Velocitek Musto Skiff North Americans in Florida 2008

First, a word on class cooperation. Here in the US, the Mustos and Swift Solos have been getting together for regattas for quite a while. It started with Bram Daly and Ron Radko getting together in Seattle, as they both were sharing the same dock at the Corinthian Yacht Club, and we were both the only boats in town. Now, as both classes have grown, the first big benefit of joining together came to pass. We had enough boats from the Seattle area to enlist a truck to make the long drive to Florida. This made it much easier for a bigger group to participate!

As a result, we arrived refreshed in Florida, waking bright and early to meet the semi trailer packing 11 boats, and 2 support boats, camping gear, coolers, barbeques and bicycles under palm trees in glorious 75 degree weather. With group cooperation the Mustos and Swifts were unloaded in about 2 hours, and we were on the water for a free sail in a lovely 12-14 knots of breeze, and warm sunny weather. What a way to shake off the winter ice cubes, and get back used to warm weather sailing gear, and all of this in the beginning of April!
A few other boats were already there, and some more would arrive on Saturday. All total there were 7 Musto sailors and about 11 Swifties. Given that we shared a single start, and there was inter class racing at all levels throughout the fleet, this made for the largest single handed skiff gathering to date in North America. Sailors represented a number of nationalities, Americans, Canadians, Brits, and one lad who was just becoming an American citizen.

Over the next 4 days the conditions varied from light and drifting, to about 25- 30 knots offshore with nice flat water on one of the practice days. Several Musto sailors played in the heavy air day to enjoy some spectacular kite runs, and to pick up a great deal of coaching on flat wiring techniques upwind. The skills in the fleet ranged from an absolute newcomer to the class who had just picked up his boat 6 weeks before the event, to a few people who have been sailing the Mustos for quite a while now. Ron Radko and Paul Clements were sharing the coaching duties for the Musto fleet, and indeed hopped in to help out coaching some of the Swifts as well. We used a combination of techniques for coaching: 2 up sailing, shore exercises, sailing together with other boats on the water and most importantly heated discussions at the local pubs every evening! The result was a great improvement in sailing skills prior to the racing. The venue was ideally suited to training, as the glorious white sand beach allowed for incredibly easy launching and retrieval with plenty of space for a large number of boats to launch simultaneously. An unfortunate fluke accident in practice saw Paul Clements break three ribs when the foot loop he was using came apart on a very lively spinnaker run and he collided heavily with the wing rack. Many thanks to Paul for braving through obvious serious pain through the next several days, staying on shore to provide a great deal of notes and on shore commentary. The Velocitek units scattered throughout the fleet proved to be great tools at this point as well. Speeds were compared, and as a great example of how it could be used, Ron did several beats switching back and forth between wire to wire and safe tacks. Afterwards, the results were analyzed, and it showed quite conclusively that the safe tack would lose considerable height, costing several boat lengths.

The first day of racing dawned with a lovely 17-18 knots of breeze, and moderate seas. The conditions proved a little tough for a good part of the fleet with most boats taking at least one swim. Ron Radko kept the boat upright for the race and sailed to take the first win. Hays Clark and Ted Huebner had a tight battle throughout the race coming down to the last gybe before the finish, Ted capsized just before the line, and Hays held on to finish capsizing just over the line, taking a well deserved second. Ted righted to cross in third, and class newcomer Pieter Versavel came in to take fourth. Steve Lieberman worked admirably throughout the course, but opted to come in after the first lap.

After a fairly long delay for some of the newer sailors to complete the course, the second race started. Unfortunately, the breeze dropped dramatically just off the start, catching Ron off guard and dumping him in to windward just off the line. This set the stage for a race being held in dying breeze. Hays and Ted worked up towards the lead at the time for the Mustos. Ron recovered from his capsize and starting working his way up the fleet. By the second windward mark rounding, Ron had caught up to Ted, rounding just behind. Hays rounded in third a little ways behind. The conditions at this point were dropping rapidly, down to 3-4 knots with left over seas, and large holes and shifts developing throughout the course. Ted and Ron worked way out to the right side of the course, with Ron keeping Ted from gybing. They worked well past the layline, and a shift came in resulting in a vary tight spinnaker reach as they gybed for the finish. Meanwhile, Hays had snuck in behind catching a better breeze and gybing sooner. Ron couldn’t quite lay the finish line, and had to drop the kite and come back up to it, allowing Hays to sail in beautifully for a well deserved first. Ted capsized on the tight reach as the breeze filled and came in for third.

