Wadewidz Regatta race report
Wadewidz Regatta race report
Wadewidz Regatta (Finns) race report
Fairhope YC Alabama, September 24/25th
Temperatures of 90°F, very high humidity and very little wind were in evidence on the first day of the regatta. The Race Officer finally started after short postponement for the wind to fill in to about 5 knots. Louie Nady leading away from the start followed by Mike Woodhead and Charlie Maule. The wind fitfully moved round from north east to east, allowing the Race Officer to reposition the weather mark for the second lap. Charlie Maule picked up a shift and got by the “over heating” Woodhead. On the final downwind leg to the finish, Nady, Maule and Woodhead searched for wind but to little avail as they finished in that order with Nick Turley fourth. After a 2.5 hours postponement on the water in overwhelming heat, the wind filled in slightly from the south and the second race was started. Louie Nady dominated from the start, from Jim Hunter and Charlie Maule with Nick Turley again finishing fourth. With supplies of liquid running out, the Race Officer sent the fleet back to shore to enjoy the pool and excellent YC dinner.
The second day brought more wind with an 8 to 10 knot breeze blowing out of the west. Fleet started with Jim Hunter taking the lead up the first beat and although challenged by Louie Nady and Charlie Maule, could not be caught. Race four started with a touch more wind and the sea breeze pulling the direction down to the south west. Louie Nady controlled the race from start to finish with second place being fought for strongly between Hunter, Maule, Woodhead and Turley. The first downwind leg brought a great deal of action as Woodhead briefly moved in to second place but upwind, Hunter regained second, Maule third and Woodhead fourth.
The final race was held in 12 knots breeze, the wind coming from the south. On the first beat, Woodhead took the left hand side of the course which famously on Mobile Bay pays in the early afternoon which it appeared to be doing in this case until a wind shift close to the mark allowed Maule and Nady through. On the second beat, Jim Hunter gained third place. Woodhead and Turley fought hard for fourth with the position going to the former. This left Louie Nady first position followed by Charlie Maule and Jim Hunter.
1st Louie Nady USA 150 Fairhope YC 7 points
2nd Charlie Maule USA 6 Chicago YC 12 points
3rd Jim Hunter USA 4 Buccaneer YC 13 points
4th Mike Woodhead GBR 16 West Riding SC 22 points
5th Nick Turley GBR 668 West Riding SC 23 points
6th John Robertson USA 30 Palm Beach SC 29 points
