MC Scow National Championships  

August 20-22, 2004
hosted by: Maxinkuckee Yacht Club

2004 MC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
North Sails 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10!!!

Report by Andy Burdick

 

Maxinkuckee Yacht Club Runs First Class Nationals, Exciting Racing!

The MC Scow class is quickly becoming the strongest one-design class in the USA. When you see the amount of new boats being built and raced, the number of boats attending the major regattas nationwide and the caliber of the racing you can clearly see that the MC is a hot one-design sailboat. The boat and the class lived up to its growing reputation this weekend as 89 boats invaded Culver, Indiana and the Maxinkuckee Yacht Club.

When the MYC runs a national championship it is well organized and first class. This years MC Nationals were simply amazing. A big thank you needs to go to Co-Chairmen Mary Anna Swennumson and Dixie Becker along with club Commodore Greg Furry. Also the clubs endless volunteers. The MYC team did an incredible job. Thank you.

On land festivities were first rate. The racing was exciting as well as the first day dawned with very little wind on the lake. The judging team run by Sander Sundberg waited for some real breeze to fill the lake. By the first heats start in the afternoon we saw "rail breeze".

Heat 1
The starting lines were long obviously in order to accommodate the 89 boats. This put a premium on being on the correct end of the line, in breeze, etc. By waiting at the mid line boat until 2 minutes to go it was evident that the leeward end was favored due to angle and velocity increase.
All boats were at "full power" meaning travelers centered, some heel in the boat going to weather and the outhauls eased a bit in order to power up the mainsails. Easing in the puffs and footing to go fast was key off the line. As the first beat progressed it was obvious that the left was going to win out. The left boats "skated" out too leeward due to more pressure. They tacked and crossed. In this pack were Eric Hood, David Fox, Ted Keller, Drew Mize, Andy Burdick and Jamie Kimball.

Hood rounded first followed by Burdick, Fox and Keller. As the run progressed it was obvious that the wind was taking a break and that the remaining part of the race was going to get more dicey!
Several people made runs at the lead pack. Mize, Kimball and his brother Rob Kimball, Jeff Surles and others. My focus was to remain with the leaders. Tack on their hips and stay close. We were drifting at this point so I wanted to be sure I did not make a major mistake and remove my chances of winning the championship. My approach as conservative but in the end it kept me close to the leaders and in the race.

David Fox ran away with Heat 1 while Ted Keller challenged at times. Eric Hood was 3rd, Burdick 4th and Bill Colburn from Minneapolis 5th. Bill sailed well to get into the hunt at the end of the heat. Kimball, Stadele, Cassady, Surles, Curt Miller (winner of the Masters Division heat) all were in the hunt at one time or another. Anything in the top 15 was a great race!

A Florida Jimmy Buffet Band rocked the Woodcraft Hall at Culver Academy. Wow! What a bash. All sailors were there, at times it seemed like 500 people were there. The first race was fun but the party made the day!

Day 2 brought light air, drifting, but lots of sun. We never raced but we had a lot of time to get together with our friends, talk, review boats and exciting ideas about racing them. The cocktail party hosted by the MYC was first rate. A massive raffle was held with everything from full deck covers, new sails, gear and paintings were given out. This was held in part to the generous sponsors. Melges Performance Sailboats, Harken, North Sails Zenda, McLube, Augusta Yacht Club, Advance Services, Quantum Sails, Bill Koch, Miller Brewing and Monarch Beverage/World Class Beverages, Coca-Cola, Layline, Mount Gay Rum, MYC, Culver Marina.

Thank you to all! What a spectacle! Nice job everyone.

Day 3 brought sunshine, moderate temperatures and wind. We are ready! Everyone hit the course early for the 9:30 am warning signal.

