No longer a Brides Maid
The 2007
EC-12 Nationals, held in
Charleston
South Carolina, is in the books
and we have a new champion. David Brawner had a convincing win
by over 26 points in a 51 boat fleet, the largest gathering yet
for the East Coast 12 Meter class. While this is his first NCR
victory in the 12’s, he is certainly not new to the class or
model yachting. David Brawner has been a mover and shaker for
years now. He has given countless hours of his time to fleet
building, helping others, and as a manufacturer for a while. He
has also been instrumental in protecting the EC-12 Classes
longevity with his contributions to the ’95 hull standard
program and to the current class owned mold program. It’s people
like him that we need to thank for the growth and success of the
EC-12‘s class, the fun that we are having now, and for the good
years to come.
It’s
about time! Dave has come close but never pulled it off before.
He has always been a top helmsman with tons of podium finishes
(I think he just rebuilt his workshop this past year and rumor
has it that he used wood from all of the trophies he has won to
do it). He has also won the J Nationals several times. Class
records show that in the last 15 EC-12 Nationals, Dave has
attended at least 13 times and has placed second at 4 of them
and RD’d three including the last two in a row for ’05 and ’06.
And finally after the two year break, the one he was looking for
came. Congratulations Dave on a well deserved victory.
Wednesday, October 31st
Skippers
started arriving at the lake around mid morning to get a jump on
measuring. Staff members Ron Brown, Ed Atkinson, Mike Mulroy and
myself managed to get everyone checked in with no real snags or
delays. Thank you, guys, for a job well done. I was not looking
forward to measuring 51 boats but you made it smooth.
Meanwhile,
out on the lake, sailors had an opportunity to check their gear
and tune and test new equipment after they had passed through
the measuring tent. It was an overcast day with a few sprinkles
and a NE wind around 6-12. I think a few pulled out their B rigs
just to check them out but it was an A rig day.
At around 5:30 pm, most headed over to the
James Island Yacht Club to have a few cocktails and shoot the
bull. Then it was time to grab a bite to eat and start thinking
about getting serious and being prepared for the morning.
Thursday, November 1st
The
weather was warm and sunny with winds oscillating between NE and
NNE at about 4-12 mph. The course was a long rectangle with 2 ½
laps for about 2,200ft of total distance sailed (and walked).
The
fleet was divided into three groups for the seeding races. After
a skippers meeting, group 1 went in the water and sailed two
races then group 2 and then group 3. Once the scores were
totaled by Sir Francis of Graham and Lady Linda, skippers were
seeded into one of three fleets designated by colored clothes
pins and their best score was carried in. Using the Equal
Opportunity Racing System (EORS) of promotion relegation, the
Regatta began with four boats moving up and down between fleets.
This put 19 boats on the line for the red fleet, 20 for the blue
and 20 for the gold.
Those
carrying in first place finishes from the seeds were defending
champ Jarl Wathne, Brawner, Skip Allen, Gerhard Kelter, Bruce
Walton, and Dennis McInerney. After a short lunch break and
another skipper’s meeting we managed to get three complete
rotations in before it was special coke time, the first and
third heat was won by Brawner and the second by Chris Kakavas.
The forerunners of the day were Dave with 10 points, John
Bottensek with 11, Baron Bremer with 17, Dave Ramos at 18 with
Wathne and Kakavas tied at 23. The remainder of the evening was
left open.
Friday, November 2nd
Cool,
breezy and overcast with NNE winds shifting to NE at 12-18 mph
and gusts to 22. The same course was used from yesterday.
Today was
the day where everyone really got to test themselves and their
equipment. For all those who had one, it was B rigs on all day
long and a boat or two chose to stay onshore because they were
not equipped. I also saw a C rig come out for a while. For some
sailors it took some time to get their boats settled down and
get used to handling it in the breeze. With a few wrong wiggles
of the thumb and some slow reaction times, quite a few rigs came
down this day due to collisions and staff member Mike Mulroy
stayed busy in the dingy. Considering the large fleet size and
the traffic, I was pleased overall with how most handled
themselves. Yes, there were some screw-ups but just about all
were resolved on the water by the fouling skipper doing turns
and redresses were later granted for those that were severely
taken out. Most breakdowns were repairable and very few required
multiple heats to fix.
