110 Class Atlantic Coast Championship, Ida Lewis Yacht Club, Newport, RI August 8-9 2009
It’s always terrific fun racing 110s in Newport. There’s just so much cool stuff going on, as much off the water as on. Much thanks to Jeff Adam and the Ida Lewis YC for conducting a superb regatta at the perfect venue for sailing the 110 Atlantics 2009.
After rigging #4 at Ft Adams, Murph and I began the weekend at Newport National Golf Club for a late Friday evening links round followed by a scrumptious dinner, tasty ice cream cones, and highly enjoyable sightseeing along Thames Street. Doesn’t get better, right? Well, the next morning we launched and made our way out toward the race area crooning to the live music of the Newport Jazz Festival carrying clear across Newport harbor and beyond from Ft. Adams Point. There were hundreds of crowded concert going spectator yachts anchored close together all around, many of which were extremely well appointed…gotta love Newport. Nevertheless, we eventually found our way out to the starting area, concert tunes still blaring in the background.
Saturday, Aug 8th:
Initially, the air was light and shifty. the first race attempt started in sort of a westerly and then every which way. There were times I was sailing in the same direction as Screaming Pelican or Wild Thing, but on opposite tacks. Thankfully, the race was abandoned after a fairly steady 8-10 knot southerly breeze finally blew in, turning the race into a parade. Jeff Adam with crew Ben Craig, sailing #687 for the first time this year, would have won the race if not abandoned. However, it was a good indication of what was to come.
In a nice steady southerly, Jeff and Ben put on a clinic, scoring consecutive bullets in the next 3 races. Favoring the leeward end of the starting line, Jeff and Ben demonstrated the importance of good starts, clear air, and getting out to the favored side. The tide was outgoing and there was a persistent header out on the left. Jeff and Ben consistently banged the left side of the starting line sailing fast out near the port tack layline, rounding the upwind mark each race at or near 1st place. They showed good speed off the breeze and pretty much won each race on Saturday going away. Murph and I were in touch with them most of the way, but Jeff and Ben stretched it each time downwind. Once they turned the lee mark, there was no catching #687. Eventually, on the finishing legs, we ended up focusing on attacking boats. Wild Thing, Screaming Pelican, The Good Foot and Pow Wow were typically bunched close behind. In the end we had a good day with 3 second place finishes. But we still felt a little bit beat up.
Great party at Jeff’s house. Nice to yat-dat-dah all night with my fellow 110ers and friends…a lot of fun. It was great to catch up with Bob Adam who I hadn’t seen in more than 2 decades. Murph and I barely made it for ice cream down on Thames just before they closed.
Sunday, Aug 9th:
The Jazz Fest continued playing out over the water. Cloudy, nice southerly breeze blowing 10-15. Boat end was a little favored, and there still seemed to be a slight knock out on the left, but with good pressure. So each race Murph and I just wanted to establish our lane going fast off the line in clear air near the committee boat and proceed left. RC set up a nice course and the downwind legs were actually the more tactical with lots of jibes and opportunity. We were able to execute very good starts this day and proceeded to pull off 4 bullets and a 2, with Jeff and Ben picking up the other bullet.
Overall, Murph and I finished first, Jeff and Ben second, and I think Josh and Mark finished third. Great regatta, fantastic off the water fun, in the best venue you can get. Let’s get back to Newport very soon and often.
