Griffin Chief Bunny of J/24s(Columbia, SC)- This year’s 49th annual Easter Regatta, hosted by Columbia Sailing Club, could not have asked for better weather for three great days of sailing over the Easter Holiday weekend. Mostly sunny skies, warm and blowing from 8 to 15 kts gave the fleet plenty to think about at starts, boat-handling (gybe and takedowns anyone?) and just basic boatspeed.
In addition to the nineteen J/24s that have traditionally shown up for this Easter “classic”, the newbies on the block were the eight J/70s from all over the East Coast.
Here’s
how one J/24 sailor described the proceedings, “Wow, what a great
regatta! Three excellent days of beautiful sunshine and wind! A rare
occurrence for Lake Murray. With each course totaling 11 races, this
regatta was intense. Everyone was tired, happy, and had a fun time on
shore. Congratulations to our competitors that brought home trophies and
thanks to everyone who helped make this an amazing regatta! 364 days
until the 50th! Plus, Jack’n’Diane's dueling piano band Saturday night
was awesome! This is something you for sure don't want to miss next
time!”According to another J/24 sailor, Mike Stewart, “Damn! We were almost flat at least once! What a challenging weekend! Debbie's decided to do shore crew next year. I'm hoping her blisters and bruises are gone by then! Otherwise, Child & Family Services may be after me!”
Walking
off with the win in the J/70s was Chicago’s John Heaton, sailing
EMPEIRIA to a blisteringly fast 22 pts net after the 11 races- an
average of exactly a 2nd! Behind Heaton’s crackerjack team, it was a
complete donnybrook for the top five, with nothing being settled until
the results of the last race! Squeaking in front of the pack of four
boats was none other than local J/Boats dealer Don Trask, sailing
SMOKIN’J to a hard-earned 2nd place with 29 pts. However, behind him,
it was a tiebreaker for 3rd between Steve Shaw’s ULLMAN SAILS and Chuck
Millican’s ELUSIVE team from Hamilton, Bermuda. After winning three
races in the first six, Millican’s team could not hold off the
hard-charging Shaw who won three of the last six they sailed! In the
end, Shaw won the tiebreak to take third with 30 pts. Top women skipper
and also taking 5th overall was Holly Graf’s SPICE with 38 pts.
Notably, Graf’s team posted four podium finishes in the 11 races
(pictured above)!
The
J/24 winners were Scott Griffin sailing with Scott Smith, Paul Abdullah
and Greg Griffin on the mighty TEAM TARHEEL! Though they only won two
of 11 races, they simply smoked mostly all top three finishes into their
results and easily won with 26 pts total, 7 pts clear of the next
team. Taking 2nd overall was Ron Medlin’s BASH with 33 pts while 3rd
place was taken by a familiar figure on the long-time J/24 circuit-
Travis Odenbach’s HONEY BADGER. Last year’s Charleston Race Week
winner, Mike Marshall from Jamestown, RI, sailed PIPE DREAM in 4th
position while Andrew Carey on MR HANKEY took 5th place. Facebook Easter Regatta site for incriminating photos. For more Easter Regatta sailing information
|
