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2009 Orland Webb Memorial Regatta 2009 North Americans 2009 Midwinters 2009 George Washington's Birthday Regatta 2008 Grand Rapids Spring Shakedown 2008 Scowabunga Regatta 2008 North Americans 2008 Midwinters 2008 Zenda University 2008 George Washington's Birthday Regatta >> Read also:: 2007 Reports | 2006 Reports | 2005 Reports | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 MC Scow Sails MC Scow News MC Tuning Guide Contact MC ScowExperts Order MC Scow Sails 2009 MC SCOW ORLANDO WEBB MEMORIAL REGATTA North Sails 1,2,3,4,5! Report by Eric Hood 2009 Orlando Webb MC Regatta Missouri Yacht Club Lake Lotawana, MO The 30th Annual Orlando Webb Memorial regatta was held this last weekend of May at Lake Lotawana, MO.   The members and volunteers from the Missouri Yacht Club pulled out all the stops as usual.  Exceptional Friday night appetizers and drinks then the famous Saturday night dinner and famous Sunday Brunch.  Not only that but  the weather was fantastic with 4 great races held with 8-18 m.p.h. winds the order of the day for both race days. 46 Skippers with five states being represented entered and sailed this year making this the second largest regatta of the year. On Saturday we had a crazy, tough race 1 with winds 15-18 out of the west northwest which is very unusual considering we had temps in the high 80s.  This race made for very shifty winds on this long skinny high bank lake.  Shifts would come at you with incredible directional changes that left quite few folks swimming and others coming back from that race saying that was one of the toughest races I have ever sailed.  It was fun and fast though.  The key to this race was anticipating if the big black blasts coming at you were headers or lifts and setting up for quick reactions with the controls and quick tacks.  Downwind the rides were fast but the biggest gains were getting around and away from the offset mark in a tight corner of the lake and getting back out to more open water.  Those who focused on that first fifty yards off the offset did well and increased their leads and position on boats nearby.  Race 2 after lunch was similar in direction but with winds a little bit more tame.  Lots of action and excitement throughout the fleet.  Quite a finish between Danny Ziegler and Woody Woodruff with inches separating those two. Race 3 saw the wind shifting and rolling right.  This allowed for a completely different course and winds ranging from 7-10 mph for most of the time.  A long and rare Olympic course on this T shaped long narrow lake.  This was a fun race with some good exchanges and battles.  The most exciting one was with one of our favorite MC sailors Doc Tillema finishing 2nd and fighting off his son Scott, Mark Long and others on the last beat.  Scott actually got by him as did Gary Schroeder but Doc T came back with a rock solid 2nd place finish in the medium air race.  This was a race that you had to stay in dark water, be smooth with your moves and not oversteer when the big shifts came.  High bank lakes the breeze usually drops down on the tree line and will hit you and your sail before it shows on the water.  So those who anticipated that breeze coming to them slightly before the puff arrived on the water did well. Race four on Sunday morning was a new direction with winds ranging from 7-10 and a few occasionally holes underneath the high hills if you got to close to shore.  A very long course, a 2&1/2 but with the last beat going the length of the lake.  This race was all about staying in the puffs, tacking quickly when the shifts came.  Again, another race where line control of Cunningham, vang, along with smooth mainsheet trim and a light touch on the tiller made all the difference. Here are some highlights: Race Winners  1- Eric Hood, 2- Danny Ziegler, 3- Eric Hood, 4- Eric Hood Top Mega Master – Jack Kern Top Grand Master – George Silvey Top Master – EHood Top Woman – Julia Lentz Top 5: 1. Eric Hood 2. Mark Long 3. Scott Tillema 4. Scott Griffiths 5. Danny Ziegler Gary Schroeder took delivery of a brand new MC Scow 2503 and George Silvey of Lake Winnebago is going to order a new boat for the upcoming National Championship in Tulsa.  Also we had two new sailors join the MC Scow from Lake Perry.  Ted Lischer and James Slaughter.  Welcome to the class guys. For me personally I think seeing Doc Tillema put one together in a long tough race was the highlight of the weekend.  Folks like Doc T are rare.   The strength of MYC, its sailing program and social/community program is due in much to the Doc and his family.  Ringleaders with longevity should always be celebrated just as we celebrated the Orlando Webb today who fired up this large fleet over thirty years ago. Also, reconnecting with my close dear friends Aimee and Mark long was very special.  Racing hard against Mark and for us to come in 1-2 is a rare deal when you can do it with one of your best friends.  Now don’t get teary eyed, I still put it on him J but it was fun to do together. In closing, many thanks to Paula Martin and her large team.  Very well done. Bucket list you all, add this one to your list if you have not been here.  Every year, first weekend after Memorial Day.  It is so worth it. That is it.  Check the complete scores on www.mcscow.org  and also go there for all info on upcoming regattas. For more information on the fastest MC sails, contact our MC experts. To order MC sails online and have it delivered to your door, click here.       MC Scow Sails MC Scow News MC Tuning Guide Contact MC ScowExperts Order MC Scow Sails 2009 MC SCOW NORTH AMERICANS Report by Andy Burdick 2009 MC North American Championship Pewaukee Yacht Club - Pewaukee, Wisconsin - May 2-3, 2009 Ideal conditions were forecasted for the 2009 MC North American Championship to be held on famous Pewaukee Lake.  The weather man was right this time as Saturday morning came and the sun was out, 65 degrees was the temperature and winds were 10-20 – a perfect spring day for sailing!  Twenty-six boats signed up for Pewaukee’s annual North American Regatta.  Some really good sailors jumped out of their normal boats and into the MC for the weekend of racing.  So, the fleet was stacked with good competition.  Andy Burdick from Melges was in attendance as he was showing off the all New 2009 Melges MC.  Plenty of sailors were checking out the new boat up close on Friday night and pre-race on Saturday morning.  The boat looks really sharp and us ultra comfortable which is a bonus feature!. Race one was underway at 10am.  PRO Larry Krause and his volunteer RC team set up a perfect course on the lake with a goal of sailing two races right away in the morning.  Moments into the first race  a nice left hand shift came through and Augie Barkow from Pewaukee took advantage of it as he rounded first and extended his lead downwind.  