Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

2019 12 Metre North American Championship: An exciting experiment

by Barby MacGowan 24 Sep 2019 04:09 PDT 19-22 September 2019
Courageous (US-26) won the Modern Division of the 2019 12 Metre North American Championship as well as the first-ever 12 Metre North American Cup © Onne van der Wal

The 12 Metre North American Championship, hosted by Ida Lewis Yacht Club over September 19-22, finished with Courageous (US-26) at the top of the scoreboard to win not only its Modern Division but also the newly contested 12 Metre North American Cup.

"This was a different North Americans than in years past," said Event Chair Peter Gerard. "It was the first year we tried a handicap system, so actually we had two regattas going at the same time: the traditional North Americans, which is competed for by division, and a new event called the 12 Metre North American Cup, which is based on the handicapping of all the 12 Metres by the CRF MkII rating system managed by the Classic Yacht Owners Association. For the latter, it was the first time we started all of the 12 Metres on the same line and had them compete for the same trophy."

Courageous, the first all-aluminum hulled 12 Metre and the second 12 Metre to successfully defend the America's Cup twice (in 1974 and 1977) was co-skippered by Newport residents Ralph Isham and Alexander Auersperg and competed with the same crew (including helmsman Art Santry of Washington D.C./Newport, R.I.) that took third at this summer's 12 Metre World Championship in Newport and first in the global ROAD TO THE WORLDS Waypoints Series.

"It would have been nice to peak at the Worlds, but instead we peaked here," said Isham. "Our ability to tack and maintain speed was the best ever; we were pointing higher, and in our last two races (held "up the Bay" on Sunday in 8-14 knot winds) we really showed our colors and won by major margins." (Courageous also won Friday's two races held "outside" on Rhode Island Sound in a building breeze.)

Isham noted that Defender (US-33), which finished second in the Modern Division in the hands of charterer/tactician Andy Rose and helmsman Tom Purcell (both of Newport Beach, Calif.), beat Courageous "quite definitively" on Saturday, when two light-air races (six knots) were held on Rhode Island Sound. A scoring penalty, however, put Defender behind Courageous in race four, and with only one victory compared to five posted by Courageous in the six-race series that counted for the North American Championship, victory was not within reach.

"It was great fun," said Rose, who has been involved in four America's Cup campaigns and served as tactician on Australia (KA-5) in the Cup match of 1977. "Everyone else has been sailing these boats all summer and we just got here last week, practiced for two days, and did well!"

Intrepid (US-22), with owner Jack Curtin (Toronto, Ontario/New York, N.Y.) helming, was the third and final North American Championship finisher in the Modern Division. The Traditional and Vintage Divisions each had only one boat sailing - Columbia (US-16) and Onawa (US-6), respectively - so sailing under handicap in the North American Cup took precedence for them.

Gerard conceded that the concept of handicapping 12 Metres is a bit mind-blowing, considering that the first 12 Metre was built in 1907 and the last one in 2015 (to a 1938 design), but the fleet of five competing for the North American Cup here over the long weekend had no complaints. "Over that span of decades, technology has changed so much," said Gerard, "but this was a pretty good test...an interesting perspective on the competition, and a worthy experiment that will continue."

In order of finish, the North American Cup results were as follows: Courageous (built in 1974), Defender (built in 1983), Columbia (built in 1958), Intrepid (built in 1967), and Onawa (built in 1928).

The Ted Hood Trophy, awarded in each division for the best performance over the season, went to: Vintage - Onawa, Traditional - Columbia, Modern - Challenge XII (KA-10), and Grand Prix - New Zealand.

Overall Results:

Modern Division (3 Boats)
1. Courageous (US-26), 12 Metre, Ralph Isham / Alex Auersperg, New York, NY, USA - 1 -1 -2 -1 -1 -1; 7pts
2. Defender (US-33), 12 Metre, Andrew Rose, Newport Beach, CA, USA - 2 -2 -1 -2 -2 -3; 12pts
3. Intrepid (US-22), 12 Metre, Jack Curtin, Toronto, Ont, Can - 3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -2; 17pts

Traditional Division (1 Boat)
1. Columbia (US-16), 12 Meter, Anthony Chiurco / Kevin Hegarty, Newport, RI, USA - 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1; 6pts

Vintage Division (1 Boat)
1. Onawa (US-6), Christopher Culver, Newport, RI, USA - 1 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1; 7pts

