2001 Masters Results

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This page is for Masters regatta results AND reports from Masters sailors who do partake in other Laser regattas.  First up is Marc Jacobi who is one of NA's top Masters sailors. He competed in the Miami OCR and was first master.   If you sail in a regatta, please send us a report and the results.  

MIAMI OCR Report from Marc Jacobi

the mocr is a category one, world-ranking event, the only such event in north America each year. as such, competitors should be prepared to the highest standard, in my opinion. athletes from other countries come to compete, and if we're not sailing at our best, we get trounced and it does no good for north america's sailing reputation (which is, for the most part, none-too-good). having said that, i bought a used boat the day before the event and registered with less than a half-hour remaining. did i mention i'd basically not sailed a laser since the trials last april? while filling-in the registration, i continually questioned if it was wise to go into such an event so physically unprepared, with an untested, 6-yr old boat.  Of course it wasn't. i had some equipment problems on the windy second day and made some silly mistakes, but overall was surprised at my speed and lack of physical pain, even after that tough second day. the event ended on a high note when i placed 2nd in the final race, after two other solid finishes for that day. my overall finish was nothing special (16th out of 44), 3 points behind 13th place after 9 races.  

2. things for partners to do: miami's coconut grove district is a 15 minute walk from the us sailing center. lots of shops, restaurants, movie theater, etc.. for those with cars, the south beach district (30-45 minutes by car) beckons with art deco buildings and beautiful bods on white sand beaches.

3. how masters did: i don't know exactly. alden shattuck had a great first  day and was in the top 10, but fell away. kudos to will glenn's dad, who had a great attitude and (i think) sailed all the races, including friday's three windy contests. trevor bayliss from the san fran bay area looked a little big (at 200 lbs), but had moments and will be trouble when he slims down and gets more boat time.

4. brits: they were fast and sailed smart. basically good starts, fine upwind speed (especially ed wright) and good positioning vis-a-vis the fleet. patience and solid regatta skills won the event, not brilliance. 

5. winds: usually, one can count on one day of strong-ish (15-20+ knot) winds; this year we had exactly one. the other two days were sailed in 5-12 knots, with racing abandoned on saturday (much to my dismay; needed another solid finish to move up). the first day was lovely, just enough wind to hike a bit upwind--i was psyched the event started that way instead of windy! on day 2, wetsuits and spray tops were needed as the cold front came through; the event is a good test of an athlete's sailing wardrobe.

Results to follow one day...

Series Event #1 - Masters Midwinters - Clearwater Yacht Club,  February 3-4, 2001

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California Masters - Mission Bay Yacht Club, February  10-11, 2001

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Report from Nils
Well it’s over, the first ever California Masters. This regatta will be an annual event at the Mission Bay YC. I think all of the participants would agree with Doug Hart when he said, "this was the most fun I ever have had in a Laser". The guy is a Snipe sailor with a second in the Worlds and a few NA champ titles under his belt, just to mention some of it.

Twenty-two guys and one woman showed up for the event. Unfortunately, the woman, Susie Pegel, (the only female who has won the U.S. Nationals) had to withdraw because of knee problems. We had expected more locals, both from the LA/Long Beach area and San Diego. I think that many had studied the weather report too closely, it was supposed to be a horrible weekend with one storm after the other. That didn’t happen, instead we had the most perfect conditions for this time of the year. On Saturday there was a 12 kts., southerly wind caused by the frontal systems. We were able to use the entire length of the Sail bay for a windward leeward course with a leeward gate. The shifts were rather moderate and oscillating. After four races on Saturday Doug Hart had a comfortable lead over Dave Leuck, both from MBYC. Every body had their boats back at the club by 15:30 and a large group hit the bar for a Happy Hour, followed by the Saturday dinner.