The last race of the day was held in slightly stronger breeze. In this one Pieter started to show much some of his lighter air upwind speed, and ended up battling Hays for third, taking it on the line. Ron again took first with Ted taking second.

Day two dawned with some moderate air to start, and some very strong current. The first lap was held in moderate winds, with the wind dropping off behind the leaders, making for a long trek to finish on the second lap for the tail end of the fleet. Ted put in a strong performance to come in second, Ron again taking the win, Hays taking third, and Pieter timing out at the finish. After a slight delay for the wind to shift and settle, the fifth race started with very light breeze and a very strong current. The mark had been reset right in by the beach, which made for some challenging lay line decisions to keep from grounding!

With a tight start the fleet moved off. Ron was on the right on the inside, Ted and Hays and Pieter a little ahead to the left. A fairly tight battle then ensued. Eventually Ron rounded first, followed by Ted and then Pieter with Hays struggling in the lighter wind. Ron and Ted worked a fairly close battle downwind. Ron then touched the leeward mark in the strong counter current, and after doing his circles allowed Ted to come through to take the lead. Ted rounds first with Ron right on him in the downwind. A bit of a gybing contest ensues with Ron getting the best of it and passing Ted to go on and take first, closely followed by Ted. Pieter came through for third. Followed by Hays for fourth.

The third day of racing dawned with normal weather conditions for the area. The sun was warming things up, and the sea breeze was settling in again, setting the tone for some fabulous racing and sailing to conclude the regatta. In marginal flatwiring conditions, Pieter showed great form to take the lead at the first mark. Ron worked the left side of the course followed by Hays, and Ted had split over to the right side of the course. The right side paid off allowing Ted to round just ahead of Ron, followed by Hays. Ron closed the gap down on Ted by gybing earlier on the run. This set the stage for a tight downwind race, with both boats running close together . Ron pulled the pass off but with the current Ted correctly chose the boat end of the line as favored, and the boats crossed with Ron leading by a fraction over the line. However, Ron touched the mark, so the win went to Ted after Ron had to recross. Hays came close to pipping Ron at the line for second, but didn’t quite have enough to bring it home.

The breeze continued to build as the day went on, and a tight start saw Ted take off well for the race, again doing well with the right hand side, and showing very good speed upwind. Hays got off in front of Ron and Ron and Hays again worked the left side. Ted rounded in first followed by Ron and then Hays. Another tight race for the lead developed, coming down to the gybe at the layline for the finish. Ted gybed first, with Ron crossing infront of him, and gybing underneath, blocking Ted from making the gybe to the finish. Ron then pushed Ted out a little further and gybed in to take the win, with Ted a very close second. Hays took third.
The last race of the day was held in fabulous conditions although everyone was exhausted. In the slightly variable conditions Ron got a better start and managed to get ahead of Ted on the first beat this time. Gradually pulling out to a little more comfortable lead. The final race of the regatta had Ron taking the win, Ted following in for second and clinching second in the regatta. Hays taking third, for a close third in the regatta.

Congrats to all on a fabulous regatta, held in great conditions.
After a quick pack up, the event concluded with the prize ceremony where the demonstration Velocitek SC-1 was raffled off, and other great prizes were given out. Congratulations to Ron Watt on winning the Velocitek SC-1.

Photo credits to Peggy Watt, Steven Lieberman and Warren Stevens

Sail # Sailor 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total (one out)
335 Ron Radko 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 8
326 Ted Huebner 3 3 2 3 2 1 2 2 15
278 Hays Clark 2 1 4 2 4 3 3 3 18
000 Pieter Versavel 4 4 3 DNF 3 5 4 4 27
278 Steven L DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF 4 DNF DNF