But then
there was the incident between Gerhard Kelter’s SWE18 and Joe
Walter’s #24. The result was Gerhard being holed and almost sunk
before he reached the bank. It was enough to fry his electronics
so Joe, being in the wrong, immediately retired from the regatta
and offered Gerhard his boat. It was a true show of
sportsmanship and another demonstration of the quality of people
who are involved with this class. Kelter gladly accepted and
sailed the remainder of the regatta with Joe’s brand new boat
and Joe became a volunteer staff member.
When the
day was done, six more rotations had been completed and the heat
winners were Kakavas, Brawner, Ramos, Alan Perkins, Kakavas and
Brawner. The leader board still showed Brawner in first with a
raw score of 46.2, Kakavas with 58, Wathne with 59, Bremer at
61, Bottensek with 68 and Ramos with 70. Dave Ramos would have
been just twelve points out of the lead after a throw out and in
second place if it were not for a loss in the protest room at
the end of the day. The evening was open once again.
Saturday, November 3rd
Weather
was cool and sunny with NNW winds at 2-10 mph. The course was
the same shape and length but was moved to our lake’s North
side.
The
day started off with a demonstration by Scott Vernon that the
P/R racing system is one of the fairest. Scott started the
morning in the red fleet, got promoted to blue, got promoted to
gold and then won it. Yes, all the way from the bottom to the
top.
The
wind at times was very light, especially at the top end of the
course. It eventually filled in but the morning rounded out the
regatta as a test of skill in all conditions. All three days
required good starts, excellent boat speed and great handling to
stay on top. Five more rotations were completed to make it a
total of 14 heats scored plus the carry over from the seeding
races. One throw out was given.
The
heat winners of the day in addition to
Vernon
were Skip Allen, Ramos, Bob Greer and Jack Wubbe. In the end,
Dave Brawner, with 50.2 points wins the title along with three
gold chevrons, Jarl Wathne was second with 77 and Baron Bremer
was third with 93. One point back in fourth was Dave Ramos with
94, Chris Kakavas with 97 and Rick West worked his way up the
board to finish in sixth with 123 points. These were the six
trophy winners who received the beautiful hand made half hull
creations made by our local and original C.M.Y.C. member Bill
Coates. Bill carved and made the trophies at RV campgrounds as
he and Ginny traveled the country for two months prior to the
event. Erv Kaeser did the clear coating on the top three
afterwards.
The
awards banquet was held in Downtown Charleston at the Boathouse
Restaurant with 74 seated. After drinks and dinner, while coffee
and desert were being served, Rick West took the floor for his
annual NCR class address. David and Lisa Brawner were honored
with the EC-12 lifetime achievement award for years of dedicated
service and sacrifice to the class. Joe Walter was recognized
for offering Gerhard his boat and was named Sportsman of the
Year. Rick Gerry then called out the finishing positions and
scores and I handed out the trophies. David Brawner also took
the perpetual bell home which has undergone some renovation with
an additional floor added. He also received the Mount Gay Rum
Trophy for the year. These trophies are becoming way too
comfortable living where they are in Region 2 (wink).
In
general I think the Regatta went well and the feedback since has
been very positive. The planning, organization and
administration of this event was most certainly a team effort
and many thanks are due. A big thank you to Frank and Linda
Angel for stepping up over a year ago and agreeing to be in
charge of scoring, fleet and frequency management, to Joe Walter
for setting up the website and keeping it up to date, to Rick
West for organizing all of the data in spreadsheets and taking
the entries. Also to Rick Gerry (a.k.a. The Whip or Chief of
bull horn) for being my wing man and keeping things moving.
