john powers
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Jul 31, 2009, 11:14 AM
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Cape Cod Knockabout Annual Regatta 2009
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18’ CAPE COD KNOCKABOUT CLASS ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL REGATTA JULY 24-26
JUNIOR KNOCKABOUT CHAMPIONSHIP JULY 18
BY: JOHN C. POWERS
“KNOCKABOUT REGATTA RE-BOUNDS FOR PERFECT SATURDAY & SUNDAY SAILING AFTER FRIDAY BLOW OUT”
The annual regattas of the Cape Cod Knockabout Association were sailed last weekend in Waquoit Bay, hosted by the Waquoit Bay Yacht Club in East Falmouth, MA. Eighteen boats from four Cape Cod clubs (Waquoit, Megansett, Yarmouth Sailing, and Woods Hole) competed in the three day event. The weekend was a combination of a four race Nationals series and the separate two race SMYRA elimination/championship format.
Expert Race Committee work was provided by Betsey Young and Cal Goodmundson on Friday and Saturday, with Jim Hoar, Ed Martin, and Waquoit’s “JR” handling the duty on Sunday. Jim Powers of Megansett coordinated all Race Committee management for the entire weekend.
With the first races of the National Championship series scheduled for Friday, all skippers and crews assembled for the scheduled skipper’s meeting promptly at 12:00 Noon. The weather was “blustery” at the well protected Waquoit Yacht Club but the conditions raised no serious concerns from the regatta organizers or even the competitors. A report was called in by Joel Kanter from the opposite side of Waquoit Bay that wind speed was clocked at 30 knots. All concerned duly noted Joel’s report but the impact of this information did not really “sink in” and the pre-race briefing continued. Competitors were advised that the Race Committee would be flying the “Mandatory Life Jacket” and “No Spinnaker” signals, the race briefing was completed and the crews headed out to prepare their boats.
Wind conditions at the mooring were not too much more severe than what was happening on shore. Skippers and crews rigged for heavy weather sailing as they departed the mooring area experiencing a few more “stronger” gusts. As the fleet headed into the Bay from the lee of the shore and the mooring field, reality hit them hard! Heavy, slam dunk gusts battered the fleet and sailing immediately escalated into the “white knuckle” classification. Joel Kanter’s report of 30 knot wind was spot on!! (Joel has been nominated for the position of Chief Knockabout Class Meteorologist)
The fleet circled the starting area experiencing all manners of nearly out of control maneuvers as the Race Committee attempted to set up the course. After nearly 20 minutes of this “survival sailing”, race organizers pulled the plug and cancelled any attempts to get the fleet into racing mode. Under the careful watch of the Race Committee and support boats all crews quickly returned to the safety of their moorings and made their way to shore to share “war stories” of the races that were not to be.
To the relief of all involved, Saturday dawned with sunshine and a southwest wind that was building to acceptable racing conditions. No clouds, no rain, no more slam dunk gusts, this day would provide the perfect racing conditions for the previously battered knockabout fleet. The first races of the day would be in the SMYRA Championship format. A two division elimination race with a total of 10 boats qualifying for the Championship Race, and the remainder of the fleet sailing a “Consolation” race. This championship is scored by the “High Point” system with boats accumulating points in each of the two races sailed. There is recognition for total points scored and also for the winning boats of the Championship and Consolation races. A Club Challenge award is also given to the yacht club with the most points accumulated.
Megansett’s Andrew Gallagher sailing Yanqui, and Waquoit’s Cynthia Limberakis sailing SOS won their respective divisions in the qualifying race. The 10 qualifying boats were soon back on the racecourse in the Championship race followed closely by the 9 boat Consolation fleet. Conditions on the race course were perfect but careful attention had to be given to the quirky shifts in the Bay as mistakes in this championship fleet would be costly! Not surprising, it was Yanqui and SOS leading the fleet with Web Collins and Mae Win III also in contention for this championship. Andrew Gallagher took home the Scudder-Cahoon trophy as the winner of this Championship race, with Cynthia Limberakis and Web Collins 2nd and 3rd. Ken Shepherd of Waquoit sailed his #54 to a win in the Consolation race, adding ½ point to his club’s challenge.
Andrew Gallagher would be the Crowell-Small high point winner with 19 ¾ points, followed closely by Cynthia Limberakis with 18 ¼ points. Web Collins secured 3rd place in the high point scoring with 16 points.
Woods Hole placed 4th in the Club Challenge with 9 points, Waquoit was 3rd with 23 ¼ points, and Yarmouth Sailing was 2nd with 35 points. Megansett was the Club Challenge winner with 57 ¾ points.
The Race Committee used Saturday afternoon to make up the 2 Nationals races that got blown out on Friday. Results of these races found that nearly half the fleet could have a chance to break into the winners circle before this regatta was over. Performance was not consistent and there were no competitors running away with the lead.
Although overcast and grey, Sunday’s sailing conditions for the final 2 races of the National Championship were nearly perfect. Moderate to light southwest wind prevailed which allowed the Race Committee to set up a true championship racecourse along the length of Waquoit Bay. The R/C also elected to use the designated “M” courses which allowed for the more challenging upwind finishes. The lack of consistency in the fleet carried over to these final 2 races of the series and any one of several boats had a chance to place in the top of the regatta.
Using a “Low Point” scoring system, eight boats in the fleet went into the final race with 21 points or less, with the very top boats in the 13 point range. Given the history of the previous 3 races it was not impossible that these 8 boats could all have a shot at the winner’s circle! At the end of the day and after all the smoke had cleared Waquoit’s Ken Shepherd in #54 would be crowned the 2009 Knockabout National Champion with 15 ¾ points. Cynthia Limberakis of Waquoit, sailing SOS, would be 2nd with 17 ¾ points and Yarmouth’s Kelsey Loth sailing Red Dog would lock up the #3 spot with 18 points.
2009 JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Junior National Championship was held on July 18 at Lewis Bay in Yarmouth, MA hosted by the Town of Yarmouth Sailing Program. Thirteen knockabouts competed in this event with teams from Yarmouth Rec., Barnstable Rec., Megansett Yacht Club, and Great Island Sailing Club.
After a weather delay until mid day, a perfect southerly wind settled in at 10-12 knots and the 5 race series was underway. Racing was intense with all competitors in top form. The starting lines were particularly hectic as each boat was reluctant to give up a favored position.
Two teams from Yarmouth onboard Red Dog and Fantasy, and the Megansett team sailing Scotch Mist would dominate the series, each boat placing in the top three in 4 of the 5 races. Sean Tighe of Yarmouth Sailing, skippering Red Dog, would repeat his 2008 Championship win to take home this year’s honors with 7.25 points. Ed Kingston of Yarmouth Sailing brought Fantasy in at the #2 position with 12.75 points, followed closely by Megansett’s Brenda Halloran with 13 points sailing Scotch Mist.
A post race cookout at the Yarmouth Sailing Center provided a chance to replay the action on the racecourse amid much camaraderie and friendship.
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