Spring Break Miami for Etchells Sailors is a North American Championship
by Etchells Class - Worlds 2023 Media Team 20 Mar 2023 14:16 GMT
March 17-19, 2023
While Spring Breakers descend on Miami this time of year to escape the end of winter, 156 Etchells sailors took to Biscayne Bay for their own kind of fun: The Coral Reef Cup. This 3-day regatta March 17-19th sponsored by EFG Bank and LA Tropical Brewery served not only as the class' 2023 North American Championships but the final chance for teams to race at the host venue for next month's 2023 AON World Etchells Class Championships.
Following a successful four-event Winter Series hosted by Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, their neighbors, Coral Reef Yacht Club, served as host for the 46 teams and ran seven races with social events throughout the weekend complete with a Miami-style Pig Roast.
Chris Lanza, event chair and skipper of Vertigo 2 (USA 1368) said: "Despite a predicated cold front and rain all weekend, the luck of the Irish held on past St. Patrick's day and provided chamber of commerce sailing conditions the entire event. PRO Carl Schellbach and his team were able to provide seven quality races over the 3 day event."
"Finally really nice conditions in Miami," said class meteorologist, Chelsea Carlson of Sea-Tactics referring to the multiple abandonments due to weather this winter. "Biscayne Bay delivered three days of solid wind - exactly what we are hoping for in April and good preparation for the teams. Friday we had a southeasterly at 11-14 knots, Saturday was a 6-11 knot southerly, and Sunday was northeast 10-15."
At the end of Friday after 3 races, Steve Benjamin with his brand new Etchells, Stella Blue (USA 1427), was at the top of the podium with all top 10 finishes with George Francisco's American Baby (USA 1454) just behind followed by the Winter Series Champion Jim Cunningham's Lifted (USA 1504).
Saturday then started with winds in the 8-12 knot range but then died to 5 knots, so the fifth race was postponed until the breeze filled back in. Once six races were completed, teams could throw out their worst race. Cunningham climbed to the top of the results on Saturday and continued to hold onto his momentum through Sunday becoming the new 2023 North American Champion.
Cunningham and crew, Steve Hunt, Erik Shampain, and Serena Vilage, are finally the brides not the bridesmaids after multiple recent second-place finishes - including the 2022 North Americans held at Shelter Harbor Yacht Club on Long Island last summer.
"It feels pretty good to finally break through with the win here at the North Americans," said Cunningham. "As usual with the Etchells fleet, it is super deep and talented and you have to get it all right to have a good race. This event was no different as we had seven races with seven different winners. We're feeling good heading into the Worlds in four weeks."
Topping the Corinthian podium was also the Winter Series winner, Andy Cumming with Blackadder II (CAN 1451) with fellow Toronto natives, John Millen, Chloe Congourdeau, and Erin Sauder. Cunning says he is "deeply committed to the Corinthian spirit in this class" and has been actively working to promote the sub-class to encourage more participation and the health of the sport overall.
Standing on the overall podium and only separated by one point were Jack Franco, Richard Clarke, and Ben Lamb in second place with Odd Ball (USA 1513) followed by Jay Cross, Taylor Canfield, George Peet, and Franny Schulte on Skanky Gene (USA 1464).
Now all eyes and focus of the sailors are on the World Championships that will begin on April 17th co-hosted by Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, Coral Reef Yacht Club, and Shake-A-Leg Miami. 65 boats from 9 countries, the largest Etchells Worlds since 2014, will vie for the top award. Among the fleet are 12 World Champions and many National Champions, including today's winner. Stay tuned to 2023.etchellsworlds.org for the latest.
A special recognition to EFG Miami and LA Tropical Brewery who supported The Coral Reef Cup.
