2005 North American Championship 
by Charley Smart
 August 14, 2005

Congratulations to Brad Boston and the Honour crew, for successfully defending his National Championship to win the 2005 U20 North American Championship at Racine Yacht Club. Brad's 3 bullets, two seconds and a six demonstrated Honour's mastery of U20 racing. Richard Hunt, DUA, kept constant pressure throughout the regatta. Peter Kitching, Low Rider, Don Corey, Uh-huh, and Cody Hines, Mini-me, followed with third, fourth, and fifth place regatta finishes.

Twenty one U20s registered for the regatta. Boats hailed from Michigan, NorthCarolina, Illinois, Wisconsin, Florida, Utah, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Colorado, Ohio, and Ontario, Canada. On Wednesday evening a handful of "early bird" U20s began the action by joining the RYC Beer can series getting used to Lake Michigan. BW Billberry had car trouble outside of Colorado, and had to turn back towards home. Alan Simonini/Bob McGrath lost their mast on Thursday during a practice session leaving 19 U20s at the first start. Thursday evening the fleet gathered at a local Italian restraunt to compare notes, eat and enjoy liquid "refreshments."

On Friday, day one of racing, the fleet saw modest to light winds with pressure variances across the course. On the first race the comittee boat called two general recalls and then hoisted the "I" flag, reflecting the fleet's eager and competitive nature. Race one then got off without futher issues. On the second race, just as the fleet was nearing the mark on the second weather leg a 170 degree shift took boats off their laylines and sent the tacticians into a quandry. Shortly after the roundings, the wind died to drifting conditions and continued to a 220 degree shift overall. After a short delay, the wind filled in to a mild breeze for a short final race of the day. Friday evening the fleet held it's annual banquet at the yacht club. After dinner Jeff Canepa, representing Ultimate Sailboats had a group discussion with the fleet regarding USI's ramp-up of U20 production.

On Saturday the fleet saw more of what they expected out of Lake Michigan. Ten-fifteen knot breeze, with 1-3 foot waves from the North. Cloudy conditions and the threat of rain gave a big lake feel. Conditions were reasonably consistent throughout the three races.

Sunday morning greeted the fleet with mostly sunny skies, and slightly reduced wind, still out of the North, maintaining 1-3 foot waves. A single race was held on Sunday in order to get the out-of town boats on the road.

For photos courtesy of Jan Smart, click here. See below for complete final results

Skipper Boat     Hull   Total   R1   R2   R3   R4   R5   R6   R7
1 Brad Boston Honour     123   14.00   1   1   2   1   1   2   6
2 Richard Hunt DUA      16   29.00   2   18   1   2   2   1   3
3 Peter Kitching Low Rider     184   32.00   3   2   4   3   11   7   2
4 Don Corey Uh-huh     111   34.00   6   4   3   5   3   6   7
5 Cody Hines Mini Me     147   37.00   4   6   5   9   4   5   4
6 Eric Vigrass BearTrap      23   45.00   10   5   12   7   6   4   1
7 Steven Stollman Stoked      54   48.00   9   7   9   10   5   3   5
8 Mike Bremmer FarFar      38   52.00   8   3   7   6   8   11   9
9 Charley Smart Kindred Spirit     150   59.00   5   8   8   8   10   8   12
10 Gregg Henning Goombay Smash     149   62.00   14   13   6   4   7   10   8
11 Preston Thompson Heebie-Jeebie     127   84.00   17   9   14   11   9   9   15
12 Nancy Duffy Prize     125   86.00   7   10   11   16   16   12   14
13 Fred Rampey High Plains Drifter      89   89.00   11   11   13   14   14   15   11
14 Chet Weisenmeyer Lotssknots     148   95.00   16   16   16   12   12   13   10
15 Mark Dobie Zipper/Mira     121   104.00   13   12   15   15   15   16   18
16 Tom Stout Forty-Two     142   107.00   18   19   10   17   13   14   16
17 Jeff Adams Otter      85   108.00   12   17   18   13   18   17   13
18 Bill Minardi Kije      79   119.00   15   15   19   18   17   18   17
19 David Crall Pandemonium      98   138.00   19   14   17   22f   22s   22s   22s
20 BW BillBerry Mongoose      96   154.00   22s   22s   22s   22s   22s   22s   22s
20 Alan Simonini Pinocchio     174   154.00   22s   22s   22s   22s   22s   22s   22s
 
 
(  ) = Thrown out c = DNC
Number of Boats in Series 21
a = average s = DNS
 
q = DSQ, OCS, RAF f = DNF
 
% = Percent Penalty 999 = Not Qualified