Jennings wins Commodore’s Cup

The Star Winter Series continues apace, with fantastic sailing on the clear and warm waters and breezes of Miami’s Biscayne Bay for the second weekend event of the series – The Commodore’s Cup – on December 2-3 in Miami, FL.

Twenty-three Star teams, including a number of gold, silver, and blue stars on sails (signifying various levels of stellar championship accomplishment), completed three races on day one in Chamber of Commerce conditions, with 2-3 degree wind shifts from the almost routine 60 degree direction, nearly allowing the Race Committee to doze off between starts and finishes.

No complaints were heard from the sailors (the true test of a Race Committee’s competence!) regarding the courses, the duration of the races, or that anybody forgot sunscreen. Stuart Hebb, the father of the series, donated a pizza and beer afternoon to the fleet upon reaching shore, and all were generous in their congratulations to all three different race winners of the day. Figure that!

The second day brought sky and water conditions similar to the first day’s, though the early breeze gave the Race Committee some anxious moments. Arriving to the course, the breeze was a touch lighter than day one and slightly to the left, so with only two races scheduled, and with an earlier start time, the RC set a 1 mile course for an on-time start. One OCS, under a RRS 30.1 penalty, who cleared, and Gold Star team John MacCausland and crew Roger Cheer pull out the win.

For the second and final race of the regatta, the RC pulled out all stops and sent the fleet on a five leg course, finishing upwind, allowing for an easy reach back to Coral Reef Yacht Club. Californian Andy MacDonald and teammate Brad Nichol lead the fleet over the finish line. Jack Jennings and Frithjof Kleen scored their worst race of the regatta with a 5th place, still good enough to win the event handily.

Final Results (Top 10 of 26; 5 races)
1. Pied Piper/National Marine, USA8464, Jack Jennings / Frithjof Kleen – 3 -3 -1 -2 -5 ; 14
2. Stella, USA8521, John MacCausland / Roger Cheer – 2 -10 -6 -1 -4 ; 23
3. USA 8423, USA8423, Eric Doyle / Steve Calder – 1 -2 -9 -3 -9 ; 24
4. Swedish Blue, GBR842, Ante Razmilovic / Brian Hammersley – 8 -11 -8 -4 -2 ; 33
5. 8279, USA8279, Allan Terhune / Adam Dolezal – 9 -5 -2 -9 -10 ; 35
6. 8522, USA8522, Peter Vessella / Ed Morey – 4 -4 -12 -11 -7 ; 38
7. Barakablue, USA8484, Larry Whipple / TC Belco – 11 -8 -5 -8 -6 ; 38
8. Rachel, USA8250, Andrew Macdonald / Brad Nichol – 6 -1 -7 -24 -1 ; 39
9. USA 8504, USA8504, William Swigart / Arthur Anosov – 12 -7 -13 -6 -3 ; 41
10. Remarc, CAN8445, Brian Cramer / Cam Lymburner – 7 -6 -10 -19 -8 ; 50

Star Winter Series – Commodore’s Cup – Commodore’s 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. (words), Julie Hanrahan (photo)