Thank you Ken Morrison, our Senior US Sailing Judge and race
starter who came directly from Annapolis where he acted
as chief judge in the U.S. Offshore Championship sailed in Navy
44’s. Ken also helped to keep the starting line square and
offered input on course adjustments. Thanks to Ron Brown, Ed
Atkinson and Mike Mulroy for conducting the measuring, chasing
clothes pins, watching marks and operating the chase boat and to
Bill and Ginny Coates for sorting the lunches, firing up the
coffee pot and making the trophies.
I hope
everyone enjoyed themselves in
Charleston, it was a pleasure to serve
the class and I look forward to being on the starting line in
’08.
Reichard
Kahle Jr.
Regatta
Director
Photo links:
Day 1 photos by John McMillan
http://picasaweb.google.com/kahle67/2007EC12NationalsDay1
Day 2 photos by Jim Kransberger
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/thumbpage.aspx?e=3252470
Day 3 photos by Bob Greer
http://picasaweb.google.com/greerdr/2007Nationals
Photos from Frank and Linda http://picasaweb.google.com/kahle67/2007EC12NationalsPicturesFromFrankAndLinda
2007 EC-12 National Championship Regatta
|
Skipper
|
Sail
|
|
Seed
C/O
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
T/O
|
Final
|
1
|
D.
Brawner
|
53
|
|
1
|
1
|
7
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
3.2
|
24
|
1
|
6
|
2
|
5
|
8
|
7
|
24
|
50.2
|
2
|
J.
Wathne
|
88
|
|
1
|
11
|
2
|
9
|
5
|
2
|
5
|
4
|
15
|
5
|
2
|
12
|
9
|
6
|
4
|
15
|
77
|
3
|
B.
Bremer
|
81
|
|
4
|
3
|
8
|
2
|
3
|
12
|
2
|
17
|
2
|
8
|
3
|
4
|
19
|
10
|
15
|
19
|
93
|
4
|
Dave Ramos
|
05
|
|
3
|
6
|
6
|
3
|
2
|
36*
|
1
|
7
|
4
|
2
|
17
|
15
|
1
|
2
|
6
|
17
|
94
|
5
|
C.
Kakavas
|
236
|
|
3
|
9
|
1
|
10
|
1
|
6
|
7
|
3
|
1
|
17
|
7
|
7
|
20
|
16
|
9
|
20
|
97
|
6
|
Rick West
|
94
|
|
4
|
12
|
13
|
7
|
9
|
9
|
4
|
2
|
16
|
13
|
8
|
10
|
16
|
5
|
11
|
16
|
123
|
7
|
S.
Vernon
|
80
|
|
4
|
8
|
5
|
13
|
8
|
15
|
9
|
8
|
20
|
34
|
1
|
5
|
7
|
9
|
16
|
34
|
128
|
8
|
J.Bottensek
|
11
|
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
14
|
9
|
13
|
10
|
7
|
4
|
14
|
14
|
15
|
20
|
24
|
24
|
131
|
9
|
G.
Cobley
|
25
|
|
3
|
7
|
11
|
20
|
7
|
14
|
11
|
5
|
11
|
3
|
5
|
21
|
29
|
12
|
12
|
29
|
142
|
10
|
B.
Dudinsky
|
95
|
|
3
|
14
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
13
|
12
|
12
|
6
|
14
|
16
|
3
|
18
|
29
|
13
|
29
|
169
|
11
|
Bob
Brown
|
2011
|
|
4
|
5
|
18
|
12
|
12
|
8
|
6
|
19
|
25
|
12
|
9
|
19
|
16.8
|
24
|
18
|
25
|
182.8
|
12
|
Skip Allen
|
47
|
|
1
|
4
|
17
|
26
|
21
|
10
|
10
|
18
|
22
|
26
|
10
|
1
|
2
|
18
|
36
|
36
|
186
|
13
|
G.
Kelter
|
18
|
|
1
|
35*
|
23
|
22
|
11
|
3
|
19
|
29
|
13
|
11
|
11
|
9
|
13
|
14
|
3
|
29
|
188
|
14
|
J.
