ICPFR 9

The weather couldn’t have been nicer, with 60 degree temperatures, however the wind was fickle and consistency was hard to come by. PRO Tot O’Mara aboard Doug Firth’s trawler did an exceptional job getting in five one lap triangle races. Jeff Cox with crew Aidan Loeser sailing Bill Lane’s White Knight sailed a very consistent regatta to take the win. Consistency for everyone else meant minimizing the number of double digit scores.

In race one, Barbara Vosbury and Cathy Kramer were first to the windward mark, followed closely by Andrew and Adison Parish. Jeff Cox and Aiden Loeser were next. Susan Taylor and Jennifer Sturmer were fourth. The wind lightened considerably on the reach and the fleet started to compress a bit. At the gybe mark, Andrew Parish moved into the lead with Jeff Cox close behind. On the second reach, Charlie Krafft and Donna McKenzie drifted ahead on a painful against the current run in race one to take a bullet. Jeff Cox was second and Scott and Charlie Williamson finished third. Race 2 was more of the same. Big lifts and big holes were the order of the day. Charlie Krafft and Donna McKenzie led at the first mark. John and Karen Wright followed in second with Jane Delaschmutt and GK O’Mara in their newly acquired Penguin close behind in third. Read Beigel Jr. and Sasha Boles moved up to finish third. The crew race was won by Adison Parish sailing with her dad, Andrew in Alan Campbell’s boat, capitalizing on a beautiful port tack start and hanging on as the other crew steered boats and boats with skippers who chose not to let their crews sail, and took a one minute delayed start, were unable to catch her. Karen Wright took second, and Jeff Cox, who did not let his crew steer, finished third. Race 4 went to David Cox and Billy Rust, who sailed into the lead on the tricky final beat. Getting to better pressure on the left allowed Jeff Cox to take second and Hank Krafft third, beating out brother Charlie who had led until the final beat. Race 5 went to Jonathan Bartlett, as there was finally enough pressure to get the modern Burtis boats moving. Read Beigel took second and Jeff Cox third.

Numerous special acknowledgements were made, including the oldest combined age (undisclosed) went to long time Penguin sailor John Wright and his wife Karen sailing in ReWright, and posting 2 second place finishes. John Majane, sailing single-handed, was recognized as the oldest Penguin sailor and Dylan Wagner (6), sailing with his dad Will, was recognized as the youngest crew. The top junior team of Read Beigel and Sasha Boles, also finished third overall, which was quite an accomplishment given the depth of talent and experience at the event. The fleet had five female skippers and Susan Taylor and Jennifer Sturmer were recognized as the top female team in their borrowed boat with a current news cycle name, Holly and Selena The Rejected Ones (think ousted CIA chief Petraeus and Justin Bieber). Seven of the boats were sailed by family teams: father-son(Wil and Dylan Wagner, Scott and Charlie Williamson), father-daughter (Andrew and Adison Parish, Mike and Rachel Hecky, Jonathan and Anne Bartlett), mother-daughter (Cathy and Hannah Schmidt) or husband-wife (John and Karen Wright). Complete results are at www.penguinclass.com

The regatta also served as the Region III championship. Jeff Cox ended up winning both. Congratulations to Jeff and his crew. It was heartening to see the next generation of Penguin sailors doing so well and gives us hope for the future.

Photos are now posted at https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=116461824404160314199&target=ALBUM&id=5810324250936225553&authkey=Gv1sRgCO2UxYrK3vuAAg&feat=email

The regatta was a tribute to the Corkran family matriarch, Lucille, who passed away the day before the event. She was definitely there in spirit. Next year will be the 10^th and final year for the ICPFR. It promises to be the biggest and best yet.