Andy Burdick tried to chase Augie down and got closer on the final leg but then a big right shift came in and Bruce Gallagher from Pine Lake along with Kevin Neal from Lake Geneva snuck into the picture.  Gallagher put  a picture perfect safe leeward tack  on Barkow just before the finish and this was enough to hold Barkow off. Gallagher got the bullet in race one! Race two started in a similar fashion as Andy Burdick got the left hand shift and took it virtually all the way to the top mark.  Critter Banholzer and Kelly Reese were chasing Burdick the entire race and at the very end of the race Kelly Reese and crew Christine Porter nearly passed him.  It was a photo finish but Burdick held on – barely.  Banholzer was third in the race.  The PYC is rich in tradition and they have a fantastic volunteer following. They always put on tremendous lunches and post race snacks.  The fleet was ready for some nourishment after two windy morning racings.  PRO Krause went on the water after lunch to survey the wind. From shore it looked quite windy but in reality it was just a nice 12-20mph breeze so the course was set up and one more race for the day was put into motion.  A fantastic youth sailor Critter Banholzer lead this race from start to finish. Sailed a beautiful race holding off some pretty good competition.  Not only did Critter sail a great race but it put him right in the regatta – tied for second overall.  After day one it was tight between Andy Burdick, Critter Banholzer and Augie Barkow.  What was FAST today: The conditions were 10-20. In the afternoon race it was more towards 20.  So, there were two different set ups that I thought were fast. Set up with a crew: Mast rake remains at 28’3.  Traveler centered, moderate vang and good amount of Cunningham.  As the breeze increased more vang was needed and more Cunningham.  Most teams left the traveler centered. Set up sailing solo in this much wind: Mast rake remains the same 28’ 3”. Traveler down 3” Lots of Cunningham – as hard as you can pull it. Lots of Vang so you can vang sheet up wind – meaning, easing the mainsheet in the puffs so you don’t have to stuff the boat into the wind.  Board up 2” – pulling the board up 2” really gets the boat free through the water.  Meaning it is easier to steer – less helm.  A big plus for upwind speed.  Downwind it was really fast to sail by the lee.  Lots of vang and mainsheet all the way out (so the boom hits the sidestay). To avoid nose diving it was important to sail up and around the waves. This meant trimming the main in and reaching up around the set of waves.  Once clear you could use that speed to sail by the lee again.  This is an important technique to practice.  Sunday was the final race day and the wind was up again!  In fact at 7am it was blowing an easy 15+ but as the sun came up and the heat turned on the breeze settled down.  At the start of the first race it was a nice 6-8mph.  Critter Banholzer who is light in comparison to the other competitors was blistering fast upwind on the first beat. He rounded with a nice lead at the top mark. Burdick was 2nd and JJ Hausman was third.  On the second beat Banholzer was a little impatient and tacked early (just before a left shift and velocity increase).  Burdick and Hausman extended to this new breeze and hooked into a Pewaukee Haymaker – launching them past Banholzer.  Burdick had to fight hard to fend off Hausman as they were in a close tacking duel at the end of the race.  Burdick edged him out, Hausman was second and Banholzer third.  Race 5 of the series fired off right away and Augie Barkow nailed the start on the port end of the line.  He and Dave Abbot battled for the first half of the race then it got a little fluky on old Pewaukee Lake.  Bruce Gallagher got into the picture and was now fighting for his second race win of the series.  On the final run it was anyone’s race as a pack of 11 boats rounded the last gate mark virtually all together.  Hausman and Burdick took advantage of the tight sailing and hit the first two shits to move them into the top two spots up the beat.  A close race between the two at the end made it exciting. This time Hausman held him off and won the racing putting him in 1st for the day with a 2,1 scorecard. Burdick finished second making him the 2009 North American Champion.  Pewaukee Yacht Club always does a terrific job and this year was superb as the racing conditions were ideal. Thank you Larry Krause and the other PYC volunteers.  PYC holds this championship every May – always the first weekend of May.  Plan on coming to the 2010 North Americans – you are assured of great sailing and a great time! Top 4: 1. Andy Burdick        2.  JJ Hausman  3. Augie Barkow 4. Critter Banholzer  Top Master: Pete Toumanauff Top Grand Master:  Peter Harken North Sails were 1,2,4 and won 4 of the 5 races in the MC North American Championship! For more information on the fastest MC sails, contact our MC experts. To order MC sails online and have it delivered to your door, click here. MC Scow Sails MC Scow News MC Tuning Guide Contact MC ScowExperts Order MC Scow Sails 2009 MC SCOW MIDWINTERS A RECORD OF 80 BOATS AT LAKE EUSTIS, FL. NORTH SAILS WIN. Report by Andy Burdick   Lake Eustis is setting records this year.  80 MC’s are at their yacht club for the 2009 Midwinter Championship.  Boats from all around North America.  Ten different states represented:  New York, Wisconsin, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Iowa, Texas, Missouri, Colorado and then Quebec.  The MC fleet is obviously strong and growing. This did not simply happen though. The LESC has spent countless of hours organizing this event for the sailors.  June Howells is the regatta organizer and she is a bundle of non-stop energy.  She is serving the sailors in a first class way.  She has help with over 20 volunteers from the club.  Co-Chair Candi Robb and primary assistant Mary Anne Ward.  The key – enthusiasm!  This club has it.   Fantastic volunteers, good sailors that promote the club racing on a weekly basis and a hospitality that goes beyond anything we have ever seen!  On the MC regatta circuit – this event must make the list.  The enthusiasm spreads through the entire facility as spectators, youth sailors, crew are out in powerboats rallying their on the water favorites and cheering for the leaders in each age category.  The atmosphere is fantastic. Day One Principal Race Officer Devin Farley rallied the troops on Thursday morning for race number one. The wind was filled in and it looked perfect for day one.  Many of the early birds sailed out and had some perfect tune up sailing before the race.  However as we approached the start time of 10:30am it was evident that the wind was going down.  Devin and team did get a line set and we went into sequence but as we approached the gun the breeze shifted and eventually fizzled out.  Devin made a good move to postpone and send the 80 boat fleet in for lunch.  The wind finally arrived, at least we thought.  