|
Penguin (15 boats)
(top) Information is
provisional and subject to modification
Notes |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On Friday, August 27th during the fourth race of the Penguin Internationals at the Tred Avon Yacht Club Gray Benson and I were on the far right of the second beat about two thirds of the way up the course. Bill Lane and Hayley Crowder, who were about 6 lengths directly behind us, tacked and went further right. The move made no sense at all. We were almost on the layline, clearly the closest tack to the mark and moving. Bill and Hayley sailed about 6 lengths on port and tacked back. When the dust cleared they rounded the mark well ahead of us and just behind eventual winners Charlie Krafft and Donna Mackenzie.
Experience really counted. Bill finished second and David Cox, who raced with Mariah Leffingwell to fourth place, started sailing Penguins over fifty years ago at TAYC. They sneaked into the program before they reached the 9 year old age limit. Actually Bill remembers first capsizing while sailing with his mother and older brother. He was 6 years old. David and his older brother Paul sailed with 14 year old Danny Smith and wore Mae West life jackets when the breeze was up.
Charlie Krafft also started racing when he was 8. He crewed for Penguin ace Len Penso for five years and eventually his sister Amy became the owner of tow of Len’s boats. Very much a Krafft family affair There is always more than just one Krafft at these events.
There were three very new and two or three a little older but still new Penguin sailors in this 15 boat regatta.
Third place finisher 19 year old Bobby Lippincott sailed smart and fast. He ended up in the middle of almost 150 years of Penguin experience. Perhaps he owes some of his sailing smarts to Mom Pucky who has achieved her own special brand of Penguin fame. (see the 2008 ICPFR wrap up in the January 2009 Spinsheet)
Previous Internationals winners Steve and Erin Lavender from Columbus, Ohio were the top family team. Steve is also a standout Thistle sailor. They edged out Annapolis ace Jonathan Bartlett sailing with Porter Kavle and the next family team of Mike and Rachel Hecky. Mike and Rachel were 2008 International Champions.
Former St. Mary’s two time All American Sara Morgan Watters with Nicole Bonan was the top woman sailor and finished just ahead of College of Charleston team member Alan Campbell who enlisted Dad Tom as crew.Although was Sara’s first Penguin regatta as skipper she came up in the Penguin ranks crewing for Bill Lane and David Cox. Clearly she had some familiarity with the boat.
Andrew and Adison Parish have returned to Penguin sailing after a brief absence and we hope they can keep up the good work.
There were two single handers. Patrick Hilliard came from Chicago to win the long distance prize. Charlie’s brother Hank missed the long distance honor having just moved back to Frederick, MD from Alberta, Canada. .
Finally our very own world famous attorney Sandy McAllister raced with 20 year 364 day old son Max (at something exceeding 100 lbs over the minimum weight) to edge out TAYC Jr. Program Director Scott Williamson and long time crew Aubrey Barringer. Sandy and Max wisely flew to Las Vegas on Saturday (apparently airplanes conveniently make their own breeze) to celebrate Max’s birthday.
Thanks to the Tred Avon Yacht Club for their long support of the Penguin Class. One Design Centerboard Chairman Sean Callahan was particularly helpful in organizing the regatta and attending to details like the NOR and SIs. Vice Commodore Chris Koch was also very supportive during the regatta
The race committee headed up by Dave Pulzone did a fine job in difficult light northwesterly conditions. Dave and his team wisely managed to pack four good races into Friday afternoon.. On Saturday the good judgment continued when Doug Firth stepped in to help out. We never went out to drift in an absolutely Eastern Shore Slick Cam day.
Paul Hull