Heat 2
Again the left seemed very strong both velocity wise and line angle. JJ Haussman owned the left along with Lenny Krawcheck, Matt Cassady, Joe Schaub and Andy Burdick. The left paid especially as we approached the top mark. Burdick rounded first along Jeff Annis and Matt Cassady close behind. The race turned into a three boat race with the above names. In the end Cassady went left, Annis went right and Burdick tried to find a balance staying close to Cassady mostly because of the regatta standings at that point. In the meantime Eric Hood was battling to get into the race along with Kurt Stadele, Zack Clayton, Mark Tesar, Scott Colesworthy and Bill Colburn. Colburn was over the line and sailed his way back on adrenaline to finish 5th.

Burdick tacked to leeward of Annis to hold him off and win Heat 2. Cassady was right there too and Wow is he sailing FAST! Zack Clayton snuck in a 4th and Hood a 6th.

The stage was set for the final heat and close racing for the National Crown between Burdick, Hood, Cassady, Colburn. The breeze freshened a bit so the race proved to be exciting.

Hood, Cassady and Colburn all took crew while Burdick chose to sail solo. The decision primarily based on the weather mark location which was well under the windward shore. Again, the left side of the line paid big money and Hood jumped on the opportunity. He was winning at the top mark. Cassady was in there. Colburn battled right the second half of the beat and had some hard luck. Burdick was almost too conservative fearing a big shift on one side or the other. He stayed middle which resulted in a 15th weather mark rounding.

The race was on! Could Hood win the race and win his first National Championship? Could Cassady pass him and win? Could Burdick catch up and make a run at a championship?

On the second beat a wild left shift came in with velocity and the fleet turned around. However, Burdick was far right so what would happen there?
Hood went from 1st to 8th or so. Cassady again was right with him. Burdick battled into the weather mark at about 15 - 18th or so. What happened though was the fleet compressed. Everyone was much closer so the game become very interesting now.
Burdick rounded the offset in a shot and sailed low, very low in order to have a clear lane and clear air. This proved beneficial as he rounded close to pack of 10 boats which included Hood and Cassady. The last beat was going to decide the 2004 National Champion.

As the fleet raced up the last beat it was obvious that Brien Fox was going to win a race he sailed very well in. Jeff Surles was sailing well to be close to Fox. However, the real race was 100 yards back as Cassady, Hood and Burdick changed race course positions up the beat. Burdick again remained conservative sailing the lifts up the middle of the beat knowing that all he had to do was be close to Hood and Cassady. In two instances Burdick tacked virtually behind Hood just to tail him to parts of the course. Cassady leveraged himself a bit more going to the right side of the course.

In the end Cassady would drop to 12th as the left side remained strong and his right hand leverage did not pay off. Matt sailed an incredible regatta with finishes of a 7,3,12. Burdick passed Hood to get 4th in the race and win the regatta. Eric Hood sailed a wonderful event to post scores of a 3,6,5. Certainly Championship caliber. Burdick posted a 4,1,4 to win the MC National Championship.

Congratulations to all involved. What a great championship!

Final results:

