The 505s had five boats, representing 400% growth in the Sailfest 505 fleet over last year (one boat, which won Open Planing Division). There were two local (Florida) boats, both recent additions to the Florida fleet.
We had a very competetive 505 fleet (including a college sailor of the year and 5th at the 1995 505 Worlds, Laser National champion, past 505 world champion, ant current US Albacore champion.) One team won a race, and was last in the next.
Chris Museler drove down with Barney Harris and George Saunders in "spot", towing two boats. Chris sailed 8263 with George. Chris is now looking for a good used 505, preferably a Lindsay. Andrew Cole brought 4596, a vintage Parker, and sailed with Ali Meller.
Florida locals and defending Sailfest champions, Paula Sue Gilbert and Dave Fratantoni could not make it.
Results
Tyler Moore/Mark Mendelblatt 7876 1st 1 1 2 2 Chris Museler/George Saunders 8263 2nd 2 3 4 1 Ethan Bixby/Trudy Bixby 8018 3rd 3 4 1 5 Barney Harris/Dave "bruce" Smith 7772 4th 5 2 3 4 Ali Meller/Andy Cole 4596 5th 4 5 5 3
Andrew Cole in 4596 wins Classic Division - not recognized by Sailfest, but by the 505 Class. Dylan Bixby won Optimist white fleet.
The weather was overcast with some breeze on Saturday, sunny and glass calm Sunday. The water in the lake is opaque! Brown bow waves!
Check out these photographs of racing on Sunday!
Moore/Cox and
Harris/Smith dueling down the 2nd reach. Photo taken from
Meller/Cole boat a litte ways behind. Meller/Cole passed Harris/Smith on the next leg, the final beat
of the race. Note the intense concentration........ Museler/Saunders are ahead of these two, and
went on to be first boat across the finish line despite being on the second start. The 505s sailed through
the entire leadmine fleet, including the high performance ones.
The view astern from
the Meller/Cole boat. An unnamed former 505
World Champion is in last, dying with the keelboats. If he ever gets going, he can look forward to drifting around the leeward
mark, while the leadmines have shut off what little air there is (next photo)
Another look astern from the Meller/Cole boat.
Take at look at this leeward mark! You do not want
to be back there with all those leadmines!
We appear to have a resurgent Florida 505 fleet. Mark Mendelblatt and his brother are interested in a 505. Several other Floridians are apparently interested in the 505 class. We had lots of questions about the boats.
Sailfest had seminars, massive amounts of free beer, dinner, food, orange juice and yogurt in the morning, and all for $70!
See you at the Midwinters!