Overall Results:
Pos | Bow No | Sail No | Yacht Name | Skipper / Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | Pts |
1 | 4 | USA 1504 | Lifted | Jim Cunningham / Steve Hunt / Erik Shampain / Serena Vilage | SFYC/NYYC | 11 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 12 | 38 |
2 | 35 | USA 1513 | Odd Ball | Jack Franco / Richard Clarke / Ben Lamb | LIYC | 3 | 3 | 19 | 13 | 34 | 1 | 7 | 46 |
3 | 64 | USA 1464 | Skanky Gene | jay cross / Taylor canfield / George peet / Franny schulte | NYYC | 15 | 14 | 8 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 47 |
4 | 93 | GBR 1493 | Eat
| Paul Ward / Charlie Cumbley / Paul Childs | Royal Southern YC | 1 | 20 | 4 | 9 | 35 | 5 | 15 | 54 |
5 | 77 | USA 1477 | Veracity | John Sommi / Victor Diaz de Leon / Will Ryan / Beccy Anderson | Shelter Island Yacht Club
American Yacht Club | 16 | 11 | 1 | 23 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 55 |
6 | 54 | USA 1454 | American Baby | George Francisco / Chris Larson / Chuck Norris | TCYC / NYYC | 10 | 8 | 3 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 22 | 55 |
7 | 50 | CAN 1501 | Cruel Jane 2 | Luke Lawrence / Andrew Macrae / Brad Boston | OYS | 13 | 6 | 27 | 14 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 61 |
8 | 81 | USA 1481 | Louise | Thomas Carruthers / Bill Hardesty / Jeff Reynolds | SDYC/LTYC | 5 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 20 | 8 | 25 | 62 |
9 | 68 | USA 1368 | Vertigo 2 | Chris Lanza / Tomas Hornos / Tim Banks | Coral Reef Yacht Club | 6 | 23 | 23 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 1 | 63 |
10 | 27 | USA 1427 | STELLA BLUE | Stephen Benjamin / Michael Buckley / Ian Liberty / Dave Hughes | Seawanhaka Corinthian YC | 2 | 2 | 9 | 26 | 22 | 20 | 8 | 63 |
11 | 94 | USA 1494 | A Mac | Jack Jakosky / Andy Beadsworth / Brian Ledbetter | NHYC | 7 | 1 | 17 | 12 | 32 | 7 | 20 | 64 |
12 | 49 | HKG 1496 | Racer Smithy | Mark Thornburrow / Duncan Archer / Mike Huany / Malesh pAGE | RHKYC | 4 | 26 | 2 | 19 | 37 | 14 | 5 | 70 |
13 | 19 | USA 1419 | Rebel | Scott Kaufman / Carlos Robles / Gonzalo Ribero / Joachim Ascbenbrenner | NYYC/ SIYC | 27 | 22 | 14 | 3 | 25 | 3 | 18 | 85 |
14 | 51 | CAN 1451 | Blackadder II (Corinthian) | Andrew Cumming / John Millen / Chloe Congourdeau / Erin Sauder | Coral Reef Yacht Club | 12 | 21 | 33 | 40 | 5 | 21 | 4 | 96 |
15 | 53 | USA 1453 | Oatmeal | Mark Mandelblatt / Andrew Palfrey / Jed Lee | American Yacht Club | 23 | 7 | 28 | 2 | 21 | 16 | 32 | 97 |
16 | 38 | GBR 1438 | Swedish BLUE | Ante Razmilovic / Noel Drennon / Senet Bischoff | Yacht Club Costa Smeralda | 8 | 25 | 6 | 20 | 16 | 24 | 41 | 99 |
17 | 96 | USA 1296 | Caramba | Jose Fuentes / Marc Gauthier / Wilson Stout / Hugo Rocha | Annapolis Yacht Club | 29 | 16 | 31 | 16 | 1 | 12 | 26 | 100 |
18 | 26 | USA 926 | Big Dawg | Malcolm Lamphere / Kay Becker / Ereiner Hobbs / Monica Morgan | Chicago YC | 17 | 5 | 32 | 11 | 26 | 25 | 16 | 100 |
19 | 98 | USA 1398 | Privateer | Michael Jobin / David Gilmour / Keith Swinton / Ned Breed | Corinthian Yacht Club | 32 | 12 | 24 | 5 | 15 | 19 | 27 | 102 |
20 | 9 | USA 1509 | Rock On | Argyle Campbell / Alex Curtiss / Mark Ivey / Jesse Kirkland | NHYC | 21 | 18 | 10 | 31 | 11 | 11 | 36 | 102 |
21 | 29 | USA 1429 | Viva | Donald Jesberg / Eric Doyle / Payson Infelise | San Francisco YC | 34 | 13 | 22 | 7 | 2 | 35 | 35 | 113 |
22 | 91 | USA 1491 | Mahalaga | Peter Vessella / Ezra Culver / Karl Anderson | BBYC/StFYC | 9 | 28 | 15 | 32 | 12 | 33 | 17 | 113 |
