1992 North American Championship - Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, USA
Regatta Report By Harry Webster Walker
The 1992 North American Championship was hosted by the Detroit River Fleet and held at the exceptional Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan.
The actual field of thirty-four Stars was a bit of a disappointment for the hosting Fleet and Club, as sixty-five boats had been looked for and fifty-four had entered. Grosse Pointe Yacht Club – certainly one of the most beautiful and luxurious in the United States, -- was built in 1929, just before our great depression, had organized with not only excellent dry stall facilities, but with social events every other night – including sightseeing tours, a tennis tournament and museum visits for the non-contestants.
Speaking of tennis – a highlight after the third race saw Vince Brun and Mike Dorgan play against Ron Sandstrom and Tony Rey! Wimbleton it wasn’t!
The Opening Ceremony featured a talk by the Commodore, Charles E. Strumb, Jr., and various local officials added their welcomes. Ed Palm, the Race Committee Chairman, spoke, and a representative of Tiffany’s displayed the prizes to be awarded, and then each competitor was presented with a small, silver box.
The planned tune-up race, unfortunately, was cancelled for lack of wind, but everyone was now geared for the real thing. The first race – and the selected race course was about five miles from the Club’s man-made harbor— was held in four to eight knot winds and the “sweetwater chop” for which Lake St. Clair is famous. Steep chop comes from all directions and is intensified by lots of power boats speeding by.
John A. MacCausland with George Iverson up front beat-out Ross Adams, with Joe Londrigan taking third. Father Tom Londrigan was not as fortunate as his son, being the only boat called PMS. Chief Race Officer Tom Adams had set a good line and those who went left made out the best in the first three-quarters of the race. Towards the last a shift to the right aided those who were two-thirds of the way down in the fleet and who had gone right. Daily prizes were awarded at the beer and pizza party at the hospitality tent. John said of his win, “Got a good start, went fast, and had good enough equipment and ‘Big George’ up front.”
Race two found another sparkling sea and another two knots of breeze— with fewer holes. Ross Adams went hard right, and with good boat speed, soon had the fleet in his pocket. Joe Londrigan and Phil Trinter came in second followed by Robbie Maine and his new boat. This made first, second, third for the day for current or former Wilmette Harbor Fleet members. This particular evening we enjoyed a sumptuous, Door County “fish boil” on the front lawn of the Club – a traditional party in Michigan. There was food galore and boiled sturgeon was featured. We also had a warning by Chief Judge Lynn Steadman about Rule 54. The International Jury felt that too many mast tips were moving unnecessarily – chop or no chop. Mark Reynolds arrived from Spain on his way to San Diego – and this modest Gold and Silver Medalist shared some time and thoughts with us. What a great Champion!
The third race day saw hazy skies and light air. Those sailing out around him were well- entertained by past-President Bill Parks singing opera. A talented bunch. With severe thunderstorms in the area, Chief Race Officer Tom Adams postponed immediately after the ten-minute gun. Soon sails came down— heavy rain— and the day blown away as we were towed in. A good decision! That night most of us forgot Star racing and went by chartered bus to a Detroit Tigers vs. Texas Rangers baseball game. Lots of hits, several home runs including a Conseco blast to the top of Riger Stadium – much peanuts, hot dogs, nachos, and beer – a fun evening.
Wednesday was set up as a double-header to cover for yesterday’s no race. The five mile sail out was in light and hazy weather. Just before the start it began to pipe up and became a full-fledged, heavy weather thriller. Ron Sandstrom and Mike Marcel won followed by young MacCausland and Iverson. Third went to Ross Adams and Chuck Nevel. This race featured three masts down and the absolute flattening of Phil Graves and Steve Dietrich at the weather mark. As Phil tells it, a wave caught the chine – no vang – and the next thing he knew his mast and his sail were flat in the water and his crew forty feet away. After thirty seconds or so the boat righted and Phil picked up Steve and proceeded. They finished twenty-fourth. In a collision in the first race, Star 6977 sailed by Jo Hartingh was holed and the boat almost sank. Later she did sink, was recovered but further damaged in towing and lifting.
Perhaps the three happiest people at days end were Ross Adams and Chuck Nevel, who were leading the series – and Doctor Tony Herrmann, who finally passed a kidney stone! All of that jouncing and bouncing ended with the firth of painful object and Tony is his old smiling self once more – which pleased Mark Sokolich, his crew. The Committee had a marvelous Western – served in the immense ballroom of the Yacht Club – and many were amazed at how much the behemoth crews and certain old skippers can eat. Again the dailies were awarded and the organizers were applauded for a delightful evening – complete even to a lovely, western singer. At the end of four races, with throw out – Ross Adams and Chuck Nevel lead with 8.7 points over Joe Londrigan and Phil Trinter with 11.7 points. In the Masters, it’s Hans Fogh and John Mitchele at 5.7 points over Tony Herrmann and Mark Sokolich with 11.4 points. The weather man calls for more big winds and thunderstorms tomorrow. Let’s hope he is wrong!
