New Page 1

From The Starting Line...

Newspost of the JY15 Class Association

Brian and Robert Simkins Win 2005 JY15 Midwinters

Brian Simkins, along with his crouton, (9year old, 80 lb son), wrested the lead away from Mark and Lisa Allen on the final day of racing to take the title home to Centerport, NY.

As racing was set to begin on Friday, the forecast was for sunny skies, low 60’s and wind from the SW at 15-20 mph. All of the heavyweights were licking their chops in anticipation of a building breeze as they left the beach in a 5-10 mph southwesterly. The breeze never showed up and the light weights ruled the day starting with a near horizon job by Jeff and Meggi Johnstone. Brian and Robert Simkins won the second race with Mark and Lisa Allen winning the third to take the clubhouse lead after the first day.

After pizza, beer, 18 holes of putt-putt golf and some much needed sleep, the fat boys were once again licking their chops over the promise of 15-25 mph winds. Once again, they were disappointed. We were greeted at the club by south winds at about 1-3 mph. After a brief postponement, the wind once again filled in from the SW at about 5-8 mph. In the first race Joe Pelosi (who showed up with his own 65 lb piece of rail meat (Jimmy)) obviously had to be OCS by at least ten boat lengths. He won the favored pin and never looked back completing the only other near horizon job of the regatta. Mark and Lisa Allen won the second race of the day as the top three boats began to distance themselves from the rest of the fleet. The third race of the day was the shortest of the regatta. The race committee sent us off on a one lap windward leeward assuring us the ability to get in four races for the day. Newcomer (new to most of us anyway) Alex Conway sailing with Cindy Hwang came away with the win with Jeff and Meggi Johnstone right behind them. The Simkins and Allens ended up using this race as their throwout. The last race of the day ended up with the Simkins’, Johnstones and Allens taking three of the top four spots. For dinner, we followed our keg over to Clearwater Yacht Club and joined in on their “All American Cookout”.

For the heavyweights, all hope was pretty much gone. There were only two races left to sail and the forecast was for 5-7 mph out of the SW. They lied again. We were greeted at the sailing

center by a 10-12 mph southerly. After an attempt by the fat boys to amend the SI’s to read 12 races on Sunday and no signals after midnight failed, we set out to sail the final two races. At this point in time the Allens led the Simkins’ by only 1 point with the Johnstones another 3 back. Sunday’s first race was pretty intense. Cutter Smith sailing with his fiancée, Stacey Eder, won while behind them, the next 5 boats finished within a 3 second span. The Hoyes pulled out the second, and after a beautiful job of aggressive covering over the Allens, the Simkins’ pulled off a third followed by John Potter and Butch Mumma, the Johnstones, and the Allens.

The final race was sailed in a building southerly. The Simkins’ now led the regatta for the first time; two points ahead of the Allens. The Johnstones were still within striking distance, five points back. With 14-16 mph winds, the heavyweights finally had enough wind to make something happen. Potter/Mumma came away with the win followed by the Hoyes and Smith/Eder. The Simkins’ managed a fourth, two boats ahead of the Allens, which gave them the title by four points. The Johnstones rounded out the top three. The top master award went to the team of Chris Vann and Amy Williams. The top parent/child trophy went to Joe and Jimmy Pelosi while David and Misty Hoye won the top husband/wife award in their first year of eligibility. Lydia and Charlie Fayal were the top junior team.

For the first time in a JY15 regatta, the fleet was split into Gold and Silver fleets. Top Silver fleet honors went to Alex Conway/ Cindy Hwang followed by Aaron Boesenecker/Paul Mathews with Peter and Cathy Buckley in third. This will become the norm in future Midwinter and North American Championship regattas.

On behalf of the JY15 Class Association we thank the Clearwater Community Sailing Center and the Clearwater Yacht Club for hosting this regatta. We also thank Hunter Marine Corporation for their contribution of cash, trophies, spare parts, vehicles and personnel, without which we could not have had this event.

80 Bradley Corners Road, Madison, CT 06443

webmaster@jyca.org