Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Event No. 1 - Canadian Results

by Guy Perrin on 14 Dec 2009 While most of us in the Greater Toronto Area were dealing with the aftermath of our first winter storm, six GTA Melges 20 sailors had escaped to perfect sailing conditions in Florida. Sunglasses and shorts were 'de rigueur' at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club in beautiful Miami.

In a fleet of thirteen Melges 20, some sporting World champions from other classes, our Canadian faired very well with a seventh and ninth place overall for CAN 142 and Bohica respectively. A total of six races were held over Saturday and Sunday.

Newcomer to the fleet, Peter Kozicz from Oakville, ON, on CAN 142 was particularly successful with third place finishes for races #3 and #4. Chris Dold and Scott Weakley completed the crew of three. CAN 142 hails from Port Credit Yacht Club in Mississauga where silver medalist Olympian Mike Wolfs has been promoting the fleet since the introduction of the new design two years ago.

Erwyn Naidoo was helped on Bohica (Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto, ON), by Ross Seely and Peter Wickwire. I suspect Erwyn will find a way to apply his vast J/24 experience to the smaller Melges 20 for the next USA Sailing Series Event, held in Miami again, in mid-February.

Melges 20 (One Design - 13 Boats)
1. STAR, Audi Melges 20, Jeff Ecklund, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA, 1-1-1-1-6-6-[6];10
2. SuperFly, Audi Melges 20, Eric Wynsma, East Grand Rapids, MI, USA, 2-3-4-2-1-2-[4];10
3. Cinghiale, Audi Melges 20, Robert Wilber, Stony Creek, CT, USA, 7-2-9-6-5-1-[9];21
4. Fu, Audi Melges 20, Marc Hollerbach, Grosse Pointe Park, MI, USA, 6-4-2-4-7-8-[8];23
5. M&M Sailing Team, Audi Melges 20, Mary Anne Ward, Cocoa Beach, Fla., USA, 8-5-5-5-4-4-[8];23
6. Crystal Spirit, Audi Melges 20, Jim Hilgard, Godfrey, IL, USA, 9-6-7-7-2-5-[9];27
7. CAN 142, Audi Melges 20, Peter Kozicz, Oakville, ONT, CAN, 5-7-3-3-9-10-[10];27
8. Lift Ticket, Audi Melges 20, Joe Williams, Mercer Island, WA, USA, 4-8-6-9-8-7-[9];33
9. Bohica, Audi Melges 20, Erwyn Naidoo, Toronto, ON, CAN, 10-9-8-8-12-13-[13];47
10. Simplified Sophistication, Audi Melges 20, David Hammett, Washington Grove, MD, USA, 14/DNF-14/DNC-14/DNC-14/DNC-3-3-[14];48
11. Bacio, Audi Melges 20, Michael Kiss, Macatawa, MI, USA, 3-14/DNS-14/DNC-14/DNC-10-9-[14];50
12. Vaya Con Dios, Audi Melges 20, Erik Post, Winnetka, IL, USA, 11-11-10-10-13-11-[13];53
13. Blink, Audi Melges 20, John Arendshorst, Holland, MI, USA, 12-10-11-11-11-12-[12];55