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Jud Smith takes back title of North American Champion Jud Smith is once again the Etchells North American Champion. Jud sailed the 2008 championship September 11-13 in Annapolis with Australia-based crew Mark Johnson and former Laser World Champ Nik Burfoot. See photos of the event here and here.
The 2008 NA championship, hosted by the Annapolis Yacht Club and Fleet 28, gathered 33 boats including some powerhouse teams. The practice race on Wednesday was a bust as the wind died a slow death throughout the day. The AYC race committee abandoned after the first leeward mark rounding.
Thursday was a great light-air day. With wind that barely touched 10 knots, it was all about finding the pressure. Wade Edwards on USA 1221 aptly proclaimed the strategy to be “stay in phase” and avoid hitting the laylines too early.
A major windshift dramatically disrupted the second race of the day. Hank Lammens sailing with Dirk Knuelman and Doug Sabin, said, “The races today were typical [for] Annapolis. First to 14th in the first run of the second race.” All the boats immediately behind Lammens in race two gybed early and ended up in the top five finishers. Lammens lamented that it was “incredibly shifty…about 40 degrees in each beat.”
Jack Jakowski sailing with Argyle Campbell felt good about their results but said it was a tough day. Ending with a 2, 11, and 1 makes a tough day pretty darned good.
Friday brought 15 to 20 knots and rain. The sailors headed to the course knowing it could be the last day of racing due to a light-air forecast for Saturday. The first race was twice around with a 1.5-mile leg and finished in just over an hour. The second race saw three boats emerge ahead of the rest of the fleet: Hank Lammens, Jud Smith, and Rob Hitchcock. By the finish, Jud emerged clear ahead by a full minute. The final race was held in confused seas and an 18 to 20-knot. A five-leg course was posted and the windward mark was set at 1.7 miles. After covering a lot of ground, the fleet remained remarkably close at the leeward mark causing at least one collision and some near-misses. Bruce Gollison, sailing with Moose McClintock and Tom Lihan, was neck and neck with Jud and crew, working the waves downwind and match-racing up the final beat, putting both boats and crews through their paces. Bruce Gollison ultimately won the final race of the regatta in big breeze and current that was knocking down the pin at the finish.
While Jud and crew took home the 2008 North American Championship, another respected award went to the team on USA 1221. The Corinthian Cup, presented by Pat Stadel, is awarded to the top all amateur team. Congratulations to Wade Edwards, Justin Muller, and Tim Platt. See the complete list of scores.
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