ILYA Invitational Regatta - Lake Delavan, Day 2
Andy Burdick and team (Peter Keck, Coye Harrett, amd Rachael Beers) won all three races today in winds in the high teens and into the to twenties, with some stronger gusts. There were three race today. The first two races were 3+ and last race of the day was 4+. Not everyone can win but everyone can smile at some some of the best downwind rides they have ever had in an E-scow. The boats were literally skipping, like a stone you'd throw from edge of the water, on the waves during some of the stronger gusts. With these conditions, there was also plenty of carnage with small white islands skakered around the course.
In the first race it took them a lap before they got by Tom Burton, sho then dropped to 4th at the finish. Second place went to Vincent Porter, and then he was followed by Buddy Melges. Ken Wruk had a good comeback from 15th at the first mark to 5th for the race. On the flip side, our hard luck team went fron first at the first mark to 12th at the finish - sorry Jeff Solum (M-12).
In the next race Andy 'take no prisoners' Burdick lead at every mark. If this newsletter is getting boring, blame Andy, oh and maybe Vincent too who has been chasing Andy around the course in second place. Jule Hannaford had a 4th in this and the first race of the day. I think we can count Jule as an asymmetrical convert after these races at Delevan - especially after you read the next paragraph.
The 3rd race started in strong 22mph winds that had some sharp shifts to contend with. Considering the news so far - the real news in this race is that Team-45 was 6th around the first mark. Tom Burton was 1st followed by: Jule Hannaford, Vincent Porter, Bill Allen, Ken Wruk, and you know who. The best start of the race was Matt Schmidt's (H-36) who ended up 7th and proceeded to hit the first upwind mark. Buddy Melges was 8th, Justin Segersten (H-38) was 9th. [Hi Justin, Kieth, Miles and Rosanne - glad I could get your names in the Digital Reaches]. Unfortunately Tom Burton went from 1st to 9th in this race. Jule lead at the second upwind mark but slipped to 3rd on lap 3 - and then passed Vincent on lap 4 to take a second place for the race.
It always feels good to report on a team that deserves some special recognition. Today I choose Phil Mattison and his team of Julie Navin, Wendy Luttrell, and Jessica Lettrell. At 76 years young, Phil is the skipper of D-66. His finishes today, out of 29 boats, were 22, 17, 22. These were tough races in my opinion. I believe Buddy at 78 is our oldest skipper. Harrison Burton and team are probably the youngest at about 16 years of age.
I had some great start pictures from Larry Kmiecik and I tried but was unable to upload them. Maybe I will have better luck tomorrow - sorry.
