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     Scott Corder (Pastcommodore) Rating: N/A |
RESULTS FROM 2001 GOVERNORS CUP REGATTA Muskegon Yacht Club Muskegon, Michigan September 1-2, 2001 The final event on the 2001 Great Lakes Championship calendar. Blue skies, fair temperatures and 5-15 knot breezes were experienced on both days. The challenge was presented by lumpy seas left over from recent storms. These storms made deliveries to the regatta very unpleasant and prevented Slingshot of Chicago from completing the trip to Muskegon. Several of the Slingshot crew had already driven to Muskegon and a few, including owner Eric Oesterle, chose to crew with other boats that were in attendance. Unfortunately, scheduling conflicts with other major Lake Michigan regattas prevented the fleet from participating in larger numbers at this event. With final positions in the Season Championship at stake, starts were tight. At least one boat was called over the start line early in nearly every race. Chris Sundberg's Stimulator had a shot at Kato for the Championship, but Don Rychlinski's crew sailed to three consecutive bullets to spoil those hopes. The Scooter crew also had a clear shot at fourth for the season but their outstanding downwind performance could not make up for sporadic upwind boatspeed and two poor starts. Unable to capitalize on the opportunity, Scooter finished the season 1 point behind Slingshot. It was clear that a mere 3 ft at the finish line in the final race at the Grand Prix had cost Scooter a second in Milwaukee and a 4th place Seasonal trophy. Multiple winner of past Seasonal and NA Championships Greg Young and his boat Spectra returned to the scene for the first time this year at this event. Greg's crew were still in fine form and showed well despite the extremely tight competition between Kato and Stimulator.
(Posted by Scott Corder on behalf of Race Chairman Don Rychlinski) |
