The Villages 2011-2012 Gator Regatta Report
Walter returns to racing after year away to win

by Alan Perkins
OK, here is the story book behind the Villages Regatta.

The weekend started with the second Lizzies Shephards Pie party on Friday night, there were 40 plus competitors and local helpers present and a great time was had by all and gave people the chance to chat one-on-one with whomever they wanted, great fun.

The Villages came up with some fantastic weather, temp and humidity wise but not wind direction. We could have benifited from some of the Annapolis winds but it was going to be "A" rigs all weekend for us.

Everyone turned up in shorts, 85f temp and a cloudless sky greated everyone one Saturday morning following a great night at Alan & Liz's for the 2nd Cocktail & Shephards Pie supper, many, many thanks to Liz for a fantastic night. Some hangovers but not many. Saturday morning greated everyone with a nice breeze but from the North which unfortunately is the regular breeze in October for central Florida area and not good at Ashland Pond, but never mind, it's the same for everyone.

We were very lucky to have Joe Walter back in our fleet following a very strict slipping diet which when you all see Joe next is fantastic, well done Joe, keep it going and lets see even more by the NCR.

Anyway, back to the racing, Joe came out of the stocks following a 12 month lay off and won the first two races followed very closely by Ricky Gerry who came down from South Calolina to spend some "bonding" time with prospective father-in-law and in the second race by Jack Ward who incidently also has had 2010 time out having to look after his US12 and Micro Magic interest. Always difficult to do everything.

Back to the story line, the current Florida champion had been sitting in the background in his 'new boat' only launched on the morning of the regatta. A major calamity in the first race followed by a 6th in the second race was not the Baron we all know but come the third race he was back again followed closely by our current world champ Ricky Gerry and our beloved Dr. Greer who kept things going throughout the weekend, achieving no less than three bullets, one 2nd and 6 thirds to come in with a 3rd overall.

Back to the story line... the next race saw Dick Hedderick back in the frame closely followed by Baron, Doc and very much in contection, Jon Luscomb. But Joe had decided that this was going to be his regatta and used all his tacktical skills to beat Al Stall to the line in a very closely fought battle. Al lead the whole race but sucumbed to Joe's tacticle skills right at the finish. Well done to Al holding off not only Joe 1st, but Doc Greer 3rd, Jon Luscomb 4th and Baron 5th. Al is now up with the big boys.

John Steacy unfortunately had some major auto problems and missed the first 4 races but was able to join in for the 5th race and managed a 9th place but once he found his feet and tested the waters came out and got two bullets in a row. Now we are into race 8 and Joe decided that he wanted to win this regatta so pulled out all his old magical skills and won the 8th race giving himself a fantastic lead in the Regatta over Dick Hedderick and Ricky Gerry.

Dick Hedderick, Doc Greer and Jon Luscomb pulled back a few points with their bullets in the last three races of the day and the racing finished and we all retired sunburnt and maybe a little frustrated to the Arnold Palmer Golf and Country Club for our formal Saturday night dinner. Great night out not all attended having family and friends in the Villages but a great night anyway.

Sunday morning dawned with unfortunatly similar Northerly winds but in comparison with Annapolis there was going to be Sun, Sun and more Sun with temps a very comfortable mid 80's, A-Rigs but not much wind.

Doc Greer without his normal Sunday morning hangover decided that he wanted to establish his mark on the Regatta and came home with a very comfortable lead but Joe was not giving anything away coming in 2nd and John Steacy trying to elimiate his 4 DNS due to car problems 3rd, Dick Hedderick in 4th and holding onto his second place overall.

Jon Luscomb currently in 3rd place lead from near start to finish and built upon his overall position but Dick was again in close pursuit building his own points score. John Steacy having had a couple of middle of the range results took the next two races pushing Ricky Gerry and Fanckie Novak into second places. The next race was a race of gentlemen and maybe the best race to watch of the weekend. We had 4 boats get out clear, Joe, Ricky, Dick and Doc Greer and this was what racing at the front end of the fleet is all about, they are all great sailors and even Ken Morrison was impressed and will probably use their skills and integrity in future talks. It was a great race to behold. Well done guys, that is what EC12 racing is all about.

Doc now had the bit between his teeth and having had a comfortable 14th race with the boys, came out and devistated the fleet, we all think it was following his interview with the young lady from the local paper following his previous victory that egged him on. This all helped to break into the inroads that Joe, Dick, Ricky and Baron had built. Doc followed this victory with 3,3,3,1,7,3. giving him third overall.

The 17th race was a classic, Frankie Novak, who had had only middle of the road results so far, got a great start and decided that no one, not even Dick, Doc or Joe were going to talk it away. He sailed a very careful race covering his closest competitors all the way. Well done Frankie.

Joe, Bob, and Dick Hederrick took the next races before the final break. The final race, Alan Perkins as race director, who had held onto all his local knowledge to put on courses which worked out "OK",  unfortunately decide to try to follow the wind for the last race, tip to future race officers, don't get tempted. Anyway, it looked like starting at the West end of the lake would give us a good windward leg, well, it would have done but two mins before the start the wind backed and came out of the West giving us a run down the lake with 20 boats...just imagine the first mark with boats 10 abreast and the outside guys not giving way! Nothing more to be said but voices and tempers were raised.

Martin Gray was lucky with the new NE breeze and kept clear of the main fleet, Martin who had had nothing higher than a 4th all weekend decided that it was his turn at the front and with all his concentration and skill kept himself there for the rest of the race.

The unfortunate wind change and many collisons at the first mark left somewhat of a sour taste with many competitors. Following this race Alan Perkins called it a day as he wanted everyone to leave still being friends. 21 races were run in one fleet starting with 20 boats ending with 19. Everyone got a prize, supplied and created by Ricky Gerry.

There were a few "Rules" issues during the weekend. The major rule issue was 'barging' at the start. There was one race when everyone was recalled and Ken Morrison before the next race very clearly explained the rules which hopefully the fleet learned from and will apply in future regattas.

See everyone at the next Regatta and good luck and happy sailing.

Click here to see photos taken by Alan Perkins and posted by Bob Greer.

Results