North American Cup (CRF MkII - 5 Boats)
1. Courageous (US-26), Ralph Isham / Alex Auersperg, New York, NY, USA - 1 -1 -1 -2 -1 -1 -1; 8pts
2. Defender (US-33), Andrew Rose, Newport Beach, CA, USA - 3.5 -3 -3 -1 -2 -3 -4; 19.5pts
3. Columbia (US-16), Anthony Chiurco / Kevin Hegarty, Newport, RI, USA - 2 -2 -6 -4 -5 -2 -2; 23pts
4. Intrepid (US-22), Jack Curtin, Toronto, Ont, Can - 5 -4 -2 -3 -3 -4 -3; 24pts
5. Onawa (US-6), Christopher Culver, Newport, RI, USA - 3.5 -6 -6 -5 -4 -5 -5; 34.5pts

For more information on the 12 Metre Class visit www.12mrclass.com.

Related Articles

Vale Hugh Treharne OAM
The Australian sailing community is mourning the passing of one of its greatest contributors The Australian sailing community is mourning the passing of one of its greatest contributors, Hugh Treharne OAM, who died peacefully surrounded by his loving family in Sydney last night. Posted on 25 Jun
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez preview
Looking ahead to the 27th edition The elegance of the Classics, the power of the Moderns, the majesty of the Maxis. This dreamlike combination, a legacy of the Nioulargue, will once again come together in the stunning setting of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez from September 27 to October 5. Posted on 22 Jun
18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona preview
Event returns to its traditional dates, at the Barcelona Royal YC From July 9 to 12, the waters off Barcelona will once again set the stage for the latest edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica Regatta - one of the Mediterranean's premier events for classic boats. Posted on 15 Jun
2025 America's Cup Hall of Fame Challenge Preview
Four Iconic 12-Metres To Race for STEM Education Fund NEWPORT, RI The Herreshoff Museum and the America's Cup Hall of Fame are proud to announce the 2025 America's Cup Hall of Fame Challenge, set to take place October 4-5, 2025, in Newport, Rhode Island. Posted on 24 May
Ed Baird: From Laser Worlds to America's Cup
Shirley Robertson's new podcast season kicks off with US sailing legend Ed Baird A World Sailor of the Year award winner, Baird also holds a coveted spot in the America's Cup Hall of Fame, he's a multiple World Champion and is a regular across multiple Grand Prix Sailing leagues, from the 52 Super Series to the Maxi circuit. Posted on 4 May
America's Cup Hall of Fame Challenge in June
This prestigious sailing event will bring together elite teams to compete aboard historic 12m yachts The Herreshoff Museum and the America's Cup Hall of Fame are proud to announce the 2025 America's Cup Hall of Fame Challenge, set to take place June 21-22, 2025, in Newport, Rhode Island. Posted on 18 Mar
Shirley Robertson: The Barcelona Debrief
ETNZ's Nathan Outteridge & Ray Davies, and INEOS' Bleddyn Mon & Dylan Fletcher Shirley Robertson talks to port side helm Nathan Outteridge, and sailing team coach Ray Davies (both ETNZ), to discuss how the Cup was won. She also talks to Challenger INEOS Britannia's port side helm Dylan Fletcher and starboard trimmer Bleddyn Mon. Posted on 1 Nov 2024
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2024 | TP & Cape31
Gold Medallists Will Ryan and Tom Burton on the delights of St Tropez on a TP52 Gold Medallists Will Ryan and Tom Burton on the delights of St Tropez on a TP52, and Michael Wilson on the storming Cape 31 Class Posted on 6 Oct 2024
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2024 | Sailing a 12
The challenges and joys of sailing and maintaining the 12m, Crusader Bow Caddy Media spoke to Jamie Bolingbroke, skipper of Richard Matthews' 12mR Crusader about the challenges and joys of sailing and maintaining this British 1987 America's Cup boat. Posted on 6 Oct 2024
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Day 8
25 years in the sunshine, an anniversary vintage worth savouring! The magic of Les Voiles was in full force once again for this epic 25th anniversary edition. Boasting weather conditions perfectly tailored to the 250 boats invited to be a part of this grand festival of racing by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. Posted on 6 Oct 2024
Barton Marine Pipe GlandsMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_SY BOTTOM