From Frostbiting to Spring sailing

The Spring weather arrived just in time for the 2018 American Yacht Club Spring Series Regatta which is held April 28-29 and May 5-6 in Rye, NY.

Nearly 70 boats from the entire northeast set sail from Milton Point for the first weekend of racing. Historically, Spring Series has symbolized the transition from Frostbiting to Spring Sailing at American Yacht Club. This year the regatta is hosting eight separate boat classes, the two largest being the J/105 Class and the J/70 Class, over two weekends of racing.

On Saturday, the morning fog drifted away into sunshine as boats left the harbor. The wind ranged from 3 to 5 knots with gusts at approximately 8 to 10 knots. This was an exciting day for the AYC Race Committee as both seasoned veterans and newcomers joined together to kick off the Spring Regatta season.

On the East Course, Maxine helmed by Past Commodore Bill Ketcham, had a strong start winning two of the three races in the J/44 Division. On the South Course, Escape skippered by Elizabeth Barry had a successful day finishing first in all three races in the J/88 Division. Both the East Course and the South Course were able to get in three races to wrap up the first day of sailing.

On Sunday, the wind picked up ranging from 13 to 17 knots with gusts close to 20 knots. Clouds covered the morning sky with sunshine finally breaking through in the early afternoon. On the East Course, Blazer helmed by Christopher Culver finished the weekend off strong placing first in all three races in the IRC Division. Maxine maintained it’s lead in the J/44 Division, finishing second, first, and fifth place, respectively.

On the South Course, Zig Zag owned by Bengt & Marie Johansson won the first two races and finished third in the final race of the J/109 Division. In the J/88 Division, Escape maintained its lead, while Wings skippered by Past Commodore Mike Bruno continued to gain ground.

After two days of racing, the competition in the J/105 Division is fierce, with loulou in first place, and three boats – Conundrum, Young American, and Revelation – all neck to neck behind them.

One of the compelling story lines of this regatta has been the endurance of Young American Sailing Academy skippered by Maddy Ploch and Let it Rip skippered by Maddy Saffer. Both boats mainly consist of a crew below the age of 18. Young American won its first race on Saturday and finished the weekend third in the J/105 Division. Let it Rip finished first in its last race of Sunday and is in the middle of the pack of the J/70 Division.

Both days of racing ended with barbecue and drinks on the picturesque American Yacht Club lawn. The first weekend of racing may be over, but spring racing has only just begun.

Racing will continue next weekend, and the combined scores will make up the 2018 American Yacht Club Spring Series.

Event details – Results

IRC (IRC – 5 Boats)
1. Blazer, Swan 42, Christopher Culver , Darien, CT, USA, 1 -[4] -1 -1 -1 -1 ; 5
2. Quintessence, Swan 42, Roger Widmann , Larchmont, NY, USA, [3] -1 -2 -2 -2 -3 ; 10
3. SKYE, Mills 41, Michael Bistany , Montauk, NY, USA, [4] -2 -3 -3 -4 -2 ; 14
4. After Midnight, CTM41, Paul Jeka , Atlantic Highlands, NJ, USA, 2 -3 -[4] -4 -3 -4 ; 16
5. Pterodactyl, R/P 45 Custom, Scott Weisman , White Plains, NY, USA, [6] -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 ; 30

J 44 (One Design – 8 Boats)
1. Maxine, J 44, William Ketcham , Greenwich, CT, USA, 1 -1 -3 -2 -1 -[5] ; 8
2. Kenai, J 44, Chris Lewis , Seabrook, TX, USA, 2 -3 -1 -3 -[4] -1 ; 10
3. Resolute, J 44, Don and Rick Rave , Huntington Bay, NY, USA, [4] -4 -2 -1 -3 -2 ; 12
4. Vamp, J 44, Leonard Sitar , Holmdel, NJ, USA, 3 -2 -[4] -4 -2 -3 ; 14
5. Breakaway, J 44, Thomas Blackwell , Fairfield, CT, USA, 5 -[6] -5 -5 -6 -4 ; 25

