2017 Commodore’s Cup

December 2017 (Dates TBD)

DISTRICT: 20

HOST

Coral Reef Yacht Club    
CORAL REEF YACHT CLUB
2484 South Bayshore Drive
Miami, Florida 33133 USA

The Star Winter Series continues apace, with fantastic sailing on the clear and warm waters and breezes of Miami’s Biscayne Bay for the second weekend event of
the series. Twenty three Star sailing teams, including a number of gold, silver, and blue stars on sails (signifying various levels of stellar championship accomplishment), arrived on the water Saturday morning for three races from Coral Reef Yacht Club in Chamber of Commerce conditions, with 2-3 degree wind shifts from the almost routine 60 degree direction, nearly allowing the Race Committee to doze off between starts and finishes. Except that the CRYC team never goes to sleep, making sure the racing was fair throughout. No complaints were heard from the sailors (the true test of a Race Committee’s competence!) regarding the courses, the duration of the races, or that anybody forgot sunscreen. Stuart Hebb, the father of the series, donated a pizza and beer afternoon to the fleet upon reaching shore, and all were generous in their congratulations to all three different race winners of the day. Figure that!

The second day brought sky and water conditions similar to the first day’s, tho the early breeze gave the CRYC Committee some anxious moments. Arriving to the course, the breeze was a touch lighter than Saturday’s, and a smidgeon to the left, so with only two races scheduled, and with an earlier start time, the RC set a 1 mile course for an on-time start. One OCS, under a RRS 30.1 penalty, who cleared, and Gold Star team John MacCausland and crew Roger Cheer pull out the win.

For the second and final race of the regatta, the RC pulled out all stops and sent the fleet on a five leg course, finishing upwind, allowing for an easy reach back to Coral Reef Yacht Club. Californian Andy MacDonald and teammate Brad Nichol lead the fleet over the finish line. Jack Jennings and Frithjof Kleen scored their worst race of the regatta with a 5th place, still good enough to win the event handily.

Congratulations to all the teams, and to Jack and Frithjof for their impressive victory! The next event in the Star Winter Series is the Levin Memorial Cup, January 6-7, 2018. Stay tuned!