Punta Gorda "Holiday Season Regatta" Report
Rain Rain - Go Away!
by Jack Ward

After more than three inches of rain over night and a half inch more Saturday morning, the first EC12 Holiday Season Regatta in Punta Gorda tried to  get their heads litterly above water. Boots were the order of the day to keep your feet dry, and that was while standing on the shore. So as not to loose any racing time later, the annual meeting was called to order under a nearby covering.
 
As the rain let up, the wind filled in. The first Gold fleet races got underway around 11:30. "A" rigs gave way to "B" rigs as the day progressed. Wipeouts and other out of control situations kept everyone on their toes.
 
In the Gold fleet, John "B" got off to a fast start, 2 firsts, and at the end of the day was out in front by over 20 points (10 races). On Sunday, the temperature was barely over 50 for the skippers meeting, but NO rain. 5-8 knot winds prevailed along with rising temperatures, and our leader gave up a little of his lead. After 5 bullets on Saturday, John's best finish on Sunday was a third. Gerhard Kelter rounded out Sunday with 2 firsts, 3 seconds and a third to roar back from 7th place to take home the second place trophy. Our fearsome leader, Joe Walter, took third place, 1 point ahead of Dick Hedderick.
 
John Bottensek's win propelled him to the Florida EC 12 Association champions trophy, AGAIN !  It was announced that this was his fourth trip to the winners circle.  Great Job, John !
 
In the Silver fleet, after a bit of a slow start, Jack Ward worked himself  into the lead by the end of the day, in spite of having lost his mast twice in the course of the day. Martin Raishbrook was close behind when  we broke for the day. Both were substantially ahead of the third place boat. Sunday saw leaders hold their positions with Jack nailing down 6 first place finishes on his way to the first place trophy. Martin kept the pressure on all the way to finish second. Jim Pardee had a great Sunday grabbing 2 firsts to come back from 6th place at the start of the day to grab the third place hardware.
 
The three Silver fleet winners would have been ready for their ascent to the Gold fleet for the Palm Beach Gardens Regatta, but alas, the group voted out the Gold/Silver fleet system and Promotion/Religation in at the rain soaked annual meeting on Saturday.
 
Sun Coast Model Sailing Club supported RD Art Hawes in a job very well done in spite of some shifty wind conditions and lots of rain in the clubs first hosting of what may become the annual Holiday Season EC 12 Regatta in Punta Gorda. With 24 skippers in the competion, it was a great way to close out the 2009 Florida EC 12 season.

Gold-Fleet Results

   
1 John Bottensek 11 45  
2 Gerhard Kelter 18 55  
3 Joe Walter 24 64  
4 Dick Hedderick 38 65  
5 Alan Perkins 14 76  
6 Bob Greer 52 78  
7 Jon Luscomb 45 87  
8 Baron Bremer 81 90  
9 Bob Dudinsky 95 91  
10 Jack Wubbe 123 112  
11 Al Dion 74 117  
12 Ed Gelina 187 133  
13 Dick Reinke 36 158  
14 Denis Futterlieb 50 166  

Silver-Fleet Results

   
1 Jack Ward 01 28.1  
2 Martin Raishbrook 31 34  
3 Jim Pardee 72 50  
4 Martin Gray 83 63.4  
5 Gib Loesel 02 67  
6 Bud Elder 13 69  
7 Bud Cassidy 21 80  
8 Brenda Pardee 12 83  
9 Al Stall 79 102  
10 john Steacy 17 120