Wubbe
|
23
|
|
3
|
23.6
|
21
|
17
|
25
|
33
|
22
|
14
|
3
|
6
|
20
|
23
|
8
|
3
|
1
|
33
|
189.6
|
15
|
A.
Perkins
|
14
|
|
2
|
26
|
36
|
38
|
37
|
5
|
16
|
1
|
5
|
15
|
15
|
6
|
3
|
11
|
14
|
38
|
192
|
16
|
C.
Luscomb
|
84
|
|
8
|
28
|
27
|
21
|
18
|
21
|
21
|
6
|
9
|
7
|
4
|
8
|
11
|
17
|
29
|
29
|
206
|
17
|
B.
Walton
|
33
|
|
1
|
13
|
12
|
26*
|
17
|
26
|
14
|
16
|
12
|
10
|
18
|
26
|
24
|
21
|
25
|
26
|
235
|
18
|
A.
Rieck
|
82
|
|
5
|
34
|
22
|
24
|
27
|
22
|
32
|
25.4
|
37
|
19
|
13
|
16
|
6
|
13
|
2
|
37
|
260.4
|
19
|
Alan Sellers
|
2260
|
|
5
|
25
|
28
|
6
|
13
|
19.2
|
24
|
26
|
28
|
29
|
27
|
25
|
14
|
15
|
5
|
29
|
260.2
|
20
|
Al
Dion
|
74
|
|
11
|
39
|
37
|
29
|
29
|
7
|
15
|
9
|
10
|
18
|
25
|
27
|
17
|
22
|
10
|
39
|
266
|
21
|
Bob
Greer
|
52
|
|
15
|
44
|
29
|
33
|
6
|
11
|
24.6
|
30
|
26
|
25
|
21
|
24
|
21
|
1
|
8
|
44
|
247.6
|
22
|
Phil Tonks
|
62
|
|
11
|
21
|
31
|
30
|
31
|
23
|
36
|
25
|
23
|
23
|
22
|
13
|
10
|
4
|
17
|
36
|
284
|
23
|
Harry Mote
|
56
|
|
2
|
17
|
4
|
16
|
19
|
32
|
30
|
24
|
29
|
21
|
23
|
18
|
27
|
27
|
28
|
32
|
285
|
24
|
Jake Leo
|
10
|
|
17
|
23
|
20
|
23
|
35
|
16
|
17
|
11
|
8
|
20
|
35
|
22
|
31
|
25
|
19
|
35
|
287
|
25
|
E.
Freeland
|
06
|
|
4
|
29
|
16
|
19
|
23
|
24
|
29
|
34
|
38
|
31
|
30
|
11
|
4
|
19
|
34
|
38
|
307
|
26
|
D.
Wotring
|
51
|
|
8
|
15
|
15
|
8
|
20
|
29
|
27
|
23
|
27
|
24
|
26
|
32
|
28
|
26
|
31
|
32
|
307
|
27
|
B.Szczepanski
|
63
|
|
4
|
16
|
9
|
18
|
26
|
25
|
31
|
13
|
18
|
33
|
24
|
28
|
34
|
34
|
30
|
34
|
309
|
28
|
Carl Olbrich
|
96
|
|
3
|
32
|
33
|
25
|
22
|
35
|
28
|
21
|
21
|
9
|
12
|
17
|
33
|
33
|
22
|
35
|
311
|
29
|
W.Matthews
|
316
|
|
11
|
37
|
41
|
44
|
33
|
34
|
38
|
28
|
14
|
16
|
19
|
21
|
12
|
7
|
20
|
44
|
331
|
30
|
Brett Biwer
|
1639
|
|
7
|
30
|
25
|
14
|
15
|
17
|
33
|
37
|
31
|
27
|
31
|
30
|
26
|
23
|
27
|
37
|
336
|
31
|
Joe
Cole
|
49
|
|
5
|
24
|
30
|
34
|
38
|
42
|
37
|
32
|
17
|
28
|
28
|
31
|
23
|
28
|
26
|
42
|
381
|
32
|
Frank Vella
|
189
|
|
12
|
43
|
46
|
49
|
40
|
37
|
8
|
15
|
19
|
22
|
29
|
29
|
22
|
32
|
32
|
49
|
386
|
33
|
D.