We ventured out to start the first race of the event.  We did start but soon after the wind went flat and shifted as much as 40 degrees.  After rounding the first weather mark the wind shifted hard left and the picked up in velocity. The fleet reached to the leeward gates and as the leaders arrived the RC called off the race. Smart move. After adjusting the line and the course we started another race. It was clear now that we would have just one race on day one. The weather was perfect. Warm, sunny and a nice light breeze but again, this too faded and the RC was reluctant to end day one without a completed race.  So, the racing was interesting to say the least as we sailed in 0-8 with wind ranges varying 70 degrees.  Some figured it out and got in phase.  Skip Moorehouse lead the way with local favorite Dave Moring close behind.  Rob Terry from Crystal Lake, Michigan was 3rd. Bob Miller from Diamond Lake, Michigan was 4th and Guy Mossman was 5th.  These top 5 sailors were incredible on this day as they stayed up front the entire race.  Many suffered regatta ending results on race one.  The top 5 sailors lead the post race press conference lead by June Howells.  This conference is a great way for sailors to stick around, enjoy some snacks and beverages and then have a de-brief on the days racing.  The leaders talked about set up, what they looked for on the water and how they got themselves to the front of the fleet.  What was fast:  On this day the leaders spoke about velocity and searching for that as  it was the ultimate thing.  Get to the wind first and if you were headed, then tack and sail the lift – no matter where you were on the course.  Having good identifiers help too. Skip Moorehouse spoke about how much a mast head fly (windex) helps his sailing in light air. Telltales on the sidestays help.  Anything to give you a clue as to where the wind is.  Vang and Cunningham eased, outhauls eased in slightly and then a lot of patience were keys on this day.  The famous Oyster Troff hosted the MC fleet on this evening and what a great party it was.  Fresh oysters, peel and eat shrimp and many other great foods were enjoyed by the fleet.  Guy Mossman was 5th on day one and won the party on this night!  Thanks Oyster Troff for hosting the fleet and providing ice cold beverages! Day Two 2009 Midwinters Champion Rob Terry from Crystal Lake, MI powered by a brand new North ZMax mainsail. The forecast was for solid breeze.  8-15 was the report out of the East / North East.  When we arrived at the club for a 9:30am start and the hopes for three quality races we were greeted with fog, haze and lack of wind.  Looked like some waiting around and we did.  Until about 11pm.  A breeze did fill in and instead of going for lunch we sailed a light air race tucked up under the shoreline.  Going racing before lunch was a good move.  Putting the course under the shoreline meant some more crazy racing.  Shifty and I do mean shifty.  Winds filtered in and actually reached up to 12mph at times which allowed us to hike and stretch our legs.  Dan Fink took advantage of the shifty conditions and won race #2.  His finishes were now a 38, 1.  Tells you what type of racing we had.  Following closely behind Dan was Junior sailor Coye Harrett.  Coye rounded the last leeward mark in 14th and hit a home run on the left powering him into 2nd at the end – almost winning.  His first two races were 45,2.  Zenda University winner Will Hendershot was third in this race.  He now had a 32,3.  Any consistency out there?  Skip Moorehouse came through and finished 4th proving that someone had this breeze figured out.  A 1,4 for Skip was strong and this put him on top of the leader board.  After lunch the RC moved the racing down the lake a bit more – good thing as Lake Eustis is a beautiful body of water. A perfect scow lake.  Now we could stretch out and have some fun racing with lots of room!  Would the breeze cooperate?  The breeze held in there a bit better.  Local favorite Dave Mooring liked it as he played the shifts up the left side on the first beat and this was the place to be. Dave sailed a fantastic race to get a bullet.  Zack Clayton was second and Ohio sailor Matt Fisher was third.  4th was Tim Fredman and after three races Fredman had a real series put together.  He had a 7,7,4.  Not quite as good as Moorehouse who now had a 1,4,12  but darn close!  Fredman has been racing scows and iceboats all of his life and is an excellent sailor.  Rob Terry had a 5th in this race putting him right in the mix too.  Going into race 4 these three boats (Moorehouse, Fredman, Terry) were the leaders but a fair amount over the fleet. In preparation for race 4 the breeze really came in.  It was now around 4pm and the chance to race another one was quite good.  The breeze piped in to a close 20mph but not much more however the RC decided to end the day a  bit early by most peoples standards.  The decision was made though and now we were looking at a 5 race regatta with two races planned on the final day.  What was fast on day 2: The post race press conference brought many points out today.  The breeze was 3-12 most of the day with big shifts again so the search for velocity was paramount.  The first sail control people went to was vang when they needed to depower. Then Cunningham and then some of the lighter sailors even dropped their travelers 3” down in the larger puffs.  This was the basic set up by most.  The key was being in the wind and hitting the first shift off the start. Something Moorehouse, Fredman and Terry were doing every time – really amazing as it was really, really difficult. Candi Robb and the LESC put together a fantastic evening at the Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora.  A fantastic dinner for the fleet and some entertainment provided by Melges and North Sails Zenda as Andy Burdick did a presentation on Melges and the growing worldwide brand.  An interesting photo presentation showing the fleet all the boats, the racing, the venues and the brand of Melges and where it is today.  One thing that was voiced loudly – it all started with scow sailing and scow sailing is still at the top of the Melges priority list.  The new look Melges MC sure backs that statement up! Day Three – Final Racing The breeze finally arrived.  The fleet sailed out to races 4 and 5 for the day and you could tell we would have some fantastic MC wind.  10-18 is what we ended up racing in – perfect!  Sunny, warm, windy and two races to decide who would be the 2009 Midwinter Champion! Dave Moring lead all of the first race on this day. Fantastic speed and technique powered him ahead of the likes of Andy Burdick, Coye Harrett, Jeff Annis and Dan Fink on this race. Moorehouse and Terry finished close to each other in this heat.  Terry had a 8 and Moorehouse a 10.  So, after 4 races we had a tie and one race to go.  