The star of the 2012 EC-12 National Championship was Dave Ramos. Dave went on an unbeatable run

It's Tradition to Throw the Winner In!

of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishes. He had a 42-point lead going into the last day of racing and was looking to just protect his lead and stay up in A-fleet. He did just that, and finished the regatta with a 32-point margin over Alan Perkins in second place.

  At noon on Wednesday, we began checking in the skippers and measuring boats. The process went quickly as we only measured new boats or boats that had major changes to them. In all, less than half the boats were measured and most of the skippers had plenty of time for practice. That evening, a welcome reception was held for the skippers and their guests in the hotel lounge. There was a great spread of food and snacks and Doc Greer and Jon Luscomb sprang for a keg of Michelob. It was planned to be a short gathering before folks headed out to dinner, but most people were so full, they just stayed in the rest of the evening.

  The battle for 2nd place changed several times with Alan Perkins, Rick West, Bob Greer, Dick Hedderick, Jack Ward and Dave Dellenbaugh, all in the hunt at one point or another. Great racing action occurred all up and down the course and in all three fleets. We did our best to keep the fleets moving to get us to 18 scored heats for the three days. We were lucky to have had the founder of the Class, Buddy Black and his lovely wife Maime Lee come by to watch the action and marvel at how far we have come. He reminisced about vane steering, and heat maximums of eight boats while watching the action with 17 boats on the water at once.   One of the participants was sailing a boat from 1975 that has just had a refit, a hull that Buddy had made-way back when.

And They Are Off!

  At our Saturday night awards banquet, the new Florida EC-12 Association Chairman, Richard Hedderick, took the floor and presented Joe Walter with a really nice plaque, thanking him me for his service as Florida Assn Chaiman.   Joe then made a presentation to Rick West for his lifetime achievement of service to the Class. Rick has been the prime mover in the move of the class into the internet age and has done more than we have had a right to expect in promoting Model Yachting and the EC12 Class. Trying to make us 'the most active and best informed class in AMYA.' Thanks Rick! It was dedicated to both Rick and his wife Merrilee who supported his efforts.

Full scores, report and photos at  http://www.floridaec12.com/2012_nationals_results.html  

Class website: http://ec12.org/