2021 Harvest Regatta Report
After a long wait since the 2019 RC Laser Harvest Regatta, we finally got to dial up the 2021 version at famed Tred Avon Yacht Club in Oxford, MD. The wind gods decided to make the 17-boat fleet wait just a little longer. The first event after the Pledge of Allegiance at 9:30AM was a gorgeous buffet lunch. There was no wind. We then started racing at 12:15PM and that was a test of patience as the forecasted 3 to 7 knot NW wind could not settle down. We lost valuable time playing catch up with 90-degree wind shifts forcing multiple buoy placements all afternoon. To add to the frustration, mother nature threw in an ebb and flood tide change. This day was a test of patience all around but the skippers and race committee handled it well under the circumstances.
After three seeding races we kicked off the gold and silver fleet series accomplishing a full seven races for each fleet. In the gold fleet, Danny Thomas got the best of Alex Ramos and his dad, David Ramos, by six points to win the Richards Bowl. Alex won over his dad on a tiebreaker. It might have been a quiet ride home in the Ramos car. Host skipper, Bob Roe, certainly deserved the MVP award for the day as he won two races, finished fourth in the gold fleet while changing the buoys with Earl Segal a gazillion times. Don Barker, also from the host fleet, rounded out the top five.
In the silver fleet, RC Laser newcomer, Stuart Challoner, got the best of Ray Szulczewski by three points in his first RC Laser regatta. Martin Besant finished third over Bill Sysyn with host Fleet Captain, John Yates in fifth.
In all, ten different skippers won at least one of the 14 races sailed. Again, a good testament that the balance of skills in the RC Laser Class is very tight.
This regatta is blessed with the excellence of Tred Avon YC as a venue and a welcoming support team. The traditional buffet lunch was fantastic and not to be missed. Put this event on your race schedule for 2022.
Here is the link to Stan Meyer’s great pictures and he just bought this camera. THANKS, STAN! If you want reach Stan about any of his pictures, go here: smeyer@auxsysinc.com
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bJFTM88_iEU4uDZpBUYAGztbxvgVL0zq?usp=sharing
Summary of the 2021 Harvest Regatta
Date: October 23, 2021
Location: Tred Avon YC, Oxford, MD
Host Club: Oxford RC Laser fleet
Entries: 17
Winds 3-7 mph
Races Completed: 7 in each fleet
Scoring: low point with one throw-out; All races sailed under the I Flag
Regatta Committee: Regatta Chmn., John Yates; PRO, Dave Branning; Judge, Nick Mortgu; Scorekeeper, Beth Lippincott; Chase boat: Earl Segal; Tred Avon YC team: Vicki Van Loo, Lisa Wending and Commodore, Tom Campbell; Photographer, Stan Meyer.
| GOLD FLEET | ||
| Place | Skipper | Points |
| 1 | Danny Thomas | 11 |
| 2 | Alex Ramos | 15 tiebreaker |
| 3 | David Ramos | 15 |
| 4 | Bob Roe | 19 |
| 5 | Don Barker | 20 |
| 6 | Scott Graf | 23 tiebreaker |
| 7 | Jim Flach | 23 |
| 8 | Scott Schiller | 29 |
| SILVER FLEET | ||
| Place | Skipper | Points |
| 1 | Stuart Challoner | 19 |
| 2 | Cape May Ray | 22 |
| 3 | Martin Besant | 24 tiebreaker |
| 4 | Bill Sysyn | 24 |
| 5 | John Yates | 27 |
| 6 | Joe Paradine | 34 |
| 7 | Mike McGuckin | 37 |
| 8 | Konrad Richter | 41 |
| 9 | Polly Cox | 50 |
