RS Aero North America Midwinter Championship at the US Sailing Center, Jensen Beach, Florida
by Marc Jacobi 11 Feb 2021 01:46 AEDT
February 4-6, 2021
RS Aero North America Midwinter Championship at Jensen Beach, Florida © Mike Grant
The final long weekend of the RS Aero South Florida Race Week concluded with the Midwinters' long weekend and some challenging racing by sailors from 11 states in some peachy Floridonian conditions.
Day 1
Incredibly close racing for the first day! Madhavan Thirumalai continued his streak in the RS Aero 9s, pressed by Tim Desmond, newcomer Doug Clark and Ash Beatty. Christina Persson won her first RS Aero race ever, pipping Ellis Ollinger and Marc Jacobi right at the line in Race 1 for the RS Aero 7s; in fact, there were 3 race winners in 4 races for the 7s! Wily and fast in the RS Aero 5s was Paul Gingras, taking all bullets, followed by Trin Ollinger and Tony Corkell.
Day 2
Another brilliant day of racing in Jensen Beach! Wind was more out of the South and there seemed to be mixing of upper and lower level breezes that created with holes and big puffs all over the course. Windspeed ranged from 3-15kn, with huge oscillations and a general veering to the right as the day went on.
Madhavan Thirumalai continued his domination of the RS Aero 9 fleet, though he was bested by Ash Beatty in the last race of the day. This was Ash's first win at a major championship, and he led bell-to-bell.
In the RS Aero 7s, four people won the day 5 races, including local FL sailor Monica Wilson in Race 7, Ellis Ollinger of Fairhope, AL, in Race 8, and Christina Persson (again!)in Race 9.
Not to be outdone by hubby, Trin Ollinger, prevailed over the RS Aero 5 fleet in Race 9. "I realized I had a chance and hiked really hard," said Trin, who managed to pip Paul Gingras for the win. Tony Corkell won the first race of the day. Sharing is caring.
Several sailors at this event were multi-tasking, grabbing a couple online work hours when not out enjoying Florida's winter sun. No-one more so than Phil "Flip" Myerson. When asked why he was so late launching today, Phil replied that he was proposing to his girlfriend on the beach earlier in the morning. If one has to be late for a day of sailing that's the best excuse and he even managed to make it to the race area in time for the first start! Congrats Phil and Mary Margaret!
Day 3 & Overall
Three more races brought the Championship to a conclusion. Doug Clark took the final race win in the RS Aero 9s whilst Madhavan Thirumalai rounded out the series. Similarly Tony Corkell took the last race win the RS Aero 5s but it was 9 wins from 12 races that saw the series go to Paul Gingras. Marc Jacobi made no mistake in the RS Aero 7s with 3 wins to take that title, whilst chased hard all day by Sean Guinness and Bob Patterson.
Many thanks to Zim Sailing for their support of the RS Aero South Florida Race week events with their fleet of charter RS Aeros and also providing owners' boat transport to escape the bitter weather of northeast USA. This bolsters the events and allows sailors the ability to experience the RS Aero in a fantastic environment.
Next up in Florida for the RS Aeros is the Mt Dora Regatta March 27/28 and the North American fleet is starting to look forward to the RS Aero North American Championships at Bay Waveland Yacht Club, Mississippi, June 3-6.
Event Movie by Charles Dasher:
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | State | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | Pts |
|---|
| RS Aero 5 |
|---|
| 1 | 1378 | Paul Gingras | FL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | [2] | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13 |
| 2 | 3514 | Trin Ollinger | AL | 2 | 3 | [5] | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 25 |
| 3 | 1788 | Tony Corkell | FL | 3 | 4 | 2 | [6DNF] | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 33 |
| 4 | 1610 | Gregory Popp | FL | 4 | 2 | 3 | [6DNF] | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | S | S | S | 44 |
| 5 | 1040 | Dylan Williams | NY | [5] | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 47 |
| RS Aero 7 |
|---|
| 1 | 3 | Marc Jacobi | CT | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | [4] | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
| 2 | 2404 | Robert Patterson | FL | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 8 | [11] | 3 | 2 | 3 | 50 |
| 3 | 3515 | Ellis Ollinger | AL | 3 | 3 | [10] | 9 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 53 |
| 4 | 2757 | Hank Saurage | LA | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 4 | [12DNS] | S | S | 54 |
| 5 | 2732 | Christina Persson | FL | 1 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 10 | [12OCS] | 9 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 62 |
| 6 | 3222 | Monica Wilson | FL | 4 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 9 | [12DNS] | 67 |
| 7 | 2896 | Philip Myerson | NY | 9 | 10 | [12DNF] | F | 4 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 68 |
| 8 | 1738 | Sean Guinness | ME | 10 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 2 | [12OCS] | 2 | 73 |
| 9 | 3408 | Jim Buffum | RI | 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 9 | [10] | 5 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 78 |
| 10 | 3359 | Jacques Kerrest | FL | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | [10] | 8 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 80 |
| 11 | 3406 | Bill McKenzie | ON | [11] | 11 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 86 |
| RS Aero 9 |
|---|
| 1 | 3405 | Madhavan Thirumalai | CT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | [8DNS] | 12 |
| 2 | 2249 | Doug Clark | CT | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | [4] | 3 | 2 | 1 | 26 |
| 3 | 3512 | Timothy Desmond | CT | 2 | 2 | [3] | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 27 |
| 4 | 3421 | Greg Warner | CA | 4 | [6] | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 49 |
| 5 | 1625 | Ash Beatty | TX | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | [8DNS] | S | S | 54 |
| 6 | 2770 | Marcus Wunderlich | NJ | 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | [8OCS] | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 64 |
| 7 | 3423 | Michael Sealey | CA | [7] | 7 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 66 |