McInerney
|
43
|
|
1
|
10
|
19
|
32
|
28
|
28
|
26
|
26.6
|
28.1
|
52
|
33
|
41
|
35
|
45
|
38
|
52
|
390.7
|
34
|
Joe
Walter
|
24
|
|
7
|
31
|
10
|
5
|
10
|
4
|
21
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
437
|
35
|
Gary Mueller
|
90
|
|
13
|
27
|
24
|
27
|
34
|
31
|
35
|
42
|
52
|
52
|
43
|
34
|
37
|
35
|
23
|
52
|
457
|
36
|
Scott Todd
|
78
|
|
11
|
45
|
34
|
37
|
49
|
39
|
42
|
31
|
34
|
35
|
32
|
33
|
25
|
31
|
33
|
45
|
466
|
37
|
Al
Lang
|
13
|
|
13
|
40
|
45
|
28
|
32
|
27
|
25
|
27
|
32
|
32
|
34
|
43
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
482
|
38
|
Ivor Walton
|
40
|
|
6
|
22
|
35
|
37
|
24
|
30
|
23
|
22
|
27.2
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
486.2
|
39
|
M.
Denest
|
99
|
|
12
|
38
|
32
|
37
|
48
|
48
|
45
|
43
|
30
|
36
|
38
|
38
|
30
|
30
|
35
|
48
|
492
|
40
|
Tom
Phillips
|
65
|
|
2
|
35.8
|
26
|
31
|
36
|
43
|
43
|
45
|
33
|
40
|
42
|
45
|
41
|
40
|
39
|
45
|
496
|
41
|
Ole
Kistler
|
55
|
|
8
|
41
|
49
|
42
|
39
|
41
|
41
|
38
|
40
|
37
|
37
|
37
|
38
|
37
|
21
|
49
|
497
|
42
|
Jim
Linville
|
42
|
|
9
|
36
|
40
|
46
|
41
|
38
|
34
|
39
|
35
|
38
|
52
|
42
|
32
|
36
|
52
|
52
|
518
|
43
|
Dick Gerry
|
1796
|
|
14
|
42
|
38
|
41
|
46
|
52
|
47
|
40
|
39
|
30
|
36
|
35
|
40
|
38
|
37
|
52
|
523
|
44
|
Jim
Donohoe
|
706
|
|
6
|
35
|
43
|
39
|
42
|
47
|
48
|
41
|
52
|
43
|
41
|
39
|
44
|
44
|
43
|
52
|
555
|
45
|
D.
Harrington
|
825
|
|
13
|
47
|
39
|
47
|
30
|
37
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
40
|
36
|
42
|
39
|
41
|
52
|
567
|
46
|
F.
Novak
|
66
|
|
16
|
49
|
47
|
40
|
45
|
40
|
44
|
47
|
41
|
42
|
39
|
44
|
39
|
43
|
40
|
49
|
567
|
47
|
L.
Mazoway
|
29
|
|
17
|
50
|
44
|
48
|
44
|
44
|
40
|
44
|
52
|
39
|
43.8
|
40
|
45
|
42
|
44
|
52
|
584.8
|
48
|
John Garver
|
60
|
|
15
|
46
|
42
|
45
|
47
|
46
|
46
|
46
|
42
|
41
|
44
|
46
|
43
|
41
|
42
|
47
|
585
|
49
|
Dick Reinke
|
1936
|
|
9
|
33
|
48
|
50
|
43
|
45
|
39
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
631
|
50
|
Bill Ewing
|
70
|
|
13
|
48
|
50
|
48
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
674
|
51
|
Ken
Bradfield
|
89
|
|
18
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
52
|
694
|
|