Frankie Dair/Gavin Abraham Win 2013 Lido 14 Junior Champs

(August 18, 2013) – National Class Championship Week wrapped up on Saturday at Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club where eight very talented young sailors competed in six races to determine who was going to be the 2013 Lido 14 Junior Champion. As the day started, the PRO talked to the teams and decided to throw out the previously prepared Sailing Instructions and let the teams decide the format. The decision was, “Let’s do it right here off the club and go round and round. So a starting line was set in G Basin and a weather mark was set in C Basin creating a narrow area to start and tack out to the main channel where things would open up and then tighten up again at the top.

Race One got off quietly unless you were in boat 4794. Lido Intergallactic Champion Christophe Killian showed off his match racing skils chasing and pinning Frankie Dair outside the starting area. Adam and Nora Elsharhawy got off clean and sailed unfettered to a first place finish as the shifty moderate breeze favored the light teams. Frankie recovered to finish second ahead of Christophe while Porter Killian and Christian Rosene worked out some kinks to finish fourth. The mood seemed to change slightly in the short break between race one and two, this was a tight course, each team was strong and anything could happen in the shifty conditions. It was game on.

Christophe and crew Dot Obel, won race two and then Frankie reeled off bullets in races 3, 4 and 5. Adam and Nora sailed very consistently and were in second place going into the last race still within reach.

The breeze was stiff and puffy for the final race. Christophe and Dot got off the line cleanly, Frankie was OCS and in danger of losing his lead. It was a very tight pack as they approached the first leeward mark three boats overlapped as they rounded. It was amazing to watch, no contact, no protests and great boat handling! Casual folks enjoying a relaxong day on their kayaks, cruising boats, SUPs and even the Sheriff’s Department stopped and watched in amazement. Oh, and by the way, the PRO had forgotten to pull the required Sheriff’s Department permit so there was a nervous moment for him when the Sheriff’s boat needed to quickly thrust backwards as the kids skillfully manuevered in the narrow channel.

When the dust settled, Gavin and Frankie had finished just behind Adam and Nora to hold onto their lead and win the Green “L”. After the racing everyone gathered in the clubhouse as the televisions howed the America’s Cup boats breaking down and flicking crew members. Ice cream sundaes were devoured and awards began with every competitor receiving a gift certificate from sponsor Annapolis Performance Sailing. Report