2019 RC Laser North American Championship Regatta Report

An abbreviated RC Laser North American Championship comprised the first half of the Double Trouble Regatta, May 25-26, in the lovely harbor at Edenton, NC. Almost half the registered entrants missed the regatta to attend the Celebration of Life services for David Brawner. We all were mindful of Dave’s cheerful dynamism, sadly missed. Five boats came from the Virginia Beach club, one from Edenton, and the remaining seven were from TMYC in Raleigh.

The day began with NE winds at 6-7mph with heavy chop in the river. As the racing progressed, the wind gradually wore around to E, then SE, S and finally SW, decreasing in windspeed as it clocked. The chop got worse, if anything, with an uninterrupted fetch across Albemarle Sound. The race committee was kept busy moving course marks between races.

Once the wind settled after lunch, racing continued without interruption. It was challenging sailing though, because the choppy surface tossed the boats around, disrupting flow over the sails and foils and the diminishing wind lacked sufficient power to steady them. With SW winds, the race committee was able to set long windward legs, testing the eyesight – if not the transmitter range – of some skippers! As the wind died down to almost nothing by mid-afternoon, ten long races had been completed but no one complained of not getting their money’s worth of sailing.

Light air wizard Gerry Cobley won the one-day event by one point over Tom Rummage. Here is his comment: “To say this one was close is under-stating it. The championship was decided on the last race (Neil was 1 point in lead at that time with Tom and I right behind). When Tom got an overlap on me on the last downwind leg, he was in position to be the champ, but somehow on that last rounding and last leg I managed to get inside with a bit better air and stole it back.” It was a good day in Edenton. I wish more of our friends could have been there.

Summary of the 2019 RC Laser North American Championship Regatta
Date: May 25
Location: Edenton Harbor, Edenton, NC
Host Club: Triangle Model Yacht Club (#28)
Entries: 13
Winds: 6-7 mph, variable direction, diminishing to 2-3 mph
Races completed: 10
Scoring System: low point with 1 throw-out
Regatta Committee & Valuable Assistants:
Race Director: Rick Ferguson; Scoring: Denise Roy; Chase boat: Brian FitzSimon; Lunch: Rick Ferguson, Jock Gault; Drinks and ice: Herb Roy, Rick Ferguson. General race organization assistance was provided by all.

RESULTS
Place Skipper Points
1 Gerry Cobley 22
2 Tom Rummage 23
3 Neil Saunders 27
4 Jared Greenlee 37
5 Michael Roberson 37
6 Sam Harris 55
7 Duncan Bell 57
8 Susie Mulally 64
9 Herb Roy 75
10 Ron Segerblom 85
11 Grey Libby 89
12 Brian FitzSimons 91
13 Karin Bell 115