|
Tim Snow, OH Rodgers and Mickey Cooper, on a chartered "Blind Chance", won the 2005 MidWinters at NOOD in conditions that ranged from gear busting to drifting. Friday morning it was honking out of the north. Josh Wilus, Andy Cheney, and Lin Robson on "Cakewalk" showed a mastery in these conditions which would last through the regatta. They won the first two races while the "BC" crew hung in there with a pair of deuces. Conditions had lightened by the third and fourth races. John House, Rick Pantall, Colin C. Unit, and TC Cross on "Snatch" finally showed the speed expected of them. They won the third race followed by Tim & Eric Miller, Mariella Doyle, and Michael Brain on "Elixir". But the "BC" crew showed they could also go in the light stuff as they won the fourth race, the last of the first day. | Jeff DuVal, Randy St. James, Deb Warren, and Dana Fatone on "Frequent Flyer" were moving well and came second. That put "Blind Chance" in first place Friday, five points ahead of "Cakewalk". Saturday morning, it was blowing a little less strongly from the north east. "Cakewalk" started out the day with another bullet, followed by the "Lucky Pony" crew of Charlie Clifton, Dave Connolly, Dalton Tebo, and Donna Steele. The wind lightened sooner than the day before. "Lucky Pony" won Saturday's second race followed by "Blind Chance". Brad Kadau, Dan Gross, and Derrick Dudinsky on "Changes" found the groove and won Saturday's last race. "Frequent Flyer" posted another second. |
|
By Saturday's end, everyone had had their share of bad races and the standings had tightened up. "Blind Chance" led "Lucky Pony" by one point and "Cakewalk" by five. The wind had moderated and moved into the east for the start of Sunday's only race. The "Cakewalk" crew foresaw the coming veer, moved to the right early, and romped off to the finish line followed by "Changes". "Blind Chance" and "Lucky Pony" battled up the middle, back in the pack. "Blind Chance" held off a rapidly charging "Purple Haze" right at the finish line to save their regatta victory by one point. | It should be noted that two races were abandonned. Both races were being led by "Frequent Flyer" with photographer Deb Warren aboard. The 12 boats at this NOOD was the largest turnout in recent years. An even larger fleet is anticipated for the Sarasota One Design MidWinters next month. A special kudo should be given to the crews who made the effort to come from out the area. Patrick Long, Karen Powlowski, and Mike Caputo on "PDQ2" came from Orlando. Dick & Annie Reagan with crew Gary on "Blondie" made the trip from Punta Gorda. Last but not least, the inimitable "Animal" crew of Mike Coan, Mad Dog John, and Mike McMannigan came all the way from Chicago and they also will be at Sarasota. |