MCSA
MC Scow National Championships
August 20-22
SERIES SUMMARY
All Boats

Pl	Sail	Skipper	From	Subgroup	1	2	3	Tot
1	2302	Andy  Burdick	LGYC/WI  - 31	U50	4	1	4	9
2	2289	Eric  Hood	LESC/FL  - 04	U50	3	6	5	14
3	2168	Matt  Cassady	No  fleet - 00	U50	7	3	12	22
4	2256	Zack  Clayton	LESC/FL  - 04	U50	16	4	6	26
5	2097	David  Fox	SLYC/MI  - 07	U50	1	13	14	28
6	2067	Kurt  Stadele	LLSC/GA  - 03	U50 & SGL	9	8	17	34
7	1928	Brien  Fox	SLYC/MI  - 07	U50	20	19	1	40
8	1933	Bill  Colburn	LHYC/MN  - 42	U50	5	5	30	40
9	2178	Mark  Tesar	CLYC/IA  - 36	U50	24	10	8	42
10	2141	James  Kimball	SLYC/MI  - 07	U50	6	12	28	46
11	2246	Rick  Trester	CLYC/WI  - 46	M & SGL	14	20	15	49
12	1841	JJ  Hausmann	PYC/WI  - 38	U50	15	7	32	54
13	1860	Jeff  Annis	ASC/GA  - 63	U50 & SGL	44	2	9	55
14	1995	Jeff  Surles	PNYC/WI  - 44	U50	11	44	2	57
15	2198	Ted  Keller	TLYC/MI  - 33	U50	2	25	33	60
16	2044	Dan  "Fuzz" Fink	LMYC/WI  - 58	U50 & SGL	33	14	16	63
17	2201	Lee  Sayler	LESC/FL  - 04	M	17	36	19	72
18	2187	Andy  Molesta	SLYC/MI  - 07	U50 & SGL	27	21	28\ZFP	76
19	2142	Rob  Kimball	SLYC/MI  - 07	U50	10	40	27	77
20	2117	John  Hans	DLYC/MI  - 28	U50 & SGL	32	24	23	79
21	1859	Glen  Walborn	SLYC/MI  - 07	U50 & SGL	22	46	13	81
22	2021	Brian  Pace	HSC/OH  - 54	U50 & SGL	50	15	18	83
23	1925	Markham  Chatterton	No  fleet - 00	U50	31	26	26	83
24	2301	Drew  Mize	AYC/TX  - 41	U50 & SGL	12	29	45	86
25	2091	Stu  Oltrogge	CLYC/IA  - 36	U50	25	37	24	86
26	1950	Mark  Marenakos	No  fleet - 00	U50 & SGL	18	59	11	88
27	2235	David  Harrison	OYC/WI  - 78	U50	23	28	38\ZFP	89
28	2006	Lewis  Conger	SYC/LA  - 01	GM & SGL	49	39	3	91
29	1596	Rick  Wilfert	OLYC/WI  - 49	U50	19	22	52	93
30	2214	Joe  Schaub	MYC/IN  - 59	U50	57	16	21	94
31	1987	Noel  Neuman	UMYC/MN  - 52	U50	43	17	36	96
32	1701	Curtiss  W. Miller	GRYC/MI  - 10	M & SGL	8	50	41	99
33	2101	Bob  Miller	DLYC/MI  - 28	GM & SGL	36	32	31	99
34	1975	Daniel  Ziegler	WSC/OK  - 32	U50 & SGL	13	31	56	100
35	2284	Mike  Risewick	No  fleet - 00	U50	35	11	55	101
36	2281	Baron  Bremer	LESC/FL  - 04	U50 & SGL	45	38	22	105
37	1751	Erich  Stabelfeldt	OLYC/WI  - 49	U50 & SGL	26	41	39	106
38	576	Robert  Heathcote	No  fleet - 00	M	37	67	7	111
39	1861	Lenny  Krawcheck	CYC/SC  - 62	GM	56	18	37	111
40	1836	Scott  Tillema	MYC/MO  - 14	U50 & SGL	34	35	56\ZFP	125
41	2261	Scott  Colesworthy	UMYC/MN  - 52	U50	51	9	66\ZFP	126
42	1940	Bill  Rembold	No  fleet - 00	M	42	27	62	131
43	2277	Terry  Mestan	CLYC/WI  - 46	M	29	52	51	132
44	1898	Jack  Sanderson	HSC/OH  - 54	M	21	45	68	134
45	1702	Skip  Moorhouse	No  fleet - 00	GM & SGL	28	47	61	136
46	2273	Ron  Curio	PYC/WI  - 38	M & SGL	30	65	44	139
