This was the 70th anniversary sailing the Labor Day regatta which back in the day counted 60 boats sailing. Launching must have been amazing. It was our third time coming to the Stillwater YC and this was the best so far with great wind and a notably hospitable reception by the Commodore Denise Foderaro who is very enthusiastic about Mercury's and their history at the club.
Denise and her Vice Commodore Judy Furman arranged for trailer parking, food, and that all the details were covered. She was pushing heavily to get a Club sponsored Mercury active in the club. Nice to feel welcome.
The early morning gusty wind from the Northwest promised good sailing as the first race got underway. The accepted course strategy was to go to the right to be the first to get a lift off the point.
Therein lied the trap. The wind in and around the point area shifted with each puff combined with the swell and the “rock” in the course. Both days were sailed in great 10+ knot conditions, clear skies and ocean swell in contrast with two years ago where the wind appeared briefly to get off one race.
Some new faces crewing included Phil Vandenburg from Santa Cruz came to crew with Dave Bacci. Scott Easom and Ben Mitchell won a tie breaker for first place with Dave West and Chris Kruger. One race was shortened which caused some confusion and threw a wrench into the results for Mike Burch and Scott Easom.
Race report by Lyn Hines
Place | Sail | Skipper | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | TOTAL |
1 | 471 | Scott Easom | 1 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 17 |
2 | 429 | Dave West | 2 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 17 |
3 | 537 | John Ravizza | 3 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 20 |
4 | 553 | Jim Bradley | 5 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 22 |
5 | 548 | Dave Bacci | 6 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 28 |
6 | 472 | Mike Burch | 12 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 33 |
7 | 572 | Park Densmore | 8 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 34 |
8 | 554 | Steve Kraft | 9 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 37 |
9 | 541 | Lyn Hines | 4 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 38 |
10 | 563 | John Mowry | 7 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 39 |
11 | 529 | Chris Davis | 10 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 48 |
12 | 524 | Mark Chandler | 13 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 62 |
Photos at https://photos.app.goo.gl/PQW7arMp6TWkUTKh7