Flying Scot North American Championship 2019 at Pensacola Yacht Club - Overall
by Talbot Wilson 19 Jul 2019 01:56 BST
14-18 July 2019
Racing on the final day of the 2019 Flying Scot North American Championship in Pensacola FL sealed the deal for Zeke and Jay Horowitz. Sailing Flying Scot #6196, they took their third bullet of the series. The son-skipper and father-crew team from Annapolis MD ended as top boat overall. They had three bullets in the Qualifier Series and went 3-4-1-1-1 for 10 points after the five races in the Championship Series.
They win the class bragging rights and can proudly call themselves the 2019 Flying Scot North American Champions hoisting the Gordon K. Douglas Trophy. They sailed a near perfect race today leading from start to finish in the four-leg windward leeward course.
Second place went to Tyler and Carrie Andrews of Deer Park MD in Scot #6130 who were stuck in the pack following the first two legs, but made some good gains after tacking for a clear inside lane after a tactical rounding of the left gate in traffic. They banged hard right and made the passes they needed to hold on to second place. Horowitz's final score was 2-1-5-3-2 for 13 points in the Championship Series.
The team of Fred Soward and Oliver Byington from Corpus Christi and Austin TX in Scot #5298 came third with series scores of 5-2-2-2-4 for 15 points.
In the Challenger Series, Steve and Renee Comen of Dallas TX in Scot #6090 held a comfortable lead with nine points going into the final race. Today they sailed to a smart and safe third place covering just ahead of their closest competitor. They won The Flying Scot North American Challenger Series with scores of 1-2-3-4-3 for 12 points.
Remaining in second place was the team of Bill Vogler of Cobden IL and Mark Schillebeeckx of St Louis MO with 6-1-1-3-4 for 15 points.
Third place in the Challenger Series was the team of Chris and Gabe Hemker of Heath TX. They scored 4-10-4-1-1 for 20 points. That 10th place was a stopper.
PRO Hal Smith thanked the sailors saying, "It's been a pleasure working with you guys this week. The quality of the sailing has been outstanding."
"I've seen a number of examples excellent sportsmanship," the PRO noted, "acknowledgments of infractions and taking your turns. It's refreshing... you don't always see that. You [the Flying Scot Class] have much to be proud of."
Tyler and Carrie Andrews accepted the Teapot Trophy for second place in the Championship Series. Tyler told the crowd, "Thanks so much and thanks so much for my crew [kisses wife] for putting up with me and keeping us going fast. Congrats to Zeke and to you Fred... you sailed great for your first North Americans and just getting into the class.... This was really great competition."
Zeke Horowitz accepted the Gordon K. Douglas Trophy as the new North American Champion. He gave a huge 'thank you' to Pensacola Yacht Club, to all the volunteers and staff. He said, "Thanks for all the hospitality. It was really a great week.
To Tom Pace [Race Chairman] thanks for unbelievable organization and unparalleled enthusiasm. And gotta say thanks to Hal and the entire team on the Race Committee. I can't think of a single flaw from the Race Committee standpoint," he added. "Thanks very much."
"Thanks to Mike Dawson and the team of judges for their time this week," he noted. "for coming down here this week to make sure we all behave."
He praised his crew... his dad... for the wonderful time together out on Pensacola Bay.
The full award list is posted at Prizes.
Over 98 special and performance trophies were presented this week from daily winners, and ten deep prizes for both Challenger and Champion series participants. There were special awards to Senior and Masters series champions, to husband/wife teams and more. Greg and Daine Kampf won the prize for traveling the greatest distance to compete, 1400 or so miles from Whitinsville MA to sail on Pensacola Bay.
The Flying Scot North American Championship Regatta at Pensacola Yacht Club is supported by the international bank BBVA, by the PYC Satori Foundation, Inc. - a 501(c)3 corporation, and Bud Light and the volunteers from the club.
Next on the regional one design agenda for Pensacola YC is the First Annual Melges 24 Atlantic & Gulf Coast Championship for the "Bushwacker Cup" November 16-17.