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2007 Southeast Regional Regatta Results
Lake Eustis SC, FL November 10 - 11, 2007
(Results submitted by John Houck on Nov 12, 2007, report by Jamie Kimball)
) (click on picture for larger version) L to R: Jamie Kimball, Tim Fredman, Candi Robb, Rob Seidelman, David Moorhouse, Zack Clayton, David Moring, George Scarborough, Jack Kern Day 1 A record turnout of 41 sailors arrived at the Lake Eustis Yacht Club to decide this year's Southeast Championship. Most competitors arrived Friday to tune their skills and enjoy the camaraderie. After a short chalk talk given by Jamie Kimball and Zack Clayton, the majority of the group headed to the Oyster Troff to discuss Saturday's pending races. The Oyster Troff is the chief sponsor of this years' event. After a brief skipper's meeting, the fleet set sail Saturday morning in light/medium conditions. The RC did a fantastic job getting race one off promptly at the 10AM scheduled starting time. In Race 1, Justin Annis did a great job playing the left side of the course and led up the first beat. As racing progressed, Tim Fredman and Dan Fink took the lead as they caught some nice shifts upwind. Up the last beat Fredman found a nice lift on the left to win race one. Dan Fink, sailing his brand new MC, was a close second, while David Moring finished third. Back to back races were scheduled in the morning, and once again the RC promptly started Race 2. Dan Fink continued his success and led at the first windward mark. Racing was tight! The top 15 boats rounded the leeward gate within 30 seconds of each other. As the front pack sailed up the second beat, it became apparent that the breeze had shifted to the right. Zack Clayton, the furthest right boat, was now in the lead. Zack held off the rest of the pack around the race course to win Race 2. Jamie Kimball finished in second with Skip Moorhouse close behind finishing third. After a short lunch, the fleet set out for Race 3. The breeze was much lighter than the morning conditions. In Race 3, the starting line was slightly more leeward favored than in Races 1 and 2. Robert Seidelmann took advantage of the skewed starting line. Robert was able to tack to port immediately after the start and led up the first beat. Zack Clayton caught a nice right shift up the beat and led at the first mark. Zack never looked back as he sailed to his second race win of the day. Seidelmann finished second. Day 2 Sunday morning sailors took to Lake Eustis in ideal MC Scow conditions. 8-12 knots of breeze and 70 degrees of Florida sunshine! The standings were tight, and the title was still up for grabs. After a tough first day in the lighter conditions, Tommy Harken from the Carolina Yacht Club got off to a fast start. Tommy won the pin end of the starting line and stepped into a nice left shift up the first beat. The breeze was now up, and most of the lighter sailors were using all their tools to depower. The boom vang, cunningham, and mainsheet trim can all be used to help depower the MC in windier conditions. Do not be afraid to apply too much cunningham and boom vang. After a great first leg, Harken led at the windward mark. Jamie Kimball and Zack Clayton were close behind in second and third. At the second windward mark Kimball led Harken and Clayton. At the leeward mark Kimball chose to go left, while Harken and Clayton went right. The right side seemed to pay this time upwind, as it was Harken taking the gun at the finish. With one race to go, Zack Clayton had a 2 point lead over Jamie Kimball. After four races Clayton had posted consistent scores of 5, 1, 1, 3. Zack continued to have success in the final race. However, it did not come easy. After a difficult start Clayton was in dirty air and was forced to tack out into even dirtier air. At the windward mark he was 10th at best. Downwind he was able to make some good moves to separate himself from the boats around him. Clayton rounded the left leeward gate and immediately tacked to starboard. This turned out to be a great decision. The breeze completely died on the right, while Clayton led the fleet to the left. By the second windward mark Clayton had put himself in a commanding lead. Zack ended up winning the final race to cap off a fantastic series. Top Ten Overall
Top Grand Master - Tim Fredman from Wisconsin was this year's top Grand Master finishing in fourth overall. Tim continues to show the fleet he is a force to be reckoned with. Tim convincingly won the first race of the regatta and posted top ten finishes in all but one of the five races. Top Mega Master - Rush Creek Yacht Club's Jack Kern was this year's top mega master. Jack is extremely dedicated to the sport of sailing, and especially the MC Scow association. Jack makes an effort to go to as many regattas has he can, and it has shown in the success he has had. Top Woman - Candi Robb, from the Lake Eustis Yacht Club, was this year's top women. In addition to helping out with the regatta logistics and her hard work ashore, Candi sailed a great series on the water.
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