Off the line of the final race, race 5 – Moorehouse looked to struggle in bad air for a while but then a tack to the right and a big shift right put Moorehouse right in the mix up the first beat.  In fact, Moorehouse was ahead of Terry by many boats for a while but Terry fought back and got close to Moorehouse on the run.  The leaders in the race were Moring and Burdick but that battle was secondary to the championship battle going on just behind them.  As the race progressed it was tight. Exchanging tacks and positions but in the end the man from Crystal Lake, Michigan won the battle and the war. Rob Terry edged out Skip Moorehouse to become the 2009 MC Midwinter Champion.  What an awesome triumph for Rob Terry!  Dave Moring ended up holding off Burdick to get a double bullet on Saturday.   This moved Moring up to 4th overall.  What was fast in the breeze on the final day: Tommy Harken probably said it best in the post race press conference.  I trimmed hard, cranked my vang on and then eased the mainsheet so that I could vang sheet.  A good set up for sure!  As the breeze hits this allows you to ease the sheet to keep the MC from over heeling. You can go fast through the waves – not having to put the bow up into the wind.  So, lots of vang, lots of Cunningham and the traveler down 3-6” allowing the boat to settle down upwind.  Another key – pulling your boards up 2” for upwind performance. This will eliminate helm sailing upwind.  This makes the boat much easier to sail upwind. Congratulations to all of the winners but most importantly to Rob Terry and Skip Moorehouse who set the pace for the fleet all week.  Fantastic sailing gentlemen!  Congratulations to June and the LESC.  A stellar regatta, 80 boats, great organization and great racing thanks to RC head Devin Farley. Rob Terry received his championship trophy, the Bill Crum Memorial and then there was a big champagne celebration.  No, we were not sipping champagne in honor of Rob.  We were spraying it all over he and his wife Jules!  A big VICTORY Rob – Congratulations! MC Midwinters 2010 – Lake Eustis, Florida – BE THERE! Don’t miss this opportunity to do this regatta! North Notes: Overall results - Top 10: 1. Rob Terry 2. Skip Moorehouse 3. Andy Burdick 4. David Moring 5. Jeff Annis 6. Tim Fredman 7. Rob Seidelman 8. Dan Fink 9. Eric Oppn 10. Jon Pomerleau North Sails Win 3 of the 5 Championship Races Top Master:  Rob Terry Top Junior:  Coye Harrett Tom Mega Master:  Bob Miller For more information on our fast sails, contact our MC experts. To order MC sails online and have it delivered to your door, click here.     MC Scow Sails MC Scow News MC Tuning Guide Contact MC ScowExperts Order MC Scow Sails 2009 GEORGE WASHINGTON B-DAY REGATTA North Sails 1,2,3,4!!! Report courtesy Eric Hood DAY 1: The 2009 MC Scow sailing season if officially in motion with the kick-off season opener down at Lake Eustis, Florida.  The annual George Washington Regatta at Lake Eustis is such a great way to start the sailing season.  We were a little nervous when it was only 40 degrees on Friday morning but today the temps were in the low 70s.  Only issue we have now is a lack of wind.  We did get in one race today and it was fair, steady 4-6 m.ph. breezes from the west.   The buzz at the regatta has been two-fold.  First the all new 2009 MC  made its debut and I think the feeling is everyone wishes they had one.  That certainly bodes well for the class when folks get excited about new boats.  That creates older used boat sales and that is the second buzz part of this story today.  We have some fantastic new sailors joining the MC Class.  Two in particular are national caliber sailors from the 80s,90s who are just getting back into racing with their newly purchased used boats.   First , about the boat.  About 20 different folks have now sailed the new model MC Scow and every single person had nothing but A+ comments.  Several folks have made it public they are in for new boats this year.  The boat simply feels like you are in a larger boat with the long open cockpit.  The big guys over 6’0” were really pumped up.  While Melges is offering a footwell insert (see pics at website) a majority at this first weekend of sailing the new boat feel  that it probably is not needed.  We have tons of pictures thanks to Dave Mooring’s dad Randall and will eventually make them available to all.  There are some first day images now on the websites to give you a feel of what she looks like.   A neat story about two new members to the class.   Andy Fox (51) of Orlando and Dave Helmick (53) of the Orlando area are both great sailors who both have impressive track records on the regatta circuit over the years.  Interesting story they both basically left sailing back in the 90s, then by chance met up on a race car circuit they were both participating in.  Then out of the blue with no prior knowledge from each other they both decided to get used MCs , get back into sailing, join the Lake Eustis Sailing Club.  Obviously those two were blown away when they saw each other again this week.  Andy is a former boat builder and has been a champ in the Flying Scott class finishing 2nd in the N.A.s, a Thistle Midwinter’s Champ and 2nd in that class National Champs, Laser Masters N.A. Champ just to name a few.  Dave Helmick formerly of Coral Reef has had a great career in racing being a former winner of the very tough Laser Florida Districts back in the day, Lightning N.A. (President Cup) Champs, numerous Offshore Championships.   Onto to some racing.  Let me just take the drama out of today.  Andy Fox , rookie MC Scow bear cub sailing in his first regatta race since 1996 went out with an old boat and sail then won the race. Obviously for anyone who is not sailing right now I am firing a shot over the bow.  Racing is just like riding a bike, you can get back in after being gone for years as proven by Andy today. Way to go Andy!!!  You ask about the two new boats here today.  Rob Terry picked up a sixth and EHood had an 8th.  After lots of light air testing yesterday and a very good , fair race today we know a couple of things.  There is no difference in speed which is great.  We also know the new boat is a lot easier and more fun to be sailing around in.  She just looks great.  From a distant she looks truly like a baby C Scow.  Others who did well today included David Mooring local ace and Extreme High Capacity Volunteer from LESC.  Way to go David.  Other scores will be listed below.   