Report by Lou Roberts, Mid-Conn Star Fleet Secretary:
Despite drifting conditions at the start of both Saturday and Sunday’s annual Arms White Regatta, the Milford Yacht Club Race Committee was able to start and finish the minimum three races to complete the 68th running of the event.

Seventeen boats representing 6 different Star fleets from as far away as Florida participated, including many champions from past events. And in true form, a few stories were generated that will be talked about in the congregations of Star races throughout the area.

The weekend started with a tuning and strategy day on Friday led by international-renowned Star champion John MacCausland who generously donated his time in the morning to check the tuning of any boat in the parking lot ready to be inspected, and the afternoon to an on-the-water coaching session in which John jumped from boat to boat to fine tune the rig and discuss individual strategy with the crew.

Saturday’s two races started with a two-hour postponement until the sea breeze finally kicked in providing a steady and building southerly 10 knot wind in what turned out to be ideal Star racing conditions. PRO Alan Pritchard’s relentless quest for steady winds finally paid off and the first gun went off at shortly before 1 pm. Boats choosing the left side of the upwind leg found better breeze and rounded the leeward leg first and for the most part kept the lead throughout the rest of the windward/leeward course.

In the first of the stories to be generated during this year’s event, the winner of Race number one was Jock Kohlhas who began the day with a sleep-deprived induced, consciousness-altering ride out to the race course. Once revived, Jock’s crew, Josh Revkin, turned the boat back to the dock to seek medical attention, but after the conclusion of a brief discussion, Jock insisted on racing. He won, provoking new backroom strategy discussions about how sleep deprivation might improve racing performance.

The second race was started soon after the last boat crossed. During the final downwind leg, much of the forward part of the fleet was scattered by a tug and tow that intersected the race course which demanded the best barge-management strategies by the skippers and crew. Most, but not all, boats were able to negotiate the crossing successfully; however, the final results were clearly affected as a result. Peter Cusick and crew Roman Gotsulyak deftly avoided tug-to-Star boat contact and took Race number two.

Saturday evening was highlighted by a gathering at Star Fleet Secretary Lou Roberts’ home at the head of Milford Harbor, attended by a dozen or so Star racers. Thanks go to Darlene Elterman and Lois Button for preparing and serving the food and beverages.

Sunday’s conditions were identical to Saturday’s with another multiple hour postponement. The course proved to be quite tricky and playing the wind shifts was key for a success outcome. Tomas Hornos and Mike Nichol found the right combination of tacks to win Race number three.

The post-Regatta events consisted of the Awards Ceremony in the Milford Yacht Club pub area. Congratulations go to John MacCausland and Kevin Murphy for their First Place finish. According to the best information this writer has, this makes approximately fifteen Arms White wins for John MacCausland, a record which will probably never by challenged. During his acceptance speech, John MacCausland noted the absence of Emil Karlovsky, the oldest active Star racer in the world and MYC member, who was not able to attend this year’s Regatta.