NAs News and Gossip

 

 

Monday, July 31

It appears that the NAs entry list is rapidly approaching 40 or more teams. I am trying to remember when the last NAs with 40 or more boats was (that was not also a pre-worlds). Anyone remember? Have results sheets from?

Certainly the 505 class did in the 1970s... with the peak probably being 103 or 105 or whatever it was at the Presqu'ile NAs in 1974.

Did San Francisco in 1983 have more than 40?
Did Lake McConaughy in 1985 have more than 40?
How about Vancouver in 1986?
Several people have e-mailed suggesting Barrington RI in 1987 was over 40. Anyone have a results sheet?
San Francisco in 1990?

Thanks,

Ali Meller
VP International 505 Class Yacht Racing Association

 

Saturday, August 12

This is the windiest and "waviest" event many of the newcomers have ever raced in. Conditions are extraordinary, yet the incredible 505 dinghy gets you round the course. The difference is that the top teams are racing hard, while the middle and back of the fleet is racing more conservatively to stay upright and finish the race.

Next year the 505 class should get a drug company as a sponsor, we could use the free Advil or similar! Dark rum at the SCYC bar is also proving to be quite popular.

When teams first got here, evening trips to local bars were on every evening. As the wear and tear of heavy air racing builds up, fewer and fewer bar expeditions are being planned. Yesterday evening a number of competitors strayed no further than the SCYC bar and dining room, and then went to bed.

There is also quite a lot of partying at the SCYC bar and dining room, including another sort of boat race. Here Ryan Cox (college sailor of the year 1995) powers the East Coast team to victory over the West Coast.

 

Sunday, August 13

The final race was sailed today in somewhat lighter winds. The zone between the sea breeze and the land breeze was further offshore today, actually in the course area at times, creating some large holes and shifts. It was a slow sail in, with some teams starting to de-rig while sailing by disconnecting non-essential controls.

With the assistance of several West Coasters -- thanks guys! -- the East Coast container was rapidly packed (all ten East Coast 505s), and those flying out on "red eye" flights were able to leave for the airports in time.

 

Looking Back

So the West Coast -- Team Tuesday specifically -- crushed the East Coast, midwest and Canada at the North Americans. Who cares? The East Coast won the other boat race when they crushed the West Coast in the beer chugging (the other kind of boat race) contest. With yet another standout performance from Ryan Cox, the East Coast team finished nearly 2 1/2 people ahead of the West Coast. This was Ryan's farewell to the East Coast drinking team, as he has moved back to the West Coast. Ryan and crew Carl Smit were also the top East Coast team, finishing 8th.

All in all, this was an exceptional and memorable event. Competitors could not remember the last time we had a 45 boat turnout at a non pre-worlds North American Championship. Certainly not since 1987. Event organizer Bruce Edwards, PRO Dave Wahle and the Santa Cruz Yacht Club ran us a superb event, and the incredible wind and waves didn't hurt either.

The daily post-race debriefs are terrific. The free exchange of information is one of the 505 class's strong points. The calibration schemes Howie, Mike and the rest of Team Tuesday have worked out have been shared with virtually all other West Coast sailors. It was amazing listening to Mike Martin say for example, "The ram was at ten." and realize that almost everyone knew exactly what that meant. The similar calibrations for rake, jib lead, jib sheet tension, cunningham, centerboard height, etc. make it easy for anyone to set their boat up just like Team Tuesday.