Hospitality, massive doses of Florida sun, good race courses all courtesy of LESC. Thanks Team LESC!!!!!! DAY 2: Lots of excitement on this final day at the Lake Eustis Sailing Club. However, there were no races. And no wind. All the excitement came during and after the trophy awards, when a freight train derailed surrounding the property of Lake Eustis Sailing Club leaving everybody wondering how we were going to get out. We found a way through a generous owner's fence but only cars could get out, not boats. The train engineer said it would be a couple of hours but didn't realize he had a bigger problem with more engines off the track. Could be days. Fortunately most people were leaving their boat for the upcoming MC MidWinter Championship in March. Now on to some fun sailing news... As reported yesterday, brand new MC sailor Andy Fox who was leading after the only race yesterday is our new champion. Congratulations Andy, way to go and welcome to our fun class! For full results, please see www.mcscow.org Top 4: 1. Andy Fox 2. David Moring 3. Jon Pomerleau 4. George Scarborough Many thanks to Scott Tillema, Regatta Chairman, and his entire volunteer crew from LESC. Your hospitality as always makes it a memorable time. Also, much appreciation to Dave Williams, his wife, and their crew for running the races. Also, John Houck who sailed a great regatta and did double duty as our scorer. Final thanks to Randall Mooring for shooting over 600 images of the regatta. Were hoping for 75 boats at this year's Midwinters. 45 are pre-registered to date. And one last note, the room block at Best Western which is listed in the NOR expires later this week. Make your reservations now! For more information on our fast sails, contact our MC experts. To order MC sails online and have it delivered to your door, click here. MC Scow Sails MC Scow News MC Tuning Guide Contact MC ScowExperts Order MC Scow Sails 2008 GRAND RAPIDS MC SPRING SHAKEDOWN REGATTA North Sails 1,2,3,4,5! Report by Jamie Kimball The fleet assembled Saturday morning for a 10:30AM start.  It was clear to all that the teams assembled were some of the best GRYC had seen in years.  In the early '90s the GRYC Shakedown was one of the largest events on the circuit- the premier spring MC event.  In recent years, however, turnout has waned, but this year it was obvious the regatta was beginning to trend back to its glory days-- make sure it's on your schedule next year!  While there were not the 50+ boats on the line like in years past, the 27 teams on the water were certain that some epic battles would ensue over the next two days.  Reeds Lake in Grand Rapids, MI has always been a mainstay of the MC fleet as GRYC has continually fostered a large (some years it has been the nation's largest) MC fleet.  The lake is one of the smallest lakes on the circuit, and the high bluffs on the north and south sides of the lake lend some interesting wind patterns to the courses.  Despite the lack of water, GRYC now has its first A scow team who are undoubtedly busily preparing for the Michigan hosted A Scow One Design National Championship to be held at the Crystal Lake YC in June (Crystal Lake is about 30 times the size of Reeds Lake for the A scow sailors reading this). The teams gathered were all well seasoned.  The irrepressible Spring Lake YC sailors were present and excited for the first regatta on their summer circuits.  Of particular note was an addition in the Junior division, Connor Davis.  Connor was sailing his newly purchased MC 2314.  It is great seeing the younger sailors moving into the MC.  The fleet sailed two races Saturday morning in building breeze.  Winds peeked over 20 mph in race two, as several teams went for a few unexpected swims in the chilly waters.  Jamie Kimball would go on to win both races.  Ted Keller and Rob Kimball also put together two solid finishes setting them in second and third respectively.  After witnessing several impressive wipeouts that morning, the PRO elected to abandon racing that afternoon.  Racing resumed Sunday morning in similar conditions seen the day before.  Jamie Kimball would win race 1 of the day.  Kimball arrived at the first windward mark in a solid puff and was able to extend out to a solid lead around the offset.  By race two, the wind had increased and was now well above velocities seen the day before.  The brother and sister team of Andy and Suzi Molesta would lead most of this race, with Joe Rotonda hot on his heels.  Up the last beat, these two became well occupied with each other as they broke for the right side of the course.  Kimball was able to sneak left, and passed them at the finish to win the fourth and final race of the regatta.  North Sails had yet another impressive performance.  The North Sails ZMAX and ZAP designs have dominated the MC circuit so far this year.  This past weekend was no exception.  The North Sails ZMAX won every race, and was used by all of the top finishers.  Not only is the ZMAX dominate in light/medium wind- it depowers nicely in the heavier wind conditions and is extremely fast off the breeze.  When looking for new MC sails, look no further than North Sails. 2008 MC Spring Shakedown TOP FIVE 1. Jamie Kimball 2. Rob Kimball 3. Joe Rotonda 4. Brett Hatton 5. Andy Molesta N/S For more information on our fast sails, contact our MC experts. To order MC sails online and have it delivered to your door, click here.   MC Scow Sails MC Scow News MC Tuning Guide Contact MC ScowExperts Order MC Scow Sails 2008 MC SCOW SCOWABUNGA REGATTA North Sails Powered 1st and 2nd! Report by Jeff Annis This was my first Scowabunga.  They told me how great the view from the porch is, how pretty the Tennessee mountains are, and how good the food is, but I just could not get it on my schedule due to conflicts.  This year was different.  My first Scowabunga.  Steve Sherman donated nice door prizes and everybody got to pick, starting with the last place finisher.  Nice job Steve.  Go to www.optistuff.com or call 800-784-6478 to see and discuss what they might have for you.  Hiking sticks, giant face countdown timers, watches, clothing, pfd's, and many other things are of interest. The racing was great and challenging for 16 teams.  We had boats from Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and Michigan.  The wind came right down the river, one of their steadier directions they said.  From the center of the wind direction, it could to fifteen to twenty degrees to the left or the right.  To make it more interesting, there was a right side shoreline effect that had to be taken into consideration.  The wind was blowing between 8 and 12 on Saturday, except for one windward leg that was 12 to 15.  On Sunday it was windier, and about from the same direction, just a little more from the left side on Sunday, but the shifts were the same.  The wind was 10 to 16 on Sunday.  There were three races on Saturday and two races on Sunday morning.  The courses were modified, windward-leeward's with 2 times around for the first four races and one time around on the last race.  We had 4 different race winners.  1-Jeff Annis  2-Kurt Stadele  3-Jeff Annis  4-Scott Cline  5-Jeff Meyers Rich Cyrul visited from Flint, Michigan and borrowed a boat from his brother, and has now ended up owning it and is taking it back to Flint to sail. Scott Cline borrowed a boat and sailed well, winning a race and finishing 5th.  He did this despite a sore back (lawn mower lifting incident) and little MC experience.  