This regatta was everything a Moth regatta should be and more!!! A record 21 boats of all types and materials, sailors traveling from furthest points north and south, large local turnout, world-class sailing talent, fierce competitions, wet-sanding between heats, arguing with the measurer, balanced by close camaraderie, thousands of spectators along the Battery, and Carolina Yacht Club Southern hospitality.
Mike Parson brought his beautiful MOA (Museum Of The Albemerle) Dorr Willey all the way from Pennsylvania, the “Bad Boys From The Bay” (Tampa Fl) (Jeff Linton, Jammie Rabbit, and David Clement) brought their new OH Rogers Wedge and BAMM!! Kicked it up a notch. Dave Ellis, St Pete Master sailor, in his highly modified Energizer showed us just how high a Moth can point whilst Randall Swan, local Master, showed us how to play the tide and current in Mean Tangerine. And Joe Bousquet - total focus, I mean intense.
This pre-race at CYC was different. Ya there was the usual “glad to see ya” stuff but folks were busy cutting, sawing, screwing stuff on, some all the way to the start line… and kind of secretive about what they’re doing. When the boats hit the water the picture came into focus. The Wedge boats had a new trick whereby they could move the unstayed mast forward on a run. Hmmmm Bousquet had an unstayed rig too. Ellis with a stayed rig had something that looked lake a horse bridle in front of the mast. What’s that all about??? On a run his boom was 90deg from center - How???
From the first race you could tell most had practiced their starts. Dave Ellis in Energizer pointer higher and faster to take the lead followed by Jeff Linton, Walt Collins, Joe Bousquet, and Randall Swan. Linton rounded the mark with a powerful pump and narrowed the gap between him and Ellis. Linton’s lighter weight and powerful rig allowed him to close the gap and finish 1st whilst 2nd place Ellis barely fended off Collins (3rd) Bousquet (4th) and Swan (5th). It was a tight race - anyone could have won.
2nd heat. Bousquet edged Linton at the start and lead around the first mark. Once again Linton rounded perfectly - his Moth nearly leaping from the water as the sails filled. Linton’s powerful rig was too much for Bousquet on the run and Linton finished way ahead of the pack. Linton (1st), Bousquet (2nd) Swan (3rd) Ellis (4th).
3rd Race was Bousquet all the way. He started first, rounded perfectly and stayed ahead all the way like he always did. I was upstairs with Gerald Carter, my wife Anita and Susan Bousquet. Susan was so happy because ”if Joe could win one time the ride home would be more pleasant”. Linton finished 2nd. 3rd was up for grabs until Swan capsized. Ellis finished 3rd and Patrick Wilson (first time Moth sailor) (Laser Junior Champion) sailing Aftermath finished 4th.
Sunday, heat 4 found everybody sailing Jeff Linton’s game plan. And if you sail Jeff Linton’s race, Jeff is gonna win, and win he did by a big margin. Bousquet finished a distant 2nd with Ellis and Swan right on his transom.
But race 5 was truly magic. At the start Linton and the rest of the fleet sailed South whilst Bousquet sailed Southwest. Linton appeared to take a commanding lead but it was hard to tell where Bousquet was until… 100 feet this side of the mark. Man were they close but was it Linton or Bousquet out in front??? Bousquet - Linton crossed his wake so close you could see only a splash between Bousquet’s rudder and Linton’s chime. Linton tacked while Bousquet rounded the mark. Then it was a horse race to the finish with Linton inching ever close - but not quick enough to rob Bousquet of his second 1st place finish. Swan finished 3rd and Ellis 4th. What a race!!!
Overall, Linton 1st, Bousquet 2nd, Ellis 3rd. Ellis 1st Master and Patrick Wilson Junior Champion.
So many stories to tell and not enough WebSpace. Patrick Wilson watching the race from a chase boat - asking a million questions - leaped at the chance to sail a Moth and finished 5th over-all. JA McFarland from Wrightsville Beach NC sailing Li’L Toot. John Lucas sailed 2nd Childhood to 6th place, Ross Griffith who sailed his Shelley (the one we saw last winter at the Navy Base) to 7th place, Louis Hay in Mystery Shelley, Randall Stoney Jr who also supplied some great munchies, Walt Collins who sailed while “under the weather” and managed a 3rd place finish in the first heat, Jackie Lucas voted most photogenic, Harvey McCormick, Harry Demosthenes, Greg Duncan who never misses a race, and Bill McKenzie.
Captain Swan Senior Award:
This is a special perpetual award presented yearly to an individual or organization recognize their contribution to Charleston Moth sailing. This years award recipient is Randall Swan Jr.
Folks to watch in the future, Jammie Rabbit pushing the measurement envelope, makes his own foils using a home-made hot-bow and carbon fiber, and can capsize, right, and be under-way in 5 seconds flat. David Clement who will do anything to sail one more heat and is a master with foiled styrene insulation and duct tape repair. If this Melges 24 sailor gets a little more experience with the Moth he will be hard to beat. Patrick Wilson - awesome performance in Aftermath.
pictures will be here soon