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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:

PosBow NoSail NoYacht NameSkipper / CrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7Pts
14  USA 1504LiftedJim Cunningham / Steve Hunt / Erik Shampain / Serena VilageSFYC/NYYC114713181238
235  USA 1513Odd BallJack Franco / Richard Clarke / Ben LambLIYC331913341746
364  USA 1464Skanky Genejay cross / Taylor canfield / George peet / Franny schulteNYYC151481562247
493  GBR 1493Eat Paul Ward / Charlie Cumbley / Paul ChildsRoyal Southern YC120493551554
577  USA 1477VeracityJohn Sommi / Victor Diaz de Leon / Will Ryan / Beccy AndersonShelter Island Yacht Club American Yacht Club1611123791155
654  USA 1454American BabyGeorge Francisco / Chris Larson / Chuck NorrisTCYC / NYYC108322842255
750  CAN 1501Cruel Jane 2Luke Lawrence / Andrew Macrae / Brad BostonOYS1362714196361
881  USA 1481LouiseThomas Carruthers / Bill Hardesty / Jeff ReynoldsSDYC/LTYC5101182082562
968  USA 1368Vertigo 2Chris Lanza / Tomas Hornos / Tim BanksCoral Reef Yacht Club62323101013163
1027  USA 1427STELLA BLUEStephen Benjamin / Michael Buckley / Ian Liberty / Dave HughesSeawanhaka Corinthian YC229262220863
1194  USA 1494A MacJack Jakosky / Andy Beadsworth / Brian LedbetterNHYC7117123272064
1249  HKG 1496Racer SmithyMark Thornburrow / Duncan Archer / Mike Huany / Malesh pAGERHKYC4262193714570
1319  USA 1419RebelScott Kaufman / Carlos Robles / Gonzalo Ribero / Joachim AscbenbrennerNYYC/ SIYC27221432531885
1451  CAN 1451Blackadder II (Corinthian)Andrew Cumming / John Millen / Chloe Congourdeau / Erin SauderCoral Reef Yacht Club12213340521496
1553  USA 1453OatmealMark Mandelblatt / Andrew Palfrey / Jed LeeAmerican Yacht Club23728221163297
1638  GBR 1438Swedish BLUEAnte Razmilovic / Noel Drennon / Senet BischoffYacht Club Costa Smeralda82562016244199
1796  USA 1296CarambaJose Fuentes / Marc Gauthier / Wilson Stout / Hugo RochaAnnapolis Yacht Club2916311611226100
1826  USA 926Big DawgMalcolm Lamphere / Kay Becker / Ereiner Hobbs / Monica MorganChicago YC1753211262516100
1998  USA 1398PrivateerMichael Jobin / David Gilmour / Keith Swinton / Ned BreedCorinthian Yacht Club3212245151927102
209  USA 1509Rock OnArgyle Campbell / Alex Curtiss / Mark Ivey / Jesse KirklandNHYC21181031111136102
2129  USA 1429VivaDonald Jesberg / Eric Doyle / Payson InfeliseSan Francisco YC341322723535113
2291  USA 1491MahalagaPeter Vessella / Ezra Culver / Karl AndersonBBYC/StFYC9281532123317113
2341  USA 1341EncoreDavid Huck / David Huck Skipper / Steve Girling / Colin FosterAtlanta Yacht Club313030444156116
2425  IRL 1425TquilaLuis Doreste / David Vera / Alberto VeraRCNGC2817264361039121
2578  USA 1378The MartianMarvin Beckmann / Tomas Dietrich / Luke Patience / Marina CanoHouston Yacht Club18DSQ1224292319125
2663  USA 1363War CanoeMichael Goldfarb / Chris Rast / Giulio Desiderato / Matteo RamianNYYC14243839241713130
2773  USA 1373VictoryVictor Cribb / Alec Anderson / Mark Spearman / BB BellacosaCoral Reef2042530382714134
2861  BER 671RenegadeJohn Hele / Jeremy Wilmot / Jim GibsonRBYC / IPYC4129296132930136
2956  USA 1456FreedomD Craig Mense / Fredrik Bergstrom / Nikki Bruno / Fred StrammerChicago Yacht Club2293417313033142
3039  USA 1397Tar & Feathered (Corinthian)Don Dowd / Sandy Weil / Bill LynnAmerican Yacht Club/NYYC35DSQ1841232610153
3118  GBR 1418ExabyteShaun Frohlich / Duncan Truswell / Ed WrightRORC RSnYC25154425303823156
3244  GBR 1441HighlifePeter Rogers / Ben Cooper / Duncan YeabsleyRLYC42331318333929165
3369  USA 1469BlackfishRonald Zarrella / Rob Scrivener / Adam MinoprioGreat Harbor Yacht Club3336163641429171
3411  USA 1177Big ERick Merriman / Phil Trinter / Jackson BenvenuttiNYYC/SDYC30193638144034171
3555  USA 1455ArenaJames Markby / David Bedford / Will BedfordRLymYC26322133392831171
3631  CAN 319319 (Corinthian)Andre Beese / Bruce Scott / Aiden YoungOYS36432537174121177
3790  USA 1090Leading Edge (Corinthian)Jeff Dever / Kyle Assad / Scott Hoffman / Rachel HoffmannCoral Reef Yacht Club / PBSC40352027433724183
3812  USA 1012Natasha (Corinthian)Ted Hardenbergh / Jamie Hardenbergh / Mark HardenberghMassabesic YC24314034423428191
3915  USA 1415La TormentaShannon W Bush / Emory Williams / Evan Aras / Charlie HibbenCRYC/NYYC1937352140DNFDNS199
407  USA 1307Nemesis (Corinthian)Jeff Nehms / Tom Dawson / Fred ChandlerBiscayne Bay YC3838454593142203
415  CAN 1305It's A(nother) Conspiracy (Corinthian)Adrian Hanley / Peter Draycott / Oliver HanleyOYS/ BHYC37413742272240204
4210  USA 291Mendocino (Corinthian)Hayden Scott / Frank Keesling / Gavin ScottDillon Yacht Club45464629184444226
4371  USA 1371Flying ColorsKen Womack / Don Peckman / Wes GrahamTexas Corinthian Yacht Club393443462836DNF226
4414  GBR 1409ADADavid Maclean / Sul Sahota / Harry Blowers / Quentin Bes GreenCowes Yacht Haven43393928454343235
4575  IRL 1375JaJaAlex Lacy / William Lacy / Andrew Crosbie / Diana KissaneHowth YCDNF454135443238235
4622  USA 1202Jeremiah (Corinthian)Jonah Pruitt / David Bannister / Johnny GleasonCoral Reef Yacht Club44444243464537255

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