Star Class Honoring the Past, Leading the Future
Report by Nelson Stephenson
Race 1: In the first race Saturday, the course was a six legger with a downwind finish and shifty conditions with 8-12 knots of wind. Stephenson/Sperry managed to finish in front after sailing in better pressure on the right side at the top of the final upwind leg than Cramer and Van Wagnen who worked the left side.
Race 2: In the second race on Saturday, a 5 legger with an upwind finish, Cramer broke his headstay near the top of the 2nd upwind beat and returned to the harbor for repairs.
Stephenson/Sperry overtook Van Wagnen/Prandini on the final upwind leg after Van Wagnen had led the race for the first 4 legs.
It turned out that on Saturday, Harry Walker and Chris Rogers were rushing to the starting line for the first race on Saturday when they unfortunately hooked a channel marker and they lost the rig. They quickly returned to the harbor and drove 330 miles roundtrip from Ft Myers to Vero Beach Fl and back on Saturday afternoon. Quite a trip. Harry really wanted to sail! That made for quite a story from Harry at the Star Fleet Dinner hosted that night by Joe Carroll (our Regatta Chairman) and his wife in their beautiful home just outside Ft Myers. Great steaks cooked on the grill, salad and spectacular desserts combined with finding out what everyone had been up to lately. That all made for a great evening following a great day of Star racing.
The two races on Sunday were as much fun as you can have in Star Boats. Conditions were brisk with 14-16 knots (and higher gusts) in puffy conditions with inflowing current running against the wind.
Race 3: The third race was won by Brian Cramer after Walker/Rogers had led the first race for most of the first leg. Cramer got around Walker by working the right side of the course with Walker/Rogers working the left side. Cramer and Walker rounded just ahead of Stephenson at the first upwind mark and the boats held that position on the first downwind run. Following the rounding Stephenson got past Walker and the boats finished in that order as the boats completed the course with equal boat speed.
Race 4: During the fourth race, Stephenson and Cramer never got more than 1 or two boat lengths apart. Chiarella/Carlson and Walker/Rogers kept the pressure on the leaders by splitting to the right and left sides of the course. At the end of the first beat, Stephenson got a small right shift and rounded just ahead of Cramer with Chiarella and Walker in hot pursuit. The downwind run was interesting as the boats battled for position with equal boat speed, no one able to gain an advantage. Cramer held the inside position and controlled the rounding but Stephenson was able to pass on the 2nd upwind leg. After a good battle on the final downwind leg, Stephenson held the inside position on starboard and Cramer approached the mark on port. As the boats rounded, Stephenson held inside position in the rounding and the boats began a furious tacking duel all the way up the last beat, covering each other tightly. The right side had paid off all weekend and near the end of the beat Stephenson/Sperry tacked away to control the right side, leaving Cramer/Dolan to go another 10 boat lengths left before they also tacked back to the right. In that short span, a timely left shift lifted Cramer/Dolan into the lead and they finished only a few boat lengths or less ahead to win the 4th race.
Report by Harry Walker
The first annual Royal Palm Yacht Club regatta was held on February 7-8, 2004. From the competitors’ point of view is that it is great place to sail if you like smooth water and lots of wind.
It was very good to see Bob Van Wagnen out there with District Secretary Craig Prandini up front.
Walker and Rogers lost a spar before the start of the first race but drove 330 miles from Fort Myers to Vero Beach and back to get another and to be up and running for Sunday’s races.
Saturday: The breeze was 12-18 with shifts that would baffle Houdini. The team of Nelson Stephenson and Austin Sperry took bullets in both races.
Sunday: The breeze was 14-18 knots and, as a cold front had gone through during the night, 20 degrees cooler than Saturday.
Race 3: Walker / Rogers got a good start and went right and rolled Van Wagnen. They tacked back to the middle and had the fleet in their window. They were looking good until a big lift for the Stephenson and Cramer boats brought them into the weather mark with Walker / Rogers close behind. Chiarella picked up some but the three leaders held on to finish in that order.
Race 4 featured a tacking duel between Stephenson and Cramer on the last leg of the double hotdog and finish to windward. Brian said they tacked 25 times up that leg despite it being a windy day.
Prizes were awarded after a lunch for the competitors. The clubhouse is beautiful and the food and drink first class. The Committee work was outstanding: windward-leeward courses with the legs being about one and a quarter miles. The committee [and there ware twice as many members taking part as there were sailors] tried in every way to set square lines, good courses, and on time starts. They accomplished all three.
All was terrific but none more than the lavish steak dinner at the Colliers [with 4 deserts] Saturday night. Thanks to Joe Carroll for his work in having the Royal Palm Y.C. host the event and for Saturday dinner at his home.
John Chiarella met with the Royal Palm YC organizers and they have agreed to make this regatta an annual event.
Some housing available, lots of motels, etc. Great place to sail and only a 2