Lots of folks had crew due to the wind, but Steve Sherman, the smaller of the folks out there did not have crew, and still finished 6th in the regatta. What seemed to work sailing here is keeping the boat on the lifted tack more than the next guy.  Also, keeping an eye out for puffs and big shifts.  We had several capsizes both upwind and downwind. When it is so shifty and puffy, you better keep your eyes on the water and be ready.  Also, when  you are on the wrong side of a shift upwind, you have to decide to stay until it goes back, or take your medicine and check back in.  Downwind it made a big difference if you stayed in the puffs.  Lots of mistakes were made with boat handling around the gates and the windward mark.  Those magic minutes around the buoys is critical to good finishes.  Get used to going from the beat to the run and from the run to the beat with speed by working on it.  Practice and experience go a long way.  If your finishes are not so great right now, just stick with it and keep on trying and learning.    1st overall and 1st Master:  Jeff Annis 2nd overall: Kurt Stadele 3rd overall: Jeff Meyers 4th overall: Chris Cyrul 5th overall: Scott Cline 6th overall and 1st Grand Master: Steve Sherman 7th overall and 1st Mega Master: Frank Pontious 8th overall: Justin Annis 9th overall: Jim Gray 10th overall: Barry Klein 11th overall: Rick Cyrul 12th overall: Bill Humphrey 13th overall: David Varnell 14th overall: Scott Lee 15th overall: Scott Adams 16th overall: Guy Campbell I recommend this regatta to everyone.  There is a lot to like about Privateer Yacht Club.  Nearby hotels, good food, nice clean water, and a real feeling of hospitality there.  Make sure to join your MC Association, MCSCOW.org and US Sailing.  Please ask others to join us.  This is critical to the growth of our class. See you on the water.   MC Scow Sails MC Scow News MC Tuning Guide Contact MC ScowExperts Order MC Scow Sails 2008 MC SCOW NORTH AMERICANS ZMax mainsail wins every race ! Report by Andy Burdick MC North American Championship May 3-4, 2008 Pewaukee Yacht Club Big winds, cold temperatures, icy water was the forecast for this years MC North American Championship on Pewaukee Lake. Unfortunately, this kept some of the mainstream MC competitors from attending this years championship.  For the die-hards that did venture out the competitors we greeted with some excellent sailboat racing over two days.  The Pewaukee Yacht Club and PRO Russ Ackley put on a first class North American Championship. As the fleet left the dock on Saturday there was a mist in the air but as we approached the starting sequence the rain was gone and clouds with winds out of the SW-W at 8-12 were what we had to race in.  Perfect really!  Race one featured a port end favor starting line.  It was critical to be down at this end as 1. It was extremely favored.  2. It set you up for the left hand side of the course which was also very favored breeze wise and shift wise.  All the lifts were coming off the left.  Shift and new breeze – so, it was key to be there.  The gun went off and Andy Burdick got a nice jump right away as he port tacked the fleet.  The rest of the fleet slowly folded to port after the start and some of the boats got to the left of Burdick and that was good for them as the breeze kept coming in from the left.  As the first race progressed the breeze tended to go to the right as an approaching cold front was on the way.  As this race went on you needed to be in the middle of the course sailing the shifts – getting off to one edge was not productive at all.  Downwind this was the case too.  In the end Andy Burdick had a nice lead at the finish line gun.  Pete Toumanoff a Masters National Champion was second.  Inland Champion Dan Fink was third and Peter Dobbeck racing #955 was fourth.  The RC ran a second race right away as they were anticipating a change in weather for the afternoon. Our PRO Russ Ackley had a beat on the weather and knew that it would be key to get our next race in.  We had ideal conditions again as the breeze stayed in that 8-12 range, clouds but still no rain.  Race number 2 started and this time the right side was a bit better.  The line was square going into the start but there was better pressure on the right side of the starting line.  In the MC more pressure can mean 5-8 degrees more height as you sail upwind. That is a great amount.  Being in the pressure in any boat is important but in the MC upwind, it is critical.  You have to be lined up for the pressure.  Burdick again rounded the top mark first followed by Al Haeger from Lake Beulah.  Rick Wilftert from Okauchee Lake followed in third.  As the race progressed these boats would remain in line but mostly because they focused on the right hand side of the race course. The breeze had now swung 30 degrees to the right as the front approached. The top sailors in this race recognized this and it paid off.  Just after Burdick finished the race a rain and wind squall hit the lake with gusts over 20mph.  The breeze really swung right then!  The fleet handled the wind without a problem and all finished.  Everyone sailed in for lunch at the PYC. The breeze stayed up so the RC called off the racing which was a very smart move. The rain officially arrived and the wind was over 20.  The forecast for Sunday was 60 degrees, sun and winds out of the SW at 10-20. With 2 races in the bank why not wait for some better weather!  The PYC hosted a great party on Saturday night. Pasta with Pete which is a big hit at this yacht club.  Thanks PYC and the Pete’s for making this event happen! What was fast on Day 1:  The key to the racing in this 8-12 wind range was what I call transition speed.  When the wind was on you had vang on hard and the Cunningham snug.  But that was in the streaks. When the breeze left you had to transition to the “powered up mode”.  The good scow sailors keep there boat on a constant angle of heel all the time – they never over heel and the boat never goes pancake flat. They know how to transition their boats.  When do you do this?  First, you have to have your head out of the boat and you have to be aware of the breeze coming at you.  When you have your vang and Cunningham on you need to ease these up on the backside of the puff.  So, before the puff leaves you want the Cunningham totally off and the vang eased or off completely.  The boat will obviously power up, maybe even heel a little more (so now you really need to hike hard…..). As you leave the puff you are now set up for the next step – a lighter velocity zone.  Easing the main slightly so the mast gets straighter and the sail fuller helps too.  This coupled with a foot mode for speed allows you to go through the lighter velocity.  You are now fully powered up.    As you see the next line of velocity approach you begin to work hard for depower mode.  First – hike out well in advance of the velocity.  