PHRF 1 (PHRF – 6 Boats)
1. Avalanche, Farr 395, Craig Albrecht , Glen Cove, NY, USA, 1 -1 -[2] -2 -1 -1 ; 6
2. Soulmates, Custom Goetz 40, Adam Loory , Mamaroneck, NY, USA, 4 -3 -1 -1 -6 -[7] ; 15
3. Oakcliff-Black, Farr 40M, Oakcliff Sailing , Oyster Bay, NY, USA, 3 -4 -[5] -4 -2 -2; 15
4. Oakcliff Farr 40-Blue, Farr, Oakcliff Farr 40-Blue , Oyster Bay, NY, USA, 2 -2 -4 -[5] -4 -4 ; 16
5. Phantom, XP44, Chris Schoen , Larchmont, NY, USA, [5] -5 -3 -3 -3 -3 ; 17

PHRF 2 (PHRF – 8 Boats)
1. Tenacity, Beneteau First 44.7, Samuel Fuller , Darien, CT, USA, [6] -1 -3 -2 -2 -3 ; 11
2. Phantom YCC – CC, Tripp 40, Midshipman Scott Johnston , Kings Point, NY, USA, [7] -2 -2 -1 -3 -6 ; 14
3. Madison, J 120, Brian Spears , Fairfield, CT, USA, 4 -[7] -1 -4 -1 -5 ; 15
4. Frequent Flyer, Beneteau First 36.7, Alistair Duke , Wilton, CT, USA, 1 -4 -4 -[5] -4 -4 ; 17
5. Crazy Train, Melges 24, Patrick and Brigette Croke , Bedford, CT, USA, 3 -3 -5 -6 -[7] -1; 18

J 70 (One Design – 11 Boats)
1. Truckin’, J 70, Alex Meleny , Greenwich, CT, USA, 1 -3 -3 -3 -[6] -3 ; 13
2. Semi Charmed, J 70, Trevor Roach , Darien, CT, USA, 2 -1 -1 -4 -[8] -8 ; 16
3. USA 202, J 70, Michael Gavin , Westport, CT, USA, 6 -2 -2 -[7] -1 -5 ; 16
4. Althea, J 70, Ernest Bourassa , Rye, NY, USA, 5 -5 -5 -1 -4 -[7] ; 20
5. Bazinga!, J 70, Daniel Goldberg , Mamaroneck, NY, USA, 4 -[9] -6 -6 -2 -2 ; 20

J 88 (One Design – 7 Boats)
1. Escape, J 88, Elizabeth Barry , Stamford, CT, USA, 1 -1 -1 -1 -[2] -1 ; 5
2. Wings, J 88, Mike Bruno , Armonk, NY, USA, 3 -2 -[6] -2 -1 -2 ; 10
3. Deviation, J 88, Iris Vogel , New Rochelle, NY, USA, 2 -3 -2 -3 -[5] -3 ; 13
4. Whirlwind, J 88, William Purdy , [6] -4 -5 -5 -3 -4 ; 21
5. Albóndigas, J 88, Justin Scagnelli , 4 -5 -4 -4 -[6] -5 ; 22

J 105 (One Design – 13 Boats)
1. Loulou, J 105, Paul Beaudin , New York, NY, USA, [3] -1 -1 -3 -1 -1 ; 7
2. Conundrum, J 105, Herald Edegran / Jeremy Henderson , Larchmont, NY, USA, 6 -2 -2 -1 -2 -[7] ; 13
3. Young American, J 105, Young American Sailing Academy , Rye, NY, USA, 1 -[7] -3 -4 -5 -2 ; 15
4. Revelation, J 105, George Wilbanks , Westport, CT, USA, [7] -5 -4 -2 -3 -5 ; 19
5. Solution, J 105, David Willis , Huntington, NY, USA, 2 -6 -5 -8 -4 -[8] ; 25

J 109 (One Design – 8 Boats)
1. Zig Zag, J 109, Bengt & Marie Johansson , Watchung, NJ, USA, 1 -[4] -2 -1 -1 -3 ; 8
2. Morning Glory, J 109, Carl Olsson , New Rochelle, NY, USA, 3 -1 -[4] -2 -3 -1 ; 10
3. Emoticon, J 109, Jonathan Rechtschaffer , Montclair, NJ, USA, 2 -[3] -1 -3 -2 -2 ; 10
4. Cleo, J 109, Ray Pepi , New York, NY, USA, 4 -2 -[5] -4 -5 -4 ; 19
5. Mad Dogs & Englishmen, J 109, Adrian Begley , Atlantic Highlands, NJ, USA, [6] -6 -3 -6 -4 -5 ; 24

Source: AYC