Thursday dawned grey and rainy. By race time the wind had gone down to 8-10 knots and the sun was out. A big front had been held off another day. The fleet got off to a good, clean start with one-third going left and the majority hard right. The right was the favored tack and at the top they led the fleet. The reaches again saw Tony Rey and Anson Stookey pick up six places – they fly on those reaches! Those who went hard right on the second upwind were buried as a big shift came in that favored those on the left. Terrible to drop fifteen boats in one leg – the writer knows! The run enjoyed more breeze but few place changes. Jack Dollahite lost much – his spar downwind and later blamed himself – not the crew or a fitting – for “sleeping while driving.” The last leg was best for those up in the middle and Londrigan- Trinter got the gun followed by Sandstrom- Marcel in second, and Brun-Dorgan third – which could have had an important impact on the standings. Result – a protest was disallowed and Joe Londrigan and Phil Trinter now lead Ross Adams and Chuck Nevel. The evening activities were centered in the Village of Grosse Pointe, with merchants having special displays and a street band provided the music.
The final day again came up grey and rainy and windy. A monster cold front with thunderstorms, heavy rains, and more wind was predicted for shortly after the planned the start of the race. The Committee called for boats in the water at once, but also with a hold on “go” or “no go”. Only one boat left the harbor – Vince Brun, who stand fourth – when the decision was made. Three guns – no race – and they guys around the launched boats made a loud cheer. Joe Londrigan got the traditional swim as did his 275-pound crew, Phil Trinter. Tony Herrmann, who took the Masters section of the event, refused to be dunked claiming his M. D. status had a fear of “pneumonia”. We all packed up early and endured super heavy rains during the afternoon. No race made it easy for all to be on time for the banquet. During cocktails, Gary Jobson showed an America’s Cup film. The prize giving dinner (including a nice ice sculpture of a Star jumping a wave) and presentations were elegant and in keeping with this lovely Club. Magnificent prizes, a beautiful ballroom, and great dance music – an exceptional evening!
Excellent organization, great Race Committee work, fine drying sailing, interesting water all combined with various weight winds came together to make the 1992 North American’s one of the best ever. Finally, with all of us in blazers and ties, we are a group who “clean-up” quite nicely.
Regatta Results
Place No. Skipper Crew Fleet Daily Places Pts.
1 7288 Joe Londrigan Phil Trinter LS 3 2 7 2 1 11.7
2 7515 Ross Adams Chuck Nevel WH 2 1 3 6 9 20.4
3 7621 J.A. MacCauslandGeorge Iverson CR 1 8 2 7 5 26.0
4 7619 Vinrent Brun Mike Dorgan SDB 4 7 9 1 3 26.7
5 7468 Ron Sandstrom Mike Marcel BH 13 19 1 5 2 32.0
6 7324 John Safford Joe Chambers CA 15 5 4 3 8 37.7
7 7636 Larry Whipple Garth Olsen EL 5 6 5 11 4 39.7
8 7612 Tony Rey Anson Stookey NB 12 4 33 4 6 44.7
9 7655 Rob Maine III Greg Alm WH 6 3 12 12 7 48.4
10 7410 Richard Wilber Robert Wilber CLE 7 9 20 8 21 68.0
11 7193* Tony Herrmann Mark Sokolich NB 22 10 10 14 10 68.0
12 7350* Hans Fogh John Michele LOC 9 13 13 9 15 68.0
13 7659* Durward KnowlesAndrew Higgs N 17 12 8 17 12 73.0
14 7464 Bill Allen Eric Beckwith WH 10 22 38 10 33 75.0
15 7014 Philip Graves Garth Miller EB 8 11 24 16 16 75.0
16 7547* Jack Rickard Terrence Gibney Jr WH 14 14 16 13 11 76.0
17 7434* William Parks Tom Kennedy SLM 19 21 6 15 17 80.7
18 7305* Jack Dollahite Steve Dietrich NH 16 18 14 dns 19 91.0
19 7408* Bob Van Wagnen John M. MacCausland SLE 27 16 15 21 18 94.0
20 7203 Steve Kling Arnie Baltins WS 20 27 19 20 14 97.0
21 7634 Jeff Schaefer John Goode GLW 11 23 21 19 23 98.0
22 7349 Peter Costa Leo Dawson BH 23 15 22 18 28 102.0
23 6804 Brian Cruse Steve Kmetz CLE 21 24 26 25 20 114.0
24 7533* Tom Londrigan David Brandis LS pms 30 17 23 22 116.0
25 6450* George SechristWayne Koch Cay 24 17 dnf dnc 24 124.0
26 7444* Harry Walker David Jefcoat TaB 31 29 23 22 27 125.0
27 6661 Bryan Brieden Rolland Vontriede DR 26 20 dsq 26 29 125.0
28 7512 Robert Tietge Chis Henry DR 38 25 dnf dnc 25 127.0
29 7055 Douglas Tate Robert Alexander WH 28 28 25 24 26 127.0
30 6719 Francis FougereJohn Whittaker LOC 32 32 27 27 32 142.0
31 6977 Jo Hartingh James Weitzman DR 25 26 dnf dnc dnc 145.0
32 5648 Harald Kolter Stephen Hume DR 30 33 28 dns 30 145.0
33 7216 M. Calabrese Brian Potter DR 29 31 dnf dnc 31 150.0
34 6870 Ron White Kevin Rasmussen DR 33 34 29 dns 33 153.0
* = Master's Division