23 | 41 | USA 1341 | Encore | David Huck / David Huck Skipper / Steve Girling / Colin Foster | Atlanta Yacht Club | 31 | 30 | 30 | 44 | 4 | 15 | 6 | 116 |
24 | 25 | IRL 1425 | Tquila | Luis Doreste / David Vera / Alberto Vera | RCNGC | 28 | 17 | 26 | 4 | 36 | 10 | 39 | 121 |
25 | 78 | USA 1378 | The Martian | Marvin Beckmann / Tomas Dietrich / Luke Patience / Marina Cano | Houston Yacht Club | 18 | DSQ | 12 | 24 | 29 | 23 | 19 | 125 |
26 | 63 | USA 1363 | War Canoe | Michael Goldfarb / Chris Rast / Giulio Desiderato / Matteo Ramian | NYYC | 14 | 24 | 38 | 39 | 24 | 17 | 13 | 130 |
27 | 73 | USA 1373 | Victory | Victor Cribb / Alec Anderson / Mark Spearman / BB Bellacosa | Coral Reef | 20 | 42 | 5 | 30 | 38 | 27 | 14 | 134 |
28 | 61 | BER 671 | Renegade | John Hele / Jeremy Wilmot / Jim Gibson | RBYC / IPYC | 41 | 29 | 29 | 6 | 13 | 29 | 30 | 136 |
29 | 56 | USA 1456 | Freedom | D Craig Mense / Fredrik Bergstrom / Nikki Bruno / Fred Strammer | Chicago Yacht Club | 22 | 9 | 34 | 17 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 142 |
30 | 39 | USA 1397 | Tar & Feathered (Corinthian) | Don Dowd / Sandy Weil / Bill Lynn | American Yacht Club/NYYC | 35 | DSQ | 18 | 41 | 23 | 26 | 10 | 153 |
31 | 18 | GBR 1418 | Exabyte | Shaun Frohlich / Duncan Truswell / Ed Wright | RORC
RSnYC | 25 | 15 | 44 | 25 | 30 | 38 | 23 | 156 |
32 | 44 | GBR 1441 | Highlife | Peter Rogers / Ben Cooper / Duncan Yeabsley | RLYC | 42 | 33 | 13 | 18 | 33 | 39 | 29 | 165 |
33 | 69 | USA 1469 | Blackfish | Ronald Zarrella / Rob Scrivener / Adam Minoprio | Great Harbor Yacht Club | 33 | 36 | 16 | 36 | 41 | 42 | 9 | 171 |
34 | 11 | USA 1177 | Big E | Rick Merriman / Phil Trinter / Jackson Benvenutti | NYYC/SDYC | 30 | 19 | 36 | 38 | 14 | 40 | 34 | 171 |
35 | 55 | USA 1455 | Arena | James Markby / David Bedford / Will Bedford | RLymYC | 26 | 32 | 21 | 33 | 39 | 28 | 31 | 171 |
36 | 31 | CAN 319 | 319 (Corinthian) | Andre Beese / Bruce Scott / Aiden Young | OYS | 36 | 43 | 25 | 37 | 17 | 41 | 21 | 177 |
37 | 90 | USA 1090 | Leading Edge (Corinthian) | Jeff Dever / Kyle Assad / Scott Hoffman / Rachel Hoffmann | Coral Reef Yacht Club / PBSC | 40 | 35 | 20 | 27 | 43 | 37 | 24 | 183 |
38 | 12 | USA 1012 | Natasha (Corinthian) | Ted Hardenbergh / Jamie Hardenbergh / Mark Hardenbergh | Massabesic YC | 24 | 31 | 40 | 34 | 42 | 34 | 28 | 191 |
39 | 15 | USA 1415 | La Tormenta | Shannon W Bush / Emory Williams / Evan Aras / Charlie Hibben | CRYC/NYYC | 19 | 37 | 35 | 21 | 40 | DNF | DNS | 199 |
40 | 7 | USA 1307 | Nemesis (Corinthian) | Jeff Nehms / Tom Dawson / Fred Chandler | Biscayne Bay YC | 38 | 38 | 45 | 45 | 9 | 31 | 42 | 203 |
41 | 5 | CAN 1305 | It's A(nother) Conspiracy (Corinthian) | Adrian Hanley / Peter Draycott / Oliver Hanley | OYS/ BHYC | 37 | 41 | 37 | 42 | 27 | 22 | 40 | 204 |
42 | 10 | USA 291 | Mendocino (Corinthian) | Hayden Scott / Frank Keesling / Gavin Scott | Dillon Yacht Club | 45 | 46 | 46 | 29 | 18 | 44 | 44 | 226 |
43 | 71 | USA 1371 | Flying Colors | Ken Womack / Don Peckman / Wes Graham | Texas Corinthian Yacht Club | 39 | 34 | 43 | 46 | 28 | 36 | DNF | 226 |
44 | 14 | GBR 1409 | ADA | David Maclean / Sul Sahota / Harry Blowers / Quentin Bes Green | Cowes Yacht Haven | 43 | 39 | 39 | 28 | 45 | 43 | 43 | 235 |
45 | 75 | IRL 1375 | JaJa | Alex Lacy / William Lacy / Andrew Crosbie / Diana Kissane | Howth YC | DNF | 45 | 41 | 35 | 44 | 32 | 38 | 235 |
46 | 22 | USA 1202 | Jeremiah (Corinthian) | Jonah Pruitt / David Bannister / Johnny Gleason | Coral Reef Yacht Club | 44 | 44 | 42 | 43 | 46 | 45 | 37 | 255 |