Schoonmaker Cup Kicks off Star Winter Series

Once again, the Star Class descended upon Biscayne Bay in Miami at the Coral Reef Yacht Club for the 2017-2018 edition of the Star Winter Series, five regatta events that are scored and awarded both separately and cumulatively. The Star Class comprises a storied cast of characters; with Class standouts making their presence felt in high quality events up to and including America’s Cup participation, and many are regular winter visitors to Miami.

The first event of the series was held this past weekend, November 11 – 12, 2017, for the Schoonmaker Cup, named for Class 1975 World Champion and Miami native J.M. “Ding” Schoonmaker. With a number of Gold (signifying World Champion) and Silver (Continental Champion) stars on sails in the 24 boat fleet, good competition was a given.

Saturday dawned clear and the CRYC Race Committee, led by Star Class stalwart Sharon Bourke, had the course set up (with the famous Vertical Offset windward mark configuration) for an on-time start Saturday morning. Wind direction was steady coming from Virginia Key at 60 degrees, with flat water and relatively predictable oscillations. With what might be a first for the series events, it was a clean start on the first attempt.

The line was square, the fleet used the entire length, and there was a good split to the fleet all the way up to the first mark of a four-leg Windward-Leeward course. The team of Jack Jennings and Frithjof Kleen pulled off the win in the race, followed by Mark Mendelblatt with Brian Fatih, and the team of Arthur Anosov and current World Champion crew Josh Revkin.

The breeze began to pipe up a bit, but the direction held steady after the first race 10 degree left shift, so the Committee set up a triangle – W –L /Finish course. Once again, a clean start, and the team of Arthur and Josh found their way to the finish line first.

Race three of the day saw the RC maintaining the course configuration, and after yet another clean start (in the STAR Class?), once again Jack and Frithjof end up with the bullet.

Sunday’s forecast was for the cold front settling into South Florida with more easterly winds steady from 19 – 22 knots with gusts to near 30, which when combined with flat water in a Star boat can end up as a pretty expensive day. PRO Sharon Bourke canvassed the competitors, many of whom are preparing for the Star Sailor’s League finals in Nassau in early December, for their preferences in these predicted conditions, and the verdict came in negative for a variety of reasons. No racing was held.

Jack Jennings and Frithjof Kleen won the event with 7 points, followed by Arthur Anosov and Josh Revkin with 10 points. Finishing third with 12 points was the team of Mark Mendelblatt with Brian Fatih.

The Star Winter Series will continue on December 2-3, 2017 with the Commodore’s Cup.

Star Winter Series – Schoonmaker Cup – Schoonmaker Cup results

Star Winter Series 2017-18
Nov 11-12, 2017 – Schoonmaker Cup (up to 5 races)
Dec 2-3, 2017 – Commodore’s Cup (up to 5 races)
Jan 6-7, 2018 – Levin Cup/District 6 Championship Cup (up to 5 races)
Feb 8-9, 2018 – Walker Cup (up to 5 races)
Feb 8-11, 2018 – Star Midwinters (includes Walker Cup; up to 8 races)

Scoring for the Star Winter Series: Points shall be determined from the finishing place at each regatta. The sum of the best three of the four 2-day regattas, plus the Mid-Winter regatta place multiplied by two, will determine the winner of the Winter series.

Source: L. Carl Schellbach, Jr.