Get your vang on so you can ease the main if the boat begins to overheel and then as the puff hits pull Cunningham if you need it.  Doing this upwind was the key on Saturday.  There was never enough wind for the traveler to drop and the outhaul needs to be firm so that there is a shelf in the sail along the boom.  Anticipation and transitions were the key in day 1. Sunday was sunny and perfect!  We waited for the wind to arrive but it was worth the wait!  A nice SW to W wind developed on this beautiful sunny morning with a velocity range of 8-14.  Ideal MC racing conditions.  One race was the plan – a lengthy 3+ race course.  Shifty was the condition so staying on top of the wind and where it was coming from next was the key.  All the same boat speed transitions applied today but “head out of the boat” was the real key.  Big velocity lines would stream down the lake so you had to race to that position. Whatever the angle was you had to take (sail the lifted tack).  Andy Burdick kept his steak of race wins alive winning the third and final race. Dan Fink was second and Dave Abbot sailed a nice race for third. Results: 1 Andy Burdick 1 1 1 3   2 Peter Toumanoff 2 6 5 13   3 Dan Fink 3 9 2 14   4 Peter Dobbeck 4 4 6 14   5 Dave Abbott 9 5 3 17   6 Eric Oppen 6 7 4 17   7 Al Haeger 7 2 12 21   8 Rick Wilfert 10 3 9 22   9 Deb Ziegler 5 12/DNF 8 25   10 Steve Rotier 8 8 11 27   11 Tom Calvy 12 11 10 33   12 Mike Hamer 11 10 13 34   13 Paul Moran 13/DNF 16/DNS 7 36   14 Sarah Seeboth 16/DNS 16/DNS 14 46   15 Ron Curio 16/DNS 16/DNS 16/DNS 48   Thank you Greg Riemer and his wife for organizing the MC North Americans.  Thanks to the RC team of Russ Ackley and Larry Krause.  Perfect job!   Carl Spencer is the commodore of the PYC and he handed out the many awards.  Thank you PYC for a fantastic Championship!   MC Scow Sails MC Scow News MC Tuning Guide Contact MC ScowExperts Order MC Scow Sails 2008 MC SCOW MIDWINTERS North Sails 1,2,3!!! Report by Jamie Kimball DAY 3 Champion Decided on Final Day A 9:30 AM start was scheduled on the final day in a forecasted SSW 10-15 mph breeze, building to 20-25 mph.  When the fleet set sail, the wind was light making it difficult to decide whether or not to put a crew on board.  Several teams chose to take crew, while some of the bigger skippers braved Lake Eustis in the windier conditions. Once again the RC started race 1 right on time.  After several general recalls, the PRO decided to go with the Z flag (20%), which got the fleet to hang back a little bit.  Unfortunately several boats couldn’t resist to press the line and were OCS.  One of these was regatta leader Eric Oppen.  Jeff Annis would win this start and have a nice punch off the leeward portion of the starting line.  Jeff is fast in these windy conditions.  He focuses on putting his bow down and really making the boat go through the water.  A good start enables him to do this.  Jeff led at the first windward mark with David Moring and Jamie Kimball following behind.  At the leeward mark Kimball and Annis would round 1st and 2nd.  The second beat got tricky.  The breeze dropped a bit and the boats with crew struggled.  It was really important to stay in the pressure and sail the lifted tack.  Surge Vanderhorst made the best out of a right hand shift and was able to pass the top 3.  Surge sailed smart downwind keeping himself between the mark and the boats behind.  By now the breeze was back up.  Surge would lengthen his lead on the final beat and win this race moving him into second overall with 1 race to go.  The win d was now increasing for the final race of the regatta.  The PRO chose to go with the Z flag initially to get race 2 off wit out any glitches.  Once again a few boats were caught cheating.  Steve Powers of Okoboji, IA hit the start with speed and led up the first beat.  Steve and his daughter Kira were a tough combination in the windier conditions.  It can be really fast to have a crew in windy and wavy conditions. At the first windward mark, Jamie Kimball led with the Powers close behind.  Downwind the MC can be tricky as its bow has a tendency to stick into the waves.  Sailing by the lee is fast.  If your bow looks like it’s going to submerge, you need to either head the boat up or down to prevent submersion.  Heeling the boat to windward also helps.  The breeze was now on strong and steady.  There were not as many shifts in this race, so it really paid to limit you tacks and jibes.  The leaders were only tacking three-four times upwind, and jibing once-twice downwind.  With these steady conditions, Kimball was able to keep the fleet in his window and win this race.  Vanderhorst sailed a great final beat to finish second and to seal his 2nd overall position. A quick panel discussion was held before the awards to discuss how the top five sailors of the day handled the windy conditions.  Among this group were Jamie Kimball, Surge Vanderhorst, Dan Fink, John Lovin, and Steve Powers.  Here are some of the key points discussed. Having a crew available is valuable. Upwind, bring your board up a bit to help depower and free helm. Drop traveler. Focus on footing, especially in waves. Limit tacks as much as possible. The Lake Eustis Yacht Club put on yet another spectacular event.  Over the years they have made regatta management into a science and it really shows.  Regatta chair, June Howells put in all of her effort to make this regatta top notch.  Thank you June!! TOP 10 OVERALL Jamie Kimball Surge Vanderhorst David Moring Eric Oppen Dan Fink David Moorhouse Lenny Krawcheck Jeff Annis Jon Pomerleau Drew Mize Top Master- George Scarborough, 13th overall Top Grandmaster- Lenny Krawcheck, 7th overall Top Megamaster- Jack Kern, 11th overall (partial North inventory) Top Woman- Kelli Farrar, 14th overall For more information on our fast sails, contact our MC experts. To order MC sails online and have it delivered to your door, click here. DAY 2 Sailors Tied for Lead after Three After several postponements and general recalls, Eric Oppen from Delafield, WI hit the line on port tack with speed and led up the first beat in a light to medium breeze.  Oppen was able to lead the starboard tack boats out to the left side where most of the pressure was.  As soon as he had a good angle, Eric flopped back to port in great pressure.  At the windward mark Eric had a large lead, with Jamie Kimball, Lenny Krawcheck, Richard Kinnie, and Jeff Surles in hot pursuit.  Eric was sailing smart and on his game.  He always seemed to have the best angle and best pressure.  This combination made him too tough to pass.  Eric would lead at every mark and eventually win this race, making it his second bullet of the regatta!!   Lenny Krawcheck and Jeff Surles sailed great races finishing in second and third respectively.   As race 1 ended the fleet sailed in to the club in a light drizzle where a hot lunch was waiting for the cold and wet sailors.  Lunch was brief, as the fleet was eager to get back out on the water in a building breeze.  