New London 2017 Report

13 contestants battled it out on the course for 13 races.  3 days of really beautiful weather.    Friday warm up afternoon seen several get out in breezes that built to a nice 10 to 15 for about an hour late afternoon.    Saturday things got underway about 11AM in light breezes that came out of the north which is not the best direction for the reservoir.  The start line was more of a starboard reach which was good to have in light conditions.     There were many tight finishes and mark roundings where 4 or 5  on 8.5 and 7.5 sails were neck and neck all around the course.  Steve Uhthoff from MD and Peter Hartwick from MN on 9.5 sails and modern race boards gave the home boys something to catch.   Mark Drotleff #88 from OH with his 7.5 and Equipe managed to get second overall and even score a couple bullets.    8 races got ran on Saturday as Mark U. and  race committee scoring crew  operating like a finely tuned machine kept things rolling starting the next race within  5 minutes after the last finisher.   Besides a lunch,  a  nice cookout of hamburgers and brauts was done early evening by Carl Rappaport followed by Sunday breakfast and lunch!  It is group camping so everyone sits around Saturday evening sharing sailing stories.    Sunday skippers meeting got held at 9:30AM with first start about 9:45AM.   The upwind mark and start line had been adjusted for the southwest wind  that really filled in nicely and some upwind planing was happenning.     The wind was shifty and it was exciting to have  6 boards all within a 100 yards of the upwind mark but at different tacks.   The wind puffs got longer and bigger each of the 5 Sunday races that finally ended about 12:30.    Many thanks to all that raced ..  really was a fun crowd this year.   Scott #H
Photos Library  by   Brad Petot

PDF  Results

2017NewLondonOverall

2017NewLondonbyDivision

One of the starts ..  there is always that  1.  one guy on port tack,  2  Lunch Break