CR08

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Last update, March 20, 2008

 

2008 Champions Regatta

Held 15 March at the Charleston venue

Report and photos by Frank and Linda Angel

 Report

Fourteen Captains gathered at the lake in the James Island Park on 3-15-08 to contest for the sixth annual running of the Champions Regatta. The forecast was for 15 to 20 with gusts to 35 and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Fortunately, this was largely incorrect.

 

The morning dawned with heavy overcast and light winds, which allowed the no-see-ems to dine on the skippers while they set up their “A” rigs. A long 2-˝-lap windward/leeward course was set and at around 10:00 am the wind picked up, blew the bugs away and the racing got underway.

 

Most of the skippers had a little practice time on Friday but there was still a little rust on some thumbs as even the top guns struggled to get back in the groove. The wind had settled in at 10 to 15 with an occasional gust. Seven heats were run before the lunch break and the top five were Rinehart (25), Kahle (26), Wathne (29), Vernon (42) and Brawner (44).

 

After lunch eight more heats were run with little change in the top five. Saturday’s racing wrapped up with Rinehart (55), Wathne (58), Kahle (71), Brawner (81) and Bottensek (83.6).

Note: None of these scores reflect the one throw out that would be allowed for the event.

 

Saturday’s dinner was held at the James Island Yacht Club and as the skippers dined they watched the approaching thunderstorm. Just as we left to return to the cabins in the park all hell broke loose. The car radios were issuing tornado warnings for James Island and were warning that anyone traveling on Folly Road or Camp Road should seek shelter. You can guess which road we were on. It was the worse storm I have ever been in, but everyone survived with no damage to people or cars.

 

Sunday was fantastic, a clear sky with a cool steady strong breeze. The order of the day was “B” rigs. Seven more heats were run with no chance in the top five, except a shuffling of positions. The throw outs brought the final scores to a very close contest.

 

At the awards ceremony each captain was awarded a souvenir hat and a CD containing 207 photos shot and prepared by John McMillin of the Charleston Model Yacht Club. Rick Gerry who had done a terrific job as RD passed out hand crafted trophies to the top five along with the “Sir Francis of Graham” trophy to the two-time winner Dr. Jarl Wathne.

 

Captain

Raw Score

Throw out

Final Score

Finish

Jarl Wathne

79

12

67

1

David Brawner

113

15

98

2

Mark Rinehart

114

13

101

3

Reichard Kahle

112

10

102

4

John Bottensek

137.6

13

124.6

5

Baron Bremer

156.2

15

141.2

6

Al Sellers

160

13

147

7

Jack Wubbe

162

14

148

8

Scott Vernon

168

15

153

9

Gerry Cobley

168

14

154

10

Brett Biwer

187

14

173

11

Bob Brown

216.2

14

202.2

12

Carl Olbrich

236

14

222

13

Doug Wotring

286

15

271

14

Note: Danny Thomas and Skip Allen had to skip the event do to last minute personal problems.

 

Sunday was Jarl’s day. His total score for the last seven heats was 21 points. Those that scored bullets in the event were; Wathne (7), Rinehart (5), Brawner (3) Wubbe (3), Bremer (2), Vernon (1) and Biwer (1).

 

I’d like to thank Rick Gerry (RD), Bill Coates and Alan Fernald (Mark Observers and rescue boat), John McMillin and John Garver (Photographers) for making our job as score keepers a real pleasure.

 

Other than the few photos included with this report the rest were shot at high resolution and all 265 are posted on this site. http://picasaweb.google.com/nitroboy2222/2007ChampionsRegatta