Palm Beach Gardens Valentine's Regatta Report
Perkins simply can't be beat right now.

by RC Greer IV
Another Palm Beach Gardens Valentines Day Regatta is recorded in the books. We enjoyed much more reasonable weather this year with 60-80 degree temps and less than "Blowing the hinges off of Hell's doors" winds. I'll bet regions 1-6 couldn't say the same.

Many of the skippers enjoyed practice at Lake Catherine Friday prior to the informal gathering at Frigate’s, a very pleasant waterfront restaurant in North Palm Beach. We were expecting 30 skippers, but snow and ice all the way to south Georgia kept 3 of our entrants from attending, so 27 skippers were at the lake Saturday morning enjoying hot coffee, fruit, and doughnuts & other goodies brought by Ann & Ed Gelina.

The wind was westerly, with an expectation to move clockwise, and the multiple marks had been pre-set to accommodate this. We started P/R Saturday with the "B" fleet as determined by the National Seeding List. Any skipper with a number below 58.88 was in this fleet with an expectation that the top 4 would move into "A" for the next heat.

The wind held, and built, as the day went on. We started in 7-10 knots and as the wind clocked it stiffened to 16-20. This provided good up-wind courses with many passing lanes to improve position around the course. The skippers are to be commended on their ability to adjust as we changed the course to provide the best upwind legs possible.

The PBG volunteers laid out a great lunch of hot-dogs and SUPER (no bull) CHILI -thanks Jon & Karen, plus lots of sweet things to make it a "Valentine" type regatta. Many thanks to Ann Gelina and Kelli Greer.

The skippers sailed hard and fairly, with only 1 protest going to committee. We were happy to have to have National Judge Ken Morrison aboard. I think "3 minute justice" works well; it is much easier to do a turn than risk a DSQ.

Saturday was the day to work out the kinks in the "B" rig, and it was obvious many improved as the day went on. But as the wind was from the West, the short axis of our lake, we did not see the "Chinese Jibes" and loss of control seen in previous PBG regattas.

Saturday saw 10 races with the following:
1. Alan Perkins
2. Dick Hedderick
3. Gerhard Kelter
4. Jim Kaighan
5. Jim Pardee
6. Jon Luscomb
7. Rick West
8. Brenda Pardee
9. Steve Pfeil
10. Martin Gray

We enjoyed a very well attended dinner at Duffy's on PGA & US 1. They provided us with a whole 2nd floor and plenty of wait- staff that had our meals to us in a very efficient manner. On Sunday the PBG volunteers laid out another great breakfast with hot coffee, donuts, pastries, fruit and other goodies.

We were now enjoying warmer weather with moderate winds from a more northerly direction. May I recommend "Sail-flow", an iPhone app, that was spot on for our whole regatta? It helps to pre-set marks. We had very few mark moves during the regatta. As the day progressed the wind lightened, as it clocked further north, and the skippers are to be commended for keeping up with the course changes.

On an interesting note, I want to comment on our growing women's fleet. Brenda Pardee has been sailing for a while-and it shows. I want to especially welcome Liz Perkins and Judith Clark to our group. You are doing splendidly and a joy to have you with us. Liz sailed 22 heats; I think we'll have to change "Bubble Boy" to a more appropriate moniker. Brenda spent most of her time in A, whipping her Dad and others.

It was commented this regatta has been "Blown Out" with too much wind in the past. It was notable many skippers had "C" rigs, that were not necessary-but an interesting trend. I would like to thank ALL the people who helped make this a great regatta, from the skippers to the staff. Must really thank my wife, Kelli,Karen and Jon Luscomb, Ann & Ed Gelina, Gail & Carl Ring, Dick Reinke, Chris & Michelle Wright, and all the others who came to help support this regatta.

A big "Bravo Zulu" (USN for a GREAT job) to Ricky Gerry for unique trophies. Hope to see you next year-we are working on moving the date a little to try for better prices around town.

Final Results

   
1 Alan Perkins 14 38  
2 Dick Hedderickl 38 56  
3 Jon Luscomb 45 68  
4 Gerhard Kelter 18 71  
5 Jim Kaighan 152 87  
6 Joe Walter 24 99  
7 Brenda Pardee 12 114 Best Woman Skipper Trophy
8 Martin Grey 62 117  
9 Fred Pfeil 15 119 Tie Breaker
10 Rick West 94 119  
11 Jim Pardee 73 123  
12 Steve Pfeil 10 131  
13 Earnan Scavela 147 153  
14 George Balashek 2200 153  
15 Bud Elder 13 163  
16 Bill Ewing 11 168  
17 Dave Branning 71 179 Tie Breaker
18 Tom Phillips 265 179  
19 Liz Perkins 40 218  
20 Fred Greco 84 228  
21 John Goldsworthy 50 243  
22 Frank Vella 82 244  
23 Chester Brewer 16 260  
24 Dan Pearce 56 275  
25 Judith Clark 15 286  
26 Jim Merello 41 295  
27 John Santoro 66 320  

 

 

 

Click here for photos by Karen Luscomb, Bob Greer and company