Palm Beach Gardens Regatta Report
PBG Hosts a Great Kick-off for the 2005 Season
By Dr. Bob Greer

The 2005 Palm Beach Gardens MYS Regatta is in the record books. It was an intense weekend for me but it was also very gratifying.

It is a bit awe-inspiring to host a regatta where the current National champ, Reichard Kahle; the 2003 champ, Gerhard "Dahling" Kelter; 2001 champ, Danny Thomas; the EC-12 Class Secretary, Rick West; Florida State champion, John Bottensek; and the Dixie Cup champ, Rick Gerry were all in attendance. You can see how I might have been a bit apprehensive about how the regatta would go. Harry Strunk did help by reminding me at every opportunity that my performance would be closely scrutinized by all and as Commodore he didn't want our squadron’s reputation sullied!

You have heard that good outcomes are 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration -- I agree. The very hard work of the sailors from our Soling 1M & Victoria fleets, and our wives made my job a whole lot easier. My scorekeeper (Mentor) and last years R.D., Doug Bowe, was the key element in the smoothness of the weekend. He allowed me to keep my attention on the water and the racing without worrying about keeping score. I have no idea how he did both last year.

We used the EORS system of promotion/relegation and were able to keep the 30 boat fleet moving pretty well. After two seeding races (1st 15 sail numbers/2nd 15) the best of which counted in the final point total, we split the fleet into "A" and "B" fleets. A race is complete when both an A & B race have been completed. The top 4 boats in the B race get a clothes pin & "promote" into A fleet and the bottom 4 A fleet boats "relegate" to B for the next race. This system really flows if you can get the sailors to give-up or take their pins following a heat. They take them more readily than surrendering. The usual number of dropouts is accommodated to keep the fleets even.

The weather was atypically cold Saturday with the mercury near 40 F. But the winds were fair and we were able to set good windward legs most all day. As Joe Walter kept reminding me -- It is about quality not quantity of races that matters most to sailors. We were able to keep the races to about 12-15 minutes per and our large lake was able to accommodate the 15-16 boats per heat.

The sailors kept up to my rapid pace by being ready to launch and attentive to announcements and this added to the ease of the regatta. There were very few equipment holds and this speaks volumes about the prep time the skippers took prior to race-day. Thank you gentlemen.

Lunch Saturday went off nicely (if you could gulp your food between heats) but most skippers seemed to be happy to keep sailing as the weather was spectacular by afternoon. We sailed the 4 seeding races and 7 races (14 heats) and secured sailing at 1530 in time to prep for dinner at the North Palm Beach Country Club at 1830. I brought my laptop and showed a digital photo slideshow of the day's racing.

Sunday morning found it warmer-but with calmer winds. We set various lines tracking the 2-5 knot breeze from NW to finally 5-8 Kt Easterlies. It was a challenge to prevent close-hauled "drag-racing" around the course. The quality of the skippers was demonstrated time and again as 7-10 boats rounding marks together with almost no fouling and finding their lane to the next mark.

We sailed the required 10-race minimum to allow a drop and tallied up the scores. Just 1, ONE, point separated the first and second positions. A hearty well done to Reichard.

A highlight of the Regatta was the appearance of the original builder of the EC-12, Buddy Black. His son, Jim, campaigned US 1, a beautifully restored boat that I encourage you to view at the link at the bottom of this report.

I must again thank my committee members and my wife Kelli, Julie and Patti Strunk, Ann Gelina and all the PBGMYS others who supplied all the wonderful sweets that capped a great lunch, both days! I must mention Ed Gelina (who got me involved in 12s by selling me his old Ozmun last year) as a staunch supporter of our sport and 12s especially. It is at his house we gather to plan, his place we store ALL our paraphernalia like the rescue boat, marks and too much else. He is a true gentleman and great sailor who is much respected by all who know him. Also want to thank Chuck Buzek who showed me some helpful pointers at regattas he hosted.

I look forward to seeing you at the pond-and you won't hear that voice until the next time I RD.

Results

   
1 Reichard Kahle 53  
2 Danny Thomas 54  
3 John Bottensek 63  
4 Harry Strunk 66  
5 Rick West 70  
6 Gerhard Kelter 71  
7 Joe Walter 74  
8 John Rowley 84  
9 Rick Gerry 90  
10 Don Wright 97  
11 Bob Dudinsky 103  
12 Dick Gerry 126  
13 Rex Theile 166  
14 Scott Vernon 175 Did not sail on Sunday
15 Baron Bremer 180  
16 James Pardee 185  
17 Earl Mills 188  
18 John Garver 190  
19 Phil Ehlinger 194  
20 Bill Low 204  
21 Ed Gelina 223  
22 Jim Black 229  
23 Ray Story 232  
24 Jerry Warmuskerken 239 Did not sail on Sunday
25 John Egizi 247  
26 Kent Farndell 250 Did not sail on Sunday
27 James Carter 264 Did not sail on Sunday
28 Dick Garnache 268