In the other classes

The rumor mill suggested that

• Will Hanckel was winning the E Scow class, but the competition was close on his heels
• David Dabney had some equipment problems on his M24, but otherwise was fast.
• And the M17s continue to hope for a few more boats in the Southeast region.

Race 3

In the final race of the day, the breeze was up and down and shifty.  The puffs probably reached 14 and the lulls might have gone as low as 6 knots.

Lenny Krawcheck, after ducking Reggie Fairchild at the start, Port tacked the fleet and quickly moved out to a lead.  The rest of the fleet decided he was on to something and tacked over to port.  Another shift came through for part of the course.  Boats were sailing on opposite tacks separated by only 30 or 40 degrees.  The key was to connect the dots of pressure.  Lenny found a fast lane in the middle – middle left and rounded first.  Jeff Annis said there were some great shifts out there.  He just never seemed to be in the right spot to take advantage of them.

The racing was close and no lead was ever secure, but Lenny held on to stay ahead of the pack and win.

With a 4-1-1, Lenny won the regatta.

Race 2

Lenny Krawcheck with crew on board to help hold the boat down in the piping breeze won race 2.  Lenny said, “with crew onboard, I just pulled in the mainsheet hard and the boat scooted.  It’s really unbelievable.”  He said the boat just felt great.

In the second race, Marenakos tried to go right to hide from the tide again.  This time the breeze had shifted to the left towards the Ashley River just enough that the right didn’t pay.  Mark was seen buried about 3/4 back in the pack.

Race 1 – Marenakos finishes clear ahead

Mark Marenakos played the right side of the course, tacking up along Castle Pickney to stay out of the ebbing tide.   In short order, he held practially wire to wire, extending a little at each mark rouding.

New comer Ned Goss was looking good after the first beat, rounding in 4th.  But downwind he decided to test the water in the harbor.  He ending up swimming around to right the boat.  Welcome to the fleet Ned.

Three Races on Saturday

The Race Committee snapped off 3 races on Saturday in breezy, but not overpowering, conditions.  Many thanks to Harvey McCormick and the rest of the Race Committee crew, including Sylvia Galloway, Bob Bowden, Bill McKenzie and a host of others.

The first race started around 11 a.m.  The course was set inside Middle Ground.  The starting line was between Middle Ground and Castle Pinckney.  The 18-20 E Scows went first for 2.5 laps, the 3 M24s were next for 2.5 laps, the 8 or 9 MC Scows had 1.5 laps, and finally the M17s finished off the action.

No Racing on Friday at the Easter Regatta

MC racing was canceled because of too much breeze at the Carolina Yacht Club Easter Regatta. Everyone starts Saturday tied for 1st place. The action starts at 11 a.m.

North Posts a Wrap Up of the Action at the MC Scow Midwinters

Read the story at http://www.melges.com/?p=news&id=1334&utm_medium=rss

MC Scow Tuning Guide

I’ve spent some time since the MC Scow Midwinters reading the North Sails MC Scow Tuning Guide. It’s good. If you haven’t read it recently, you should.  Calling it a tuning guide doesn’t do it justice.  It’s really a how to sail an MC Scow fast guide.

Among many others, one good point is never to let the deck be in the water.  If you do, your heeled too much.

Easter Regatta at Carolina Yacht Club

Carolina Yacht Club is gearing up for a great event on Friday and Saturday of Easter Weekend. The Annual Easter Regatta will include MC Scows, M17s, E Scows and M24s this year. Please come have a great time. You can can pre-register now at mcscow.org

Flipping Over

When I started racing an MC Scow last summer, I kept flipping over. At Lake Eutis this weekend I felt hugely successful because I didn’t flip.

The secret was 1) don’t clear the mainsheet and 2) let off the vamg before going around the windward mark.