International 5O5 Class Yacht Racing Association

The 2010 5o5 (and A-Cat) Midwinters featured an array of conditions and situations that have left the fleet itching for more. Competitors arrived Wednesday evening and began to rig up Thursday morning for a bit of practice. Once at beautiful Fort DeSoto Park, no less than four surprises were there to greet them.

First, Hometown hero Ethan Bixby showed up with his 5o5 that had been "hanging out with the wrong crowd" -- it now had a bowsprit and an asymmetric spinnaker! Needless to say, Ethan and crew Erik Boothe would be the rabbit for the entire weekend (and would not be scored with the rest of the fleet). Second, even more shocking than the bowsprit was the appearance of a true English gentleman from the Left Coast – the infamous Brit(and current runner-up at Worlds) Mike Holt. He was there to drive for the third surprise, the second Prodigal Son, Nick Nelson, who has returned from his quest to marry an Arabian princess. Finally, Holtie brought along with him from SanFran lots and lots of BREEZE.

Friday began with a blast, as a cold front was moving through St. Petersburg. The 5o5s left the beach (with the A Cats strapping themselves to the palm trees) in a southerly 18-20 and trekked across the shipping channel. Once there, the breeze built to the upper 20s as the front began to reach the Bay. “Comandante” Drew Buttner and Ramsey “Snookie” Key showed off the tricks the learned out at Worlds and took the bullet in the windy race. JB Turney & Russ Miller took second, and Augie Diaz and crew Luke Lawrence took third. With winds in the upper twenties, the fleet scurried home as the storm peaked with gusts in the fifties. The fleet dined that night at the Pass-a-Grille Women’s club, with Holtie sharing his thoughts on sailing in big breeze.

Saturday began out quite a bit calmer, as most of the front had moved through, leaving more consistent winds in the lower twenties. Buttner – Key continued their hot streak in the second race, taking the bullet. Augie – Lawrence and took second and Holtie-Nelson took third. As with Friday, the breeze continued to build, and even Holtie certified it as being windy. The second race of the day was taken by Augie & Lawrence. Macy Nelson and Parry Barclay took second and Uncle Henry Amthor and Dustin Romey took third. With the breeze continuing to build, the fleet headed home again. A Cat Ben Moon and Erik Boothe led the fleet out to the next racecourse in the heart of downtown St. Pete’s.

By Sunday morning, the front had mostly moved through, and with most of the fleet still licking their wounds, a few were looking forward to tamer conditions. Teams were still wire running for the first two races, and three quality races were run. Jesse Falsonito and Chris “Grasshopper” Behm emerged from the hospital (see below) for a great day, taking a bullet and two seconds. Augie & Lawrence took a bullet in the second race.

Congrats to Augie Diaz & Luke Lawrence on their title (Augie’s second in two years in the fleet) and to regatta organizers Ethan Bixby and Lin Robson for running the show off the water. Also, big thanks to Dave Ellis (the PRO) for running the show on the water.

Midwinter Championship

St. Petersburg, FL

February 5-7, 2010

 

Pl Sail      Team                                  1    2    3    4    5    6      T

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1  USA 8953  Augie Diaz & Luke Lawrence            3    2    1   (7)   1    5     12

2  USA 8830  Ramsay Key & Andrew Buttner           1    1   (6)   6    3    6     17

3  USA 7611  JB Turney & Russell Miller            2   (8)   7    2    6    1     18

4  USA 9003  Chris Behm & Jesse Falsone           10    5 (DNF)   1    2    2     20

5  USA 8722  Macy Nelson & Parry Barclay           4    4    2    4    7   (8)    21

6  USA 8012  Henry Amthor & Dustin Romey           5   (6)   3    5    5    4     22

7  USA 8660  Mike Holt & Nick Nelson              11    3    8  (12)   4    7     33

8  USA 7346  Craig Thompson & Matt Woodsworth      7   10    5  (11)   8    3     33

9  USA 7606  Brendan Connell & Chris Brady         9  (16)   9    3   10    9     40

10 USA 8919  Danny Plesch & Blaine Pedlow       (DNF)  12    4    9   19   11     55

11 USA 8018  Duane Delfosse & Solomon Marini       8   13   10   14   13 (DNS)    58

12 USA 8939  John Wyles & Gareth Fletcher       (DNF)  11   11   16   11   13     62

13 USA 8814  Lin Robson & Matt Gardiner         (DNF)   7  DNF   10    9   10     64

14 USA 7879  Zach Marks & Chris Keimey          (DNF)  14   12   17   15   17     75

15 USA 8753  Loic Bleuez & Stephan Long           12   15 (DNF)  20   17   16     80

16 USA 8351  Nathan Rosenber & Reeve Dunne         6 (DNF) DNC   19   16   15     84

17 USA 8439  JB Braun & Bill Beardslee          (DNF) DNF  DNC   15   12   12     95

18 USA 8931  Daniel Esdorn & Joerg Esdorn       (DNF)   9  DNF   13   20  DNS     98

19 USA 8441  Katrin Dienmardt & Olav Schluter   (DNF) DNF  DNC    8   18  DNS    110

20 USA 9005  Andrew Jones & Mike Renda          (DNF) DNF  DNC  DNF   14   14    112

21 USA 8951  Christian Rasmussen & Tom Rasmussen(DNF) DNF  DNC   21   21  DNS    126

22 USA 7148  Bryan Richardson & J. Bergquist    (DNF) DNF  DNC   18  DNC  DNS    130

23 USA 7200  Dorian Hadleman & Ali Meller       (DNF) DNF  DNC   22  DNC  DNS    134

24 USA 8190  Tim Sayles & Graham Sayles         (DNF) DNF  DNC  DNF  DNC  DNS    140

24 USA 8438  Amie Boothe & Ted Huebne           (DNF) DNF  DNC  DNF  DNC  DNS    140

24 USA 8715  Ethan Bixby & Erik Boothe          (DNF) DNF  DNC  RAF  RAF  RAF    140

24 USA 8822  David Burchfiel & Josh Gray        (DNF) DNF  DNC  DNF  DNC  DNS    140