In the last race, Hamlin/Martin led at the first mark, and gybe set looking for a little more breeze on the south side of the course. The boats that did bear away sets and headed for the North side of the run did rather better, as Hamlin/Martin fell back to about 12th at the leeward mark, with Punnet/Ikle in 1st, Brown/Thomas holding a regatta winning top five position, and Meller/Fry back with Hamlin/Martin in 11th. Brown/Thomas held their position around the course, while Hamlin/Martin's efforts to get back into the top five did not succeed. This gave the North American title to Robin and Dave, with Howard and Mike 2nd. Punnet/Ikle's leading the race gave them a shot at third overall, if Meller/Fry finished 8th or worse. At the last leeward mark, Punnet/Ikle were comfortably leading, while Meller/Fry were 9th. Punnet/Ikle won the race. In a little more breeze on the last beat Meller/Fry were able to close on the boats ahead of them, and pass two on the finish line, finishing 7th and saving third overall by 3/4 of a point. Punnet/Ikle were 4th, while Bruce Edwards/Jonathan Livingston were 5th.
Robin Brown/Dave Thomas raced a great series, avoiding the disasters that befell other contenders, and came out the 1995 North American champions.
Three of the top four teams will be representing the US at the 505 World Championship in England, July 27 to August 4th.
Other notable performances were: Joe Burcar and Peter Lehman borrowing a club-owned 505 they had not sailed before, missing the first two races, but putting it together and getting around the race course; I hope to see you at the next event Joe and Peter. Dale Phillips and Julie Giguere sailing in when they noticed the shrould fitting pulling out, rigging tarps and a spinnaker to keep the rain off the repair area, fixing the boat, and getting back out there for more racing - sounds like those NFL videos that go "with grim determination......" Son and father team Peter and Fred Grimm reminded me of how I got into racing; I wish I had been steering a 505 in the North American championship when I was twelve! Check out the results for Race 3, the Grimms beat many of the rockstars! Finally Kirk Gooding and Don Smith who seemed to have a magnetic attraction for the KYC dock and the rabbit; when they got off the line, their average finish was 10th!
Brown/Thomas sailed 7039, a launcher equipped Hamlin built in '79 or '80. Hamlin/Martin raced 7771, a mid '80s launcher Waterat, while Meller/Fry sailed a '79 or '80 forward tack spinnaker bag equipped Lindsay. Punnet/Ikle raced 8013, their '87 Waterat, now converted to a launcher boat. Top teams in both the Canadians and the North Americans used Proctor D masts (with the exception of the Hendersons who used a Superspar mast). A variety of sails were used by the top boats. Punnet/Ikle used Pinnels, Hamlin/Martin used Ullman Dangers, Leitch & McBride sails were popular with the Vancouver boats including Brown/Thomas, while Meller/Fry used North sails. The Hendersons used sails made by Anne Henderson. Given their performance in the Canadians their may be more interest in Henderson 505s and sails!
Canadian Fleet 1 put on two outstanding events. Apart from the racing activities, several social events were held, including a steak dinner during the Canadians, and a grilled salmon dinner during the North Americans. A variety of draw prizes were given out during a hilarious event hosted by Wayne Brox, 505 sailor and commodore of KYC. A number of sponsors contributed prizes or services. The delicious local micro brewery amber draft beer was much appreciated by sailors each evening. The Embroidered Patagonia bags given as trophies to the top five crews and skippers were beautiful, and very useful.
Race Committee work was excellent for both events. In particular, 505 North Americans RC chairman Steve Tupper did a great job of getting races in without using the lay day or continuing races when the wind was too light. Apart from allowing competitors to relax on Sunday the 18th, it also allowed Steve to depart on a well deserved cruise!
Team Club Sail 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tot Net Place Brown/Thomas KYC 7039 2 2 5 5 1 4 18.75 13.75 1 Hamlin/Martin ABYC 7771 1 1 6 3 4 11 25.5 14.5 2 Meller/Fry WRSC 6987 3 3 4 2 8 7 27 19 3 Punnet/Ikle ??? 8013 5 9 2 6 6 1 28.75 19.75 4 Edwards/Living. StFYC 8084 11 8 1 7 5 3 34.75 23.75 5 Boyd/tenHove KingYC 8264 4 11 16 1 9 2 42.75 26.75 6 Smith/Campbell CYC 7150 7 7 11 8 2 19 54 35 7 Hamilton/Harla. KYC 8192 10 5 9 9 15 5 53 38 8 Hayley/Adams KYC 7095 13 4 8 10 7 20 62 42 9 Cragg/Guthrie KYC 7094 8 6 15 15 3 16 63 47 10 Henderson x 2 CYC 8446 6 10 17 16 11 8 68 51 11 Brox/Plumbley KYC 7353 14 13 3 11 12 14 67 53 12 Thomas/Reynolds KYC 7111 12 12 14 17 10 6 71 54 13 Mondel/Jacobsen WVYC 7959 18 17 10 4 18 9 76 58 14 Gooding/Smith BYC 7201 9 DNC 7 14 DNC 10 94 67 15 Torrie/Hyslop KYC 7775 16 20 26 12 14 13 101 75 16 Smart/Claston KYC 7610 23 16 18 13 16 15 101 78 17 Coblens/WatermanZLYC 7859 15 15 19 18 13 18 98 79 18 Walker/Dolhaine KYC 7607 17 14 24 19 21 12 107 83 19 Crocher/Arby WVYC 7100 19 18 20 24 20 17 118 94 20 Crane/Henderson MOFYC 8262 20 19 21 20 17 21 118 97 21 Owen/Meade KSA 7249 22 23 13 22 23 23 126 103 22 Barron/Hansen BYC 7612 21 22 23 21 19 22 128 105 23 Grimm/Grimm KYC 7206 24 21 12 25 DNC DNC 136 109 24 Burcar/Lehman PMYC 7097 DNC DNC 22 23 22 25 146 119 25 Phill./Giguere SSC 7458 25 24 25 DNF DNC 24 152 125 26