Sunday offered much less wind which didn’t stabilize at the scheduled starting time and caused a postponement by our excellent race committee, led by Scott McKay, with the help of some juniors and Peter Drasnin’s girlfriend, Stephanie. We still had the prevailing southerly wind but warmer air and sunshine created some kind of pumping westerly sea breeze. The two was oscillating but, personally I had a hard time to get into phase and got caught, time after time, in wind holes in the middle, while I could see boats on either side sailing at full speed. This fleet of rather old sailors was really aggressive at the start of the last race, there were about one zillion general recalls, and the race committee had to hoist the Z flag to get the race going. In spite of that, a few individual recalls could be seen.

It was a great weekend with a great bunch of guys. As a race organizer I am, of course, specially glad that everybody had a good time. I hope this regatta can be part of the Masters Grand Prix for next year. 

Special Report from GGM Mike Eichwald, winner of race 6
aal, lemme see now.  As to how the Ol' Guy won race 6: would you believe ineffable timing at the start, uncanny feel for the shifts, and blasing speed? I didn't think so.... Closer to the truth is this: with big weather systems just to the north of us, Mission Bay was blessed with great southerlies in the 8-12 knot range---perfect except for being pretty shifty. Not big shifts, but real; the trick was to get into phase and stay there, and that wasn't always easy. In race #6, I was plain lucky to rise from obscurity and stay in phase. After that it was back to obscurity, and so what else is new. It should be noted tht the stellar race committee (?Phil somebody) gave us windward-leewards only: once or twice around, with windward finishes, and I heard no complaints whatever about the lack of reaches. I believe, come to think of it, that I would only miss them in planing conditions. The fleet was relatively tight, and I didn't see any one sailor stand out. It looked as if any of the first 6-7 guys were capable of great stuff. Doug Hart (1st overall) and Bill Campbell (4th overall) both won two races, but otherwise it was pretty evenly spread out at the top. Those middle range winds, once again, put a premium on skill rather than weight or lack of it, and that's why I personally appreciate them so. The Great Neutralizers.... And thank God for the leeward gate!  As I understand it, their usual breezes are westerlies (sea breezes), and not particularly strong. Since the bay lies more in a north-south direction, this means setting pretty short courses sometimes, but good race management handles that o.k., I'm sure. The ocean is another gig, since it must take 45'-60' or so just to sail to the course, and I don't think any of us missed that; sailing just off the yacht club site made it really fun for us and the spectators. The venu, for those of you who haven't been there (it was my first time), is just great for small boats: a hospitable club with plenty of sand and grass. The bar was pay as you go, but what the hell the pop-corn was free. It is situated right in the heart of the funky Mission Bay neighborhood, known for coffee houses and straight-line skating, with the beach and surfers on one side and the bay on the other. There are a bunch of ordinary motels within a mile or two, with a scattering of more expensive accomodations as well (including a big Hilton hotel). We, in our inimitable style, put up at a hugh RV park about 3 miles away. Marine world is about a mile away, and of course there's the rest of San Diego at your beck and call.... If you've got a new trophy bride and want to impress, stay in nearby LaJolla.

Series Event #2 - Gulf Coast Championships, Houston Yacht Club, April 8 & 9, 2001

Series Event #3 - Canadian Masters, Wabamun S.C. nr. Edmonton Alberta June 22-24, 2001

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Back row: Doug Peckover, Jim Goodvin, Barry Tee, Charlie Simpson, Tim Landt, John D-E, Peter Wilson
Middle Row: Ken Brown, Vern Willet, Rick Hewitt, Jasek Suski, Andy Hunt, Barry O'Flynn, Ben Pickford, Graeme Strathdee, Trevor Owen, Hilliard MacBeth, Dick Degner
Front Row: Mike Eichwald, Jim Christopher, John Henderson, Doug Bell, Krzysztof Machnowki, Sandy Lauder, Sandy Wilson

Series Event #4 - Great Lakes Masters, Leland YC, Leland, MI - July 28-29, 2001

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