47	2012	Byron  Beasley	CLYC/IA  - 36	M	48	57	34	139
48	2150	Scott  Stetter	OLYC/WI  - 49	U50 & SGL	40	58	47	145
49	2002	Guy  Mossman	No  fleet - 00	U50 & SGL	46	43	58\ZFP	147
50	2209	Greg  Sutter	PYC/WI  - 38	M & SGL	39	51	58	148
51	2205	Dave  Bedau	No  fleet - 00	U50	75	33	43	151
52	1680	John  Becker	MYC/IN  - 59	U50	58	30	64	152
53	2135	Jim  Grant	CLYC/IN  - 81	GM	52	66	35	153
54	1808	Sean Treacy		U50 & SGL	61	56	42	159
55	2161	Terry  Adams	CLYC/IN  - 35	U50	71	60	29	160
56	1856	Charles  Laffitte	No  fleet - 00	GM & SGL	68	48	46	162
57	1659	Mark  Wilfert	OLYC/WI  - 49	U50	53	23	90\DNF	166
58	2010	Walter  Schwarting	PYC/WI  - 38	MM	41	73	53	167
59	1304	Justin  Adams	WSC/OK  - 32	U50	60	61	50	171
60	2216	Jeff  Costin	MYC/IN  - 59	U50	38	54	80	172
61	1770	Ken  Bandstra	SLYC/MI  - 07	M & SGL	63	49	67	179
62	1817	Fred  Hillis	MYC/IN  - 59	GM	90\RAF	69	25	184
63	1939	Herman  van Beek	AYC/TX  - 41	GM & SGL	65	42	77	184
64	2095	Rod  Rieger	LGYC/WI  - 31	M & SGL	54	78	54	186
65	1779	Paul  Wood	LGYC/WI  - 31	U50 & SGL	66	34	90\DNF	190
66	1666	Lara  Lanka	SLYC/MI  - 07	W	55	75	60	190
67	2093	Will  Loux	DLYC/MI  - 28	JR	70	55	66	191
68	2263	Robert  Buddig	INYC  - 18	U50	80	53	59	192
69	2303	Ken  McClanahan	AYC/TX  - 41	GM & SGL	59	68	69	196
70	2199	Doug  Kiser	HSC/OH  - 54	M & SGL	67	81	49	197
71	1970	John  Bregel	No  fleet - 00	U50 & SGL	64	63	72	199
72	1529	Danielle  Ralston	GRYC/MI  - 10	W	62	77	65	204
73	1857	Lynn  Walborn	SLYC/MI  - 07	W	69	72	75	216
74	1792	Bob  Philips	MYC/IN  - 59	U50	76	70	71	217
75	2116	Gary  Schroeder	MYC/MO  - 14	U50 & SGL	77	85	57	219
76	1362	Samatha  Loxe	MYC/IN  - 59	JR & W	84	76	63	223
77	1625	John  Cochran	CLYC/IN  - 81	GM & SGL	72	62	90\DNF	224
78	1583	Bill  Draheim	No  fleet - 00	U50	47	90\DNS	90\DNS	227
79	1628	Jack  McArdle	CLYC/IN  - 81	GM	78	80	70	228
80	2026	Dave  Franckowiak	MYC/IN  - 59	U50	73	82	74	229
81	1550	Matthew  Muhlenkamp	MYC/IN  - 59	JR	74	79	76	229
82	1299	Brian  Horwood	DLYC/MI  - 28	M & SGL	85	74	73	232
83	1752	Jack  Schwindler	MYC/MO  - 14	GM & SGL	81	64	90\DNS	235
84	1799	Terry  Haug	MYC/MO  - 14	M & SGL	83	71	82	236
85	1400	Jim  Bingham	HSC/OH  - 54	U50 & SGL	82	83	78	243
86	2137	Fred  Wurster	MYC/IN  - 59	MM	79	84	81	244
87	2203	Tom  Story	MYC/IN  - 59	M & SGL	86	86	79	251
88	879	Anthony  Colalillo	MYC/IN  - 59	JR	87	90\DNS	90\DNS	267
89	1865	John  Zeglis	MYC/IN  - 59	M	90\DNC	90\DNS	90\DNS	270

R.C.Chair: Sander Sundberg
Jury Chair: Jeff Butzer
Scorekeeper: Merritt Becker
22 Aug, '04, 14:38
St. Pete Scorer
www. onedesign.com/class/mcscow/2004Nationals-FinalResults. htm