 21 points while Paul van Ravensway and his Millennium Falcon lead the J/24s with 6 points.

In Division 2, three of the one-designs – Catalina 27, Cal 25, Alberg 30 – completed two races and the S2 7.9 and 9.1 classes had three. John Stefancik is the only skipper to have won two races in this division, sailing his S2 9.1 Hurricane Kelley.

The five one-design classes on Division 3 race course had a slightly different experience as they were farther down the Bay where the southerly wind was trying to make its way up the Bay. Unfortunately, there were pockets of wind, but the direction kept changing making it almost impossible for the competitors.

Two races were held for each class, but by looking at the scores the spread is vast enough among each that if there is racing tomorrow – and the forecast is for more of the same – then it could become anyone’s regatta. The top two positions in the C&C 99, J/29 and Melges 24 classes are tied on points, while the J/30 leader, Larry Christy on Big Kahuna, is the only boat to have won both of its races.

If there was any racing excitement today, then it happened in the J/105 class where all 45 boats drifted into a pile at the mark roundings. Without enough wind to pave a clear path around the race course, the old adage of getting a good start and clear air was one many were repeating. Only one race was held, beginning at 4pm, and Marty Hublitz won over Brian Keane on Savasana.

Three of the classes – the Beneteau 36.7, C&C 115 and J/35 classes did not finish within the time limit, so they have not completed one race in the series. The Mumm 30s and Melges 32s completed one race with local sailing standout Rod Jabin winning the recently-formed Melges 32 class. Turbo Duck, owned by Nick and Bodo Von Der Wense leads the Mumm 30 class.

Two, however, did not finish within the time limit: Sea biscuit, owned by Dorsey Owings which finished 20 seconds after the expiration, and Barking Mad, owned by Jim Richardson which finished one minute behind.

At this point, the race committee plans to run as many races as possible tomorrow, Sunday April 29, the final day of racing.

Sean Simmons, owner of the J/24 Minor Threat, was selected as the Sperry Top-Sider Boat of the Day and each crew member will receive a pair of performance Sperry Top-Sider shoes.

Agate Day 2 – Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta in Annapolis, Md. April 28,Day 2 of 3 - Provisional

Division 1

Etchells class – 17 boats, 4 races
1. no name, Rob Hitchcock, Dorchester, Mass., 2-2-7-1, 12 points
2. USA1076, Raymond Harrington, Bomoseen, Vt., 3-3-2-4, 12
3. Painted Jezebel, Jordan Smith, Annapolis, Md., 9-4-1-5, 19

J/22 class – 37 boats, 3 races
1. Devils Play, Bill Abbott, Lakewood, Ohio,2-2-17, 21 points
2. Leading Edge, Greg Fisher, Annapolis, Md., 6-8-7, 21
3. no name, Allan Terhune, Annapolis, Md., 3-14-5, 22

J/24 class – 16 boats, 3 races
1. Millennium Falcon, Paul Van Ravenswaay, Annapolis, Md., 1-3-2, 6 points
2. WIP, Mark Hillman, Annapolis, Md., 7-4-1, 12
3. Show Dog, Peter Rich, Annapolis, Md., 5-1-6, 12

Division 2

Alberg 30 class – 9 boats, 2 races
1. Argo, T.C. Williams, Arnold, Md., 2-1, 3
2. LinGin, Tim Williams, Annapolis, Md.,1-3, 4
3. Skybird, Rolph Townshend, Severna Park, Md., 5-2, 7

Cal 25 class – 11 boats, 2 races
1. White Cap, Timothy J. Bloomfield, Sherwood Forest, Md., 4-1, 5
2. Upchuck, Jimmy Praley, Annapolis, Md., 1-4, 5
3. Fahrvergnugen, Charlie Husar, Annapolis, Md., 2-3, 5

Catalina 27 class – 8 boats, 2 races
1. Jolly Mon, Julian Richards, Annapolis, Md., 2-1, 3
2. Four Little Ducks, Mike Walsh, Pasadena, Md., 1-2, 3
3. Snagglepuss, Peter Zahn, 5-3, 8

S2 7.9 class – 9 boats, 3 races
1. Rooster Tail, David Flechsig, Port Charlotte, Fla., 1-2-3, 6
2. Horizon, Bob Fleck, Alexandria, Va., 5-1-1, 7
3. Kaboom, Kent Picknell, Crestwood, Ky., 2-5-2, 9

S2 9.1 class – 6 boats, 3 races
1. Hurricane Kelley, John Stefancik, Severna Park, Md., 1-1-3, 5
2. Still a Gorilla, Gordon & John Latrobe, Baltimore, Md., 2-4-1, 7
3. Fast Company, J. Barry Moss, Bethesda, Md., 4-2-2, 8

Division 3

C&C 99 class – 6 boats, 2 races
1. All in, Scott Dodge, Annapolis, Md., 2-1, 3
2. Bzing, Ken Karsten, Annapolis, Md., 1-2, 3
3. Kingfisher, Dixon W. Wilde, Williamsburg, Va., 5-3, 8

J/29 class – 8 boats, 2 races
1. Seefest, Ira Perry, Dartmouth, Mass., 1-3, 4
2. no name, Joe Krolak, Annapolis, Md., 2-2, 4
3. Rhumb Punch, John Edwards, California, Md., 4-1, 5

J/30 class – 14 boats, 2 races
1. Big Kahuna, Larry Christy, Annapolis, Md., 1-1, 2
2. Smiles, John McArthur, Stratford, Ct., 2-4, 6
3. Better Mousetrap, Grealy Putnam, Annapolis, Md., 3-3, 6

J/80 class – 14 boats, 2 races
1. Excitable Boy, Edward Philpot, 1-6, 7
2. Angry Chameleon, Kristen Robinson, 2-7, 9
3. FKA, Les Beckwith, Wolfeboro, N.H., 5-4, 9

Melges 24 class – 16 boats, 2 races
1. Panic Attack, Justin DaMore, Annapolis, Md., 5-1, 6
2. Team Bill, Simon Strauss, New York, N.Y., 1-5, 6
3. Tiburon, Bill Carleton, Herndon, Va., 2-6, 8

J/105 class – 45 boats, 1 race
1. Veloce, Marty Hublitz, McLean, Va. 1
2. Savasana, Brian Keene, 2
3. Lift Ticket, Jeffrey Harris, 3

Melges 32 class (12 boats) – 1 race
1. Ramrod, Rodrick Jabin, Annapolis, Md., 1
2. Mike Carroll / Martin Kullman, Tampa, Fla., 2
3. Red, Joe Woods, Torquay, Devon, U.K., 3

Mumm 30 class - 9 boats, 1 race
1. Turbo Duck, Bodo & Nick von der Wense, Wayne, Pa.
2. Black Seal, Kevin Young, Woodmere, Ohio
3. Nanuk, Donald Zucker, New York City, N.Y.

Beneteau 36.7 – none of the boats finished within the time limit

C&C 115 – none of the boats finished within the time limit

J/35 class – racing did not finish within the scheduled time

For more information on the 2007 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta in Annapolis, including daily reports, results and exclusive web reports by Sailing World Editor Dave Reed, go to www.sailingworld.com. Daily highlights videos will be available online at t2p.tv.