RECENT COVERAGE : March 3, 2007
 

The Most Unpredictable End to a Fantastic Series
By Lynn Fitzpatrick

This morning's posting was prescient, but I never would have expected the Etchells Midwinters and Jaguar Series to end the way it did.  We were postponed on the water until the sea breeze beat out the forecast westerly.  Going in to the day, Jud Smith’s and Oscar Strugstad's teams were tied for the lead in the Jaguar Series, yet Oscar had over a 20 point lead on Jud for the regatta.  The boat's Midwinter's score must be included when scoring the series. 

Jud had a long day.  He rose early following the Yachtsman of the Year awards ceremony at which he was honored, and he just could not get a break.  He never was able to take advantage of a huge right shift up the second beat.  While Jud was sailing his throughout race, Oscar Strugstad was duking it out among the leaders.  As can happen on a Saturday on any gorgeous body of water, a powerboat came through the race course.  This one was a 65-footer that separated GBR 1361 from the fleet as a prize herd dog would single out a stray lamb.  Its wake was so large that as the Etchells pounded through the first wave the crew held the shrouds to try to minimize the pounding of the rig.  As the Dawn Raid got slammed by the second wave, the rig snapped at the deck!  

While Oscar, Andy Beadsworth and Simon Fry were cleaning up the debris and rolling the sails that they managed to retrieve, Chuck Coyer was able to get by Hank Lammons on the last run to take the bullet in the last race of the regatta and of the Jaguar series.  Scott Piper finished eighth in the race and second in the regatta.   Phil Garland finished two points ahead of Scott Piper in the race and was seventh in the Midwinters. 

With protests to be heard following the race, the winner of the Jaguar Series was a mystery until the prizes were awarded.  Phil Garland, one of the founders of Hall Spars, who was in striking distance of the leaders going into the day, had very little to say when he was awarded the perpetual trophy for winning the 2007 Etchells Jaguar Series other than he  “really felt sorry for Oscar and his crew” over them losing their rig.  Having sailed Key West Race Week and the SORC for many years, Phil purchased his first Etchells in 2000 to sail the Jaguar Series.  He’s “been in the money” for many of the Jaguar Series that he has sailed.  Following the ceremony, Phil thanked those who crewed for him over throughout the series - Moose McClintock, Paul Murphy, Peter Eagan and Dave Moffet.  He also praised Biscayne Bay Yacht Club and the race management for their great work.  The quality of the race management, the hospitality and the sailing conditions are what keep Phil and a growing number of teams coming back year after year for this incredibly competitive series.

Etchells Midwinters – 1. Hank Lammons – 28 pts., 2. Scott Piper – 40 pts., 3. Byron Erhart – 50 pts., 4. Bruce Golison/Steve Flam – 51 pts., 5. Tom Hughes – 53 pts., 6. George Andreadis – 54 pts., 7.  Phil Garland – 56 pts., 8. Tim Hotchkiss – 58 pts., 9. Peter Duncan – 59 pts., 10.  Chuck Coyer – 62 pts., 11. Oscar Strugstad – 64 pts.

Etchells Jaguar Series – 1. Phil Garland, 2. Oscar Strugstad, 3. Scott Piper.