If you are looking for the perfect gift, here is your chance to scoop up some really cool photos from Official North American Championship photographer Paul Todd. He was on hand in Annapolis taking some cool shots. Check it out! Select the link below, then look to the bottom of the page to purchase prints.
Relive the excitement this past weekend in Tampa, Fla at the 2008 Melges 24 Atlantic Coast Championship.
http://www.melges24.com/photogalleries.asp?year=2008&event=41
The December 1st deadline for early registration is just 4 days away! You can visit us online www.m24keylargo.com and complete your registration, purchase regatta shirts, additional dinner tickets and pay. We still have free dockage available offered up by various Upper Keys Sailing Club members whom reside in the Port Largo neighborhood!
The weather has been spectactular with winds in the 15 knot range and day time highs in the mid 70s. Do not miss this opportunity to get the lead off points for 2009! Four of the top ten boats in the Southeast Circuit standings attended last years event! So put away your thermals and pack up your shorts and sandals and come on down to Key Largo and enjoy the racing, weather and Rum!!
The Key Largo Regatta is next on the calendar. This event takes place on 6-7 December in Key Largo, Fla. Plan to attend this great event. Visit the event online today!
The 2008 Melges 24 Atlantic Coast Championship was a great success. Congratulations are in order for John Kolius as he is the the 2008 ACC! Joe Blouin has been names 2008 Melges 24 Corinthian Atlantic Coast Champion as well… Steve Kopf has been crowned 2008 USMCA Southeast District Champions for two years running. Way to go Steve!
Again — a big thanks for George Haynie and the Davis Island Yacht Club!
John Kolius on USA-776 KO Sailing from LaPorte, Tx. and crew David Clement, David Whelan and Nicolas Guzman scored two more wins on Sunday to take the title of 2008 Melges 24 Atlantic Coast Champions. From the very start, Kolius and team came out swinging. “Yesterday was physically demanding. Today it was very mental. We were very, very fortunate,” commented Kolius.
Read the full story on www.usmelges24.com
One more race is on tap…
The RC has picked up and moved the course. Big wind shift, almost some 85 degrees… Standing by for final race bearing.
Final race cancelled.
The wind is 5-8 for the start of Race 2. Breeze is light enough that perhaps only two races may be possible. Three were on the agenda… We’ll see…
Course 4, 045, 1.0 nm… In sequence…
Overall – Steve Kopf ahead by 3, Kolius in second. As usual,down to the last race… Can Kopf hang on? Is Kolius strong enough? The wind is very light.
Great start for the fleet. Kolius favoring the left with speed. Although Kopf with a mid- line start still quick favoring the left as well, then doing something different tacking back out to the right.
Around the top is Kolius in first, not looking good for Kopf. Kolius jibes out to the right, then back left. Kopf appears to be fifth, maybe sixth or seventh.
At the gate, Kolius is miles ahead – a very comfortable lead. Fisher is second, Duvall in third. Rob Hobbs challenges JA Booker for fourth. It’s Booker then Hobbs. Then:
Kroetsch
Weisleder
Single
Arata
Vowels
Butler
Kopf
McElwain
Blouin
Kolius just rounded the top in first. Then:
Duval
Fisher
Big gap between the top three and the fleet.
Then:
Booker
Hobbs
Weisleder
Vowels
Kopf
The finish:
Kolius
Fisher -1.30 minutes behind leader
Duval
Booker
Hobbs
Vowels
Weisleder
Kopf
Arata
Schwarting
The wind is dying, slowly but surely. At the top we are looking at 5.
Right side paid off for James Whatmore, John Kolius, Bob Kroetsch, Steve Kopf rounding respectively. Joe Blouin was fifth.
Kites set, fleet heads back right for pressure.
At the gate…
The Corintthians holding their own at the bottom. Whatmore takes the right while Kopf moves up in position taking the left gate followed by Kolius and Kroetsch.
Back upwind, fleet torn in two – five on the right and fifteen on the left going into the last mark of the race. Kolius looking strong out front as is Whatmore.
It’s
Kolius
Kopf
Whatmore
Kroetsch
Vowels
Kolius still going strong. Takes the bullet followed by…
Kopf
Whatmore
Kroetsch
Blouin
Vowels
Fisher
Weisleder
McElwain
Haynie
Third start was clean. I stand corrected. Doug Fisher and team ARE back out on the course.
Second start = general recall
First start = general recall
Course 4, 045, 1.2 nm… Races are on time.
On the docks…
