Sunday May 20. Held annually on Bolton Lake near Hartford, Conn. this event promises to challenge sailors of all skill levels with unpredictable winds and good fun. NOR
On Deck: New England Regional #1 @ Barrington Yacht Club. 2012 NE Sunfish Regional #1 NOR
Bill Brangiforte narrowly beat out Scott Greenbaum (2nd) and Andy David (3rd) to take the 2011/2012 Frostbite series at Barrington (RI) Yacht Club. Brangiforte won both the spring and fall seasons to take the top overall spot.Full results are posted on the BYC website.
Words of Wisdom from Brangiforte on lessons learned Frostbiting this winter.
Bill Brangiforte and Eric Woodman, both of Massachusetts and the Barrington Frostbite Fleet, took home the top two spots at the 2012 Sunfish International Masters championship held in Sanford Florida on March 16-18. Besting a 57-boat fleet, Brangiforte added the International Masters to his recent wins at the 2010 North Americans, the US Masters and multiple New England Regionals.
New England not only did well at the top but did well in numbers, with Paul Odegaard (30th), Lee Parks (33rd), Rapid Buttner (38th) and Gerhart Mentzel (46th, 3rd in the 80+ age group) all making the trip south.
The 2012 calendar is now posted. View it here
Drew Staniar took both ends of the Yankee Duo at Chatham, MA on the weekend of Sept 17-18. Staniar was the fastest boat on the water both days, and sailed a smart series. Eric Woodman finished 2nd both days, which was good enough to take top spot in the 11- race 2011 New England Championship series. Lee Parks finished 3rd on Saturday with Doris Aschman 3rd on Saturday.
The competition was extremely close at the top, with Staniar and Woodman tied entering the final race each day. On Saturday, Staniar won the final race and Woodman was 2nd. On Sunday Staniar finished 3rd in the final race and Woodman was 4th.
For the season-long championship Woodman’s pair of seconds left him ahead of Bill Brangiforte, Parks, Staniar and Paul Odegaard. For finishing first, Woodman won a new racing sail, Brangiforte decided to pass on his prize so Parks got a boat rehabilitation and Geick a $50 gift certificate. All prizes were donated by Sail + Sport Rhode Island: the retail outlet at the Laser Performance headquarters in Portsmouth RI.
Remember to thank Sail + Sport Rhode Island for their support by buying your boats, parts and gear from them. They do not have an online store, but have offered to match any online retailers’ price. So either visit them or see their blog for contact information and deals! http://lpssri.blogspot.com/. And don’t forget the Sunfish Class (New England Region) sent you.
2011 NE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS (includes Yankee Duo Results)
on Sept. 10-11, many of us had a great time at Lake Massapoag in Sharon, MA competing in the Massapoag Yacht Club’s annual regatta. The weather was beautiful, with sunny skies and mostly light wind ranging from the northeast to southeast.
The competition was intense at the top. After six races, the top 4 boats were separated by just two points. The winner of the 7th and final race was likely to win the regatta. And that race was equally tight, with Ken Charles winning the race in the last 50 yards, or so, to top Bill Brangiforte, and Kevin Buruchian. As a result, Ken won the weekend, Bill was 2nd, Alan Beckwith was 3rd, Kevin was 4th and I was 5th.
Full results can be found on the Massapoag YC website here: http://www.sailmyc.org/Racing/MYCRaceResults.aspx
By finishing 3rd and 2nd on Saturday and Sunday, Lee Parks won the top prize at the Monadnock Challenge weekend in Southern NH on Aug. 20 and 21.
On Saturday, at Spofford Lake, Paul Henkel won four of the five races held in light air to easily win the day. Steve Shriner was 2nd and Parks finished 3rd. 2011 Spofford Lake Regatta Results
On Sunday, at the MLSA Sunfish Challenge, Eric Woodman won every race in a modeerate southerly before sitting out the last for his throw out, beating out Lee Parks (2nd) and Paul Odegaard (3rd). 2011 MLSA Results
Two weeks winning two of the final three races at Lake Wequaquet, Amanda Callahan rolled through a 21-boat fleet at the annual Super Sunfish Sunday at the Saunderstown (RI) Yacht Club on Aug. 14. Callahan won four of five races, throwing out a third to win. Quentin Chafee was second and Brett Adams was third. The club did a great job with the event, which featured the raffling off of a new Sunfish racing sail and many generous gear/apparel used as trophies (Thank you Laser Performance and Intensity Sails). Super SunfishSunday 2011 Results.
A week earlier, Blair Gatewood won every race besting a 9-boat fleet at the Chatham Regatta. Ryan Murphy and Conrad Johnsen rounded out the top 3. Full results
2011 Wequaquet award winners
Drew got out to an early lead on Saturday, winning 3 of the first 6 races, and held on after a furious finish by Amanda Callahan (4th overall) on Sunday. Amanda won both races on Sunday, while Drew finished last and 6th. Kevin Buruchian and Bill Brangiforte finished 2nd and 3rd respectively and probably sailed the most consistent regattas. Just 6 points separated the first four finishers. Ken Charles, who sailed very well on Sunday, finished 5th.
As always there was a strong youth turnout at Wequaquet. David Ryder won the singles class while Madison and Morgan Brennan won the doubles.
Bill Brangiforte once again finished as the top American at the North Americans, held July 20-24 in Barrington RI. Brangiforte was 3rd overall while several other New England racers had strong showings in the event. With 100 competitors, it was the largest NAs in more than a decade.
Kevin Buruchian of Massachusetts was 15th, Tim Fallon of Rhode Island was 16th (and won a race), Amanda Callahan of Rhode Island was the top female at 17th and Andy David and Alan Beckwith of Massachusetts were 19th and 20th, respectively. Read more.