Pursuit Results and Misc Awards 2022
2022 Labor Day Pursuit Race
10 skippers turned out for the 2022 Labor Day pursuit race. The wind was light and patchy but after a 30 minute delay we headed out to give it a try. The day shaped up to be a great workable light air race. We opted for two laps from the pavilion to the duck blind area. Charles and Mia led us out. Charles followed the wind way to the right. Chip Arnett was next in his Ensign. Chip stayed in the middle and by the windward mark had taken over first place. On the leeward run back to the club the MCs caught up. At the second leeward mark rounding Fred Herr, Bill Schiffli, and Ron Wright began battling for top honors. Bill took over first at the rounding. Ron rounded third caught a puff and moved up to first. Then Fred made a move and surged to the lead. Fred and Ron pulled away, and held on for a 1-2 finish. Bill and Rob Gruber followed for third and fourth.
A real battle shaped up for the next three Portsmouth boats. Chip worked very hard to hold off Bill Campbell and Phil Keenan/Jill Zakerski/Caroline Noble through the lulls, puffs, and chop. The three boats finished bow to stern in that order with the top Portsmouth trophy going to Chip Arnett. Charles/Mia, Jay Anderson/Joe Brase, and Gary Brooks rounded out the fleet.
While the wind was light, there were a number of nice puffs and lots of place changes throughout the race making for an exciting and successful race. Final results:
- Fred Herr
- Ron Wright
- Bill Schiffli
- Rob Gruber
- Chip Arnett – top Portsmouth
- Bill Campbell
- Phil Keenan
- Charles Wood
- Jay Anderson
- Gary Brooks
2022 Independence Day Pursuit Race
Nine skippers came to CYC hoping for a great holiday Pursuit Race. While we had our moments and we did get in a race, “Mother Nature” or “Lake Wylie” threw us one heck of a curve. With the pavilion weather station showing wind at 5-7 and breeze visible across the lake, we headed out to compete. We opted for a duck blind to pavilion course with a two lap option. Ron Wright and Tom Guerrant were first boat to start in the Ensign. No sooner did they start than the wind stopped. And on we drifted in 1-2. The lighter MCs made quick work of the fleet “grabbing” a light shift on the right. Tom Martin got out front and began to pull/drift away. Phil Keenan with Caroline Noble and Jill Zakerski as crew passed the Ensign on the left as did Dave Forrest. Our two multi-hulls, Jack Young (Aquadyne) and Gary Brooks (Hobie), also passed the Ensign. And so as we painfully grabbed every wisp of wind we could find, we eventually got to the duck blind with Tom leading us around. Heading back, a few patches of wind (am I really calling 3-4 a patch of wind?) came through. The MCs found the finish line first with Tom Martin, Dave Forrest, and Rob Gruber taking top three honors for the race and Kristen O’Reilly edging Bill Schiffli for 4-5 right at the finish line.
Back in the pack, Ron/Tom came around the duck blind and made “the move” of the day as they parted with the Ideal 18 and the Hobie and tacked to the SC side. It paid off as a shift filled in from that side and they moved all the way up to sixth place and won top cruiser honors. Phil/Caroline/Jill were seventh followed by Gary Brooks (top multihull honors) and Jack Young.
Tom Frederick shot some great pics of the start. Tom always gets some “frameable” shots. They are here: https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/tJ62CNWtQyiQexwz0fWFhw.Wmq5CcfrnTSM1qWO_pjALd
Award Winners
First Place: Tom Martin
Second Place: Dave Forrest
Third Place: Rob Gruber
Top Female: Kristen O’Reilly
Top Cruiser: Ron Wright/Tom Guerrant
Top Multihull: Gary Brooks
Note: This is two in a row for Tom Martin, who won the Memorial Day race.
2022 Memorial Day Pursuit Race
1. Tom Martin – MC*
2. Ron Wright – MC*
3. Jim Higgins – MC*
4. Bill Schiffli – MC
5. Bill and Muffin Campbell – Lightning
6. Chip Arnett – Ensign* (Top Portsmouth)
7. Jill Zakerski and Phil Keenan – Ideal 18* (Top Female Skipper)
8. Anita McCulloch and Lon Christensen – Benetau 235
9. Andy and Sherri Pond – Catalina 22
10. Jason LeBlanc and McKenzie – Wayfarer
Additional Awards
Chip Arnett – First Place Portsmouth
Jill Zakerski – Top Female Skipper
The wind was a little light but I describe it as “workable”. I think everyone had a good time. Great turnout. The picnic was awesome. I had a guest on the gazebo taking @60 pictures. Some of these are framable. Here is the link.
https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/5jHyjjjcQmaSt7N2eFcmng.SPpRr2OaRJ0KnUm-L3PAo1
The dinghies took the top five slots which you would expect in the light air. Ron had the lead right after the windward rounding and held on all the way around the duck blind when we came to a stop in a lull. Tom Martin got a fresh breeze on the left and pulled ahead. Then we all worked to the right side as a massive shift had us tacking to the finish line. Ron pulled ahead after one tack. Tom got it right back and crossed the finish line about a boat length in front of Ron. Third to Jim Higgins. Fourth to Bill Schiffli. Fifth to Bill and Muffin Campbell.
We had races within the race and the Portsmouth boats also had a great duel. Jill Zakerski with Phil Keenan as crew rounded the windward mark first followed by Chip Arnett. Chip was able to capitalize downwind and took the lead. Anita McCulloch and Lon Christensen also moved up into second after the duck blind rounding. When the tacking started, Jill made her move and pulled into second. They finished that way. Chip in first. Jill second. Anita third. Andy and Sherri Pond were fourth. Jason LeBlanc and McKenzie were fifth. Jill also won top female skipper.