Race 2 started in 8-12 mph of wind.  Finally, hiking conditions!!  The race committee was efficient, starting the fleet on time with the course set.  Jeff Annis hit the line perfectly near the leeward end and initially led the fleet out to the left.  Dan Fink was able to get a good punch off the middle of the line and also looked good.  As the fleet sailed up the first beat the breeze was building, and most were hiking hard and using their controls to depower the boat.  Up the left side, Kimball and Annis were able to set up in a nice starboard tack lane and put the fleet in their windows.  A welcomed view!  These two led at the first windward mark.  Kimball was able to separate himself from the pack, and sail to a nice lead.  Behind, Annis was fighting hard with several boats.  Surge Vanderhorst and Dan Fink were now in the mix.  At the finish it was Kimball taking the gun followed by Vanderhorst, and Dan Fink.  With three races down, and one day to go there is a tie for first between Jamie Kimball and Eric Oppen.  Each with 7 points. Top Ten: Eric Oppen Jamie Kimball Surge Vanderhorst Lenny Krawcheck David Moring Spencer Wiberley David Moorhouse Jeff Surles Dan Fink Bob Miller Once again a panel discussion met for the fleet after today’s racing.  Today’s panel included Dan Fink, Jeff Annis, Surge Vanderhorst, Jamie Kimball, and Eric Oppen.  Here are several of the points discussed. Drop your traveler to depower (Jeff Annis even does this). Push yourself to work your hardest up the first beat. Build speed to point. Foot for speed to go through waves. Don’t get discouraged when you’re struggling. Think about the big picture to notice an opportunity to establish lanes. Don’t try to make too much happen.  Homeruns rarely work. Most often it is better to under trim than over trim. Ease your mainsheet for power through bigger chop/waves. Most important- HAVE FUN!!!! For more information on our fast sails, contact our MC experts. To order MC sails online and have it delivered to your door, click here.   DAY 1 The MC Midwinters is an annual staple on the MC regatta circuit.  71 sailors made the trek to Lake Eustis to battle it out and ultimately decide this years’ champion.  The forecast for today’s racing was light.  After a postponement early on, sailors came to shore for a quick lunch and watch the wind do a 180.  The lake filled with a nice 2-8mph wind.  Just enough to get the fleet back on the water.  The breeze was light, but consistent so Chief PRO Sandy Sundberg started race 1.  The start was won by Scott Harestad from Spring Lake, Mi.  Scott was able tack immediately after the gun, and was punched off the line.  Several sailors followed Scott’s lead including Spencer Wibelre, Eric Oppen, Steve Powers, and Dave Moring.  These sailors were sailing in nice lanes and steady pressure.  Staying in the wind was key!! At the windward mark, it was Spencer Wibelre taking the lead.  Spencer decided to jibe around the offset, and the majority of the leaders followed.  Eric Oppen and Jamie Kimball held on starboard jibe and sailed out to the right.  The fleet was now split.  It soon became apparent the breeze was fading for the boats that jibed around the offset.  These leaders also had to sail through the fleets’ dirty air as they rounded the windward mark.  The boats that extended benefited from clear air and a building breeze.  At the leeward mark Jamie Kimball, Spencer Wibelre, and Steve Powers rounded very close together.  Eric Oppen and Dave Moring were also fighting hard to keep it close.   As the fleet sailed up the second windward leg, the leaders were able to get some separation.  Kimball, Oppen, and Moring were now fighting it out for the lead.   The leaders struggled to stay in the pressure.  Hard sailing!!  On the second run Kimball chose to jibe around the offset, while Oppen and Moring extended.  The fleet converged at the leeward mark.  Most of the fleet chose the right side.  Oppen was forced to tack left.  As it turned out, this was to his benefit.  Oppen, and now Steve Sherman, hooked into a nice port tack lift and were now in the lead.  Kimball struggled to get left finishing in second behind Race 1 winner Eric Oppen. TOP 10 Eric Oppen Jamie Kimball Steve Sherman David Moring Spencer Wibelre Tim Fredman Surge Vanderhorst Ed Durant Jeff Surles Steve Powers      A post racing panel discussion met to answer the fleets’ questions and discuss strategies.  Here are just a few of the topics that were discussed, and some of the keys to success in no particular order.  Maintaining constant angle of heel. Having a clear lane off the start. Staying in the pressure!! Sailing hot and fast downwind. Maximum heel to leeward downwind. Leading to the next shift. Establishing a lane downwind and upwind. Clear air is key. Having patience. Trusting your instincts. These are just of the few points discussed on the panel discussion.  Tonight’s’ party is hosted at the world renowned Oyster Troff.  Plenty of food and refreshments for all!!  Stay tuned for more highlights to come!  For more information on our fast sails, contact our MC experts. To order MC sails online and have it delivered to your door, click here.   MC Scow Sails MC Scow News MC Tuning Guide Contact MC ScowExperts Order MC Scow Sails 2008 ZENDA UNIVERSITY KELLI FARRAR IS FIRST WOMAN TO WIN ZENDA U!!!! Report by Andy Burdick Coming into the 2 day intructional clinic in Eusits, Florida, Kelli Farrar trecked all the way from Okoboji, Iowa with the hopes of fine tuning her sailing skills. At the conclusion of the clinic yesterday, Kelli had won the overall regatta after 14 races and became the first woman to do so in the history of Zenda U. Kelli was a great example of the tenacity and intensity that it takes to win a regatta. Day 2 brought more light air which allowed for more in depth chalk talks and briefing sessions. Once the breeze set in, 8 races were completed, one of which featured a downwind start which resulted in a very crowded leeward mark rounding! At the conlcusion of Zenda U, all of the students had a chance to shower, put on their Zenda U hats and shirts and enjoyed a great graduation ceremony complete with a DJ, great food, and lots of a beer. The 2008 edition of Zenda U was well attended and it was very exciting to see all of the sailors improve over the 2 day course. If you are interested in improving your skills and completing your personal goals, sign up for Zenda U 2009, it is an event not to be missed. Top Five overall, Zenda U 2008 1). Kelli Farrar 2). Steve Powers 3). Fred Slack 4). Geoff Moehl 5). David Moorhouse Most Improved - Rick Williams Most Enthusiastic - Phil Ecklund For more information on our fast sails, contact our MC experts. To order MC sails online and have it delivered to your door, click here.

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For more information on MC Scow sails, contact the North MC Scow experts.