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Sep 2, 2009, 12:12 PM
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2009 Mercury U.S. Nationals
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Report by Pax Davis (Godfather of the Mercury Class)
2009 Mercury Nationals at Richmond YC
August 28-30
Sometimes when all the contestants expect certain weather conditions and tides when racing on SF Bay, it does not exactly happen as they expected. Twenty-seven Mercs entered in a regatta that was supposed to be on a weak ebb tide and winds on the edge of the Berkeley circle that might approach a westerly of 20 knots.
The first two races were in winds of about 6-8 knots from the northwest. The course was a double sausage with a downwind finish and was strait into the ebb making it like you were sailing the flood tide. The weather was warm and Balmy
Race one had the fleet split, some on a long port tack and some on a long starboard tack. The starboard tack group came out way ahead. Chris Raab and Kenny Dair, winners of the last two Nationals, led wire to wire. Pat and Brendan Bradley battled with Mike Burch and Ben Shapiro, with Pat coming out ahead. Dave West and Chris Kreuger were in the chase and placed fourth over Mac Kilpatrick and Jim Taylor who settled for fifth.
Race two was once again all Raab and it looked as though this was going to be a cakewalk for him to a third consecutive championship. At the weather mark Pat Bradley got involved with Doug and Michael Baird and new Merc owner Scott Easom and Matt Siddens. Baird filed a protest and Pat dropped out. Meanwhile Burch continued the chase and came in second. Baird was third and West got another fourth. The next four places were very close with Jim Bradley and John Kirk placing fifth. The protest was costly for Pat as he had finished second.
At last the wind changed and the course was changed to the normal wind direction under the point of Angel Island. The weak ebb tide went away into a weak start of the flood. The course was a double sausage with an extra windward leg with the finish at the weather mark. Jim Bradley got off quickly from the start and did a horizon job on the fleet. The boats following Jim went to the right and made out on the long port tack. however those who went left on the second weather leg started catching the lead part of the fleet. The third and last leg of the beat had those who went left again continuing their success and the results for the fleet were mixed. Jim won the race and he was followed by John Hansen and Tony Basso in second place. Third was Baird who had to hold off Easom, who had hit the left side of the course. Dan Simmons and Phil McAfee motored right up the middle of the course to place fifth.
Let's see what tomorrow brings. Raab and Burch are tied for first followed by Baird three points back, Hansen four points and Jim six points.
Once again after a warm evening and a beautiful morning, the sailors expected more light winds. Most of the Mercs were towed out of the harbor as the normal westerly was filling. There was a minor postponement as the race committee let the breeze fill in. The breeze did come in an easily cranked up to more than 20 knots with a testy chop as the course was over the Southampton Shoal. The course was the double sausage finishing downwind. The wild ride was won by Raab. Jim Bradley was second followed by John Skinner and John Selbach, sailing their best race, with the third spot. Burch, although losing the top spot, placed fourth, followed by Easom.
Due to the wind and sea conditions and apparent damage to some of the boats, the fifth race was abandoned while in progress. This was the first time in Merc history the Nationals where every race scheduled was not completed.
We had another record tied and that was Chris Raab and Kenny Dair winning three Nationals in a row, tying Rob Gaestel and Doug Baird. Second place was won by Burch followed by Jim Bradley. Hansen won the tie over Baird for fourth place and Baird getting the five spot.
The Silver Fleet was won by Scott Easom and Matt Siddens with second place going to Eric and Tracy Conn. Brad Bergeron and Bob Burns, owner of 477, teamed up to get third in the Silver Fleet.
Many thanks go to Skip Shapiro for organizing the event along with Dave West and Bill Worden. Worden deserves special mention for getting twenty-seven entrants. The class thanks the Richmond YC and PRO Bill Gage.
2009 National Championships
Pos Sail No Skipper and Crew Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 Total
1 570 Chris Raab and Kenny Dair 1 1 10 1, 13
2 472 Mike Burch and Ben Shapiro 3 2 7 4, 16
3 553 Jim Bradley and John Kirk 12 5 1 2, 20
4 562 John Hansen and Tony Basso 7 7 2 8, 24
5 508 Doug Baird and Michael Baird 9 3 3 9, 24
6 471 Scott Easom snd Matt Siddens 16 6 4 5, 31Silver
7 541 Mac Kilpatrick and Jim Taylor 5 10 17 6, 38
8 432 Bill Worden and Katie Worden 6 9 20 10, 45
9 542 Eric Conn and Tracy Conn 8 12 9 21, 50Silver
10 429 Dave West and Chris Krueger 4 4 16 28, 52
11 463 Dan Simmons and Phil MacAfee 22 19 5 7, 53
12 477 Brad Bergeron and Bob Burns 17 14 8 14, 53Silver
13 574 John Skinner and John Selbach 24 16 14 3, 57
14 580 Pax Davis and Aaron Lee 21 8 13 16, 58
15 581 Skip Shapiroand Chris Straub 10 17 19 13, 59Silver
16 504 John Ravizza and Steffan Ravizza 15 18 18 11, 62
17 565 Myron Ericson and Jim Lindsey 20 21 6 17, 64Silver
18 560 Pat Bradley and Brendan Bradley 2 28 21 15, 66
19 468 Tom Priest and Mike Priest 25 11 11 19, 66Silver
20 584 Steve Jeppesen and Ken Maring 13 13 28 18, 72Silver
21 408 Chris Messano and Steve Dair 23 20 23 12, 78
22 539 Park Densmore,Jr and Alex Lowry 11 22 25 22, 80Silver
23 543 Randy Smith and EJ Rowland 26 15 12 28, 81
24 572 George Morris and Mary McHugh 14 24 15 28, 81Silver
25 571 Hal McCormack/Anne McCormack 18 23 11 20, 83
26 535 Paul Mueller and Steve Lowry 19 25 24 23, 91Silver
27 569 Chris Lanzafame/ Jeffrey Lanzafame 28 28 28 28, 112Silver
Class website: http://www.merc583.addr.com/sail/index.html
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