2014 Viper North American Championship (Entries open)

[Greg Jackson]

Sounds good to me Timmy...

[Tim Carter]

The 2014 NA's Pre/Practice event is the Alamitos Bay Labor Day Regatta.  If you are in town by the end of August, please come sail the event.  It will be held on one of the NA circles and is the second largest event of the year for the club.  There are 12 Vipers entered so far, here is the entry link:
http://www.abyc.org/event.cfm?id=2496

On Saturday evening, there is a huge Luau Party that you should make reservations for because it will sell out.  Here is the link to the flyer:
http://www.abyc.org/upload/ABYCLuau2014.pdf

Looking forward to showing everybody a great time here in Cali

[Tim Carter]

Surfs up!  10-15ft sets..

Bring your boards  :P

[Tim Carter]

http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=159837

[Tac Boston]

So that's why Brad was looking at surfboards online before he left :)

[Steve Chapman]

Tim

How do we update our registration with crew info and ISAF ID's?

Steve Chapman
#87

[Peter Beardsley]

Steve,

I think the current plan is:
1. Make sure all of your crew have current ISAF classification that can be easily searched on the ISAF website in the "Sailors" section
2. At registration, write the ISAF numbers on a form that will be at the table.
3. The RC / Class will then confirm based on the info provided which teams are eligible for the Corinthians Trophy.

I don't think there's a clean way to do this through the regatta registration website currently. 

[Tim Carter]

What Peter said...

[Peter Beardsley]

Event Preview Press Release:

LONG BEACH, CA (September 1)  For the first time in the Viper 640 Class's history, the North American championship will be contested on the west coast.  Hosted by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, the 2014 NAs will feature 40 boats with teams from seven states, as well as three Canadian and two Australian teams.  "We're thrilled to bring the North Americans to a very deserving venue" said Class President Peter Beardsley.  "Long Beach is a fantastic place to sail, and the Southern California Viper fleet has become one of the largest in the country."
Event chairman Tim Carter, who also serves as the local fleet captain and is one of the biggest reasons behind the success of the class locally, has queued up four days of post race parties and classic California fare for the visitors.  "I just want the damn thing to be done at this point, and if there isn't wind, I won't be able to look Beardsley in the eye afterward" said Carter.  Thankfully, the forecast is on Carter's side, as the sea breeze has returned to Long Beach after early signs of an El Nino year kept the event chair on pins and needles throughout the summer. 

In late June, ABYC played host to the Class's Pacific Coast Championship as part of Long Beach Race Week, and the 22-boat Viper 640 class, the largest at LBRW, was won by locals Kevin Taugher, Chuck Tripp and Mike Pentecost.  After placing sixth at the 2013 North Americans in Houston, the team aboard Taugher's Hot Mess will be considered one of the favorites in Long Beach.  However, they'll have to battle with 3-time North American champion and Canadian Olympian Brad Boston and his experienced team aboard Jackpot from Sarnia, Ontario, as well as two-time champion Justin Scott from Greenwich, Connecticut, both of whom traveled great distance for fun in the sun.  Class Technical Committee member Rod Berteaux is traveling from Western Australia, and will also be a serious contender, having placed fourth at the 2012 North American championship and fourth at the 2014 EFG Bank Pan American Viper Championship.  Local Jay Golison placed third at the 2013 North American championship and second at the 2014 Pacific Coast Champs, and is also likely to be in the mix.

Racing kicks off with an unofficial "Pre-North Americans" at ABYC's annual Labor Day Regatta Saturday and Sunday, with registration and the Class's Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, September 2, followed by four days of racing in the waters off Long Beach.  To follow the racing and for daily results, please go to the event website at http://www.abyc.org/event.cfm?id=538

The 2014 Viper North American Championship is possible due thanks to the support of sponsors EFG Bank, Ullman Sails, Doyle Boston Sails, North Sails, Quantum Sail Design Group, – SoCal, Goslings, Belmont Brewing Company, Rondar Raceboats USA, Sailing Pro Shop, and Rooster.

               
               

[Ed "Buttons" Padin, Class Administrator]

Day 1 is in the books.  Recap: http://www.viper640.org/component/content/article/14-news/460-jeff-grange-takes-control-of-viper-640-north-americans-after-first-day

[Joe Sircely]

Where are the scores?  Nothing is on the webpage.

[Justin Scott]

I would tell you where to find the scores online if the east coast score line  looked a bit better.

The left coast boys and girls are crushing it out there. What other news can I bring you?
The wild hogs are going really wild and littering the ocean with crew members.
The boat formerly known as Argo is now called "Hello Kitty"
Our new class administrator turns out to be a very fine Tenor.
East coast Australians become totally indecipherable after a dozen dark and stormies.
West coast Australians sail with 32 on the cap shrouds and tight lowers in Light air......and win.
Come to think of it......why are there so many bloody Australians at this regatta?
The Australian sport boat championships are in January in Sidney  and " yoush are all iniviteshitted" .....at least I think that is what he said.
Bermuda announced they are hosting the 2016 North Americans and subsequently moved into a trade account surplus around 11 pm last night on the strength of Gosling exports.
The group sponsored by Goslings that was sitting around the fire pit stayed there way after the club was closed. Timbo found that his bag and keys were locked in the pavilion. No problem because Beardsley offered him a place to stay......until the Pandas and the Mambo Kings discovered that the main club house was also locked with their keys inside. It turns out that Rachel Beardsley and Jessie Kirkland have unlikely burglar skills and broke into the pavilion and rescued Tim's keys. The main club house resisted their skills. (where are the Detroit homeboys from Jackpot when you need them) . Ched proctor was narrowly dissuaded from bunking up in at Etchells in the dry sailing area. Sunrise looked down on an ugly scene but somehow most found their way to a bed, although there may have been an unaccounted for Australian lost en route and if anyone can remember what happened to jesse's cell phone it would be much appreciated.

Other than that the sailing has been awesome and if you give Brad Boston enough rum he will get all mushy and show you pictures of his two adorable kids......and this just in......there is third on the way!

[Dave Nickerson]

Results
http://www.abyc.org/upload/2014_Viper_NA3.htm

[Peter Beardsley]

Day 3 press release: http://www.viper640.org/component/content/article/14-news/462-no-pain-no-gain-on-day-3-of-viper-north-americans

Pretty wild out here.  Not sure any Viper regatta has ever had conditions quite like this so consistently.  Some tired, drunk and happy teams out here. 

[Justin Scott]

Timbo, Kevin, Jay and Steve,Jim, Nigel and Glenn, Ed, John, Craig, Dennis..........

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you........for sharing your piece of sailing paradise with us. It was an amazing regatta and this exhausted, sore and exhilarated viper sailor from the East coast will be glowing for weeks afterwards.

Timbo, you gave us all an event that reminds us why we all love the sport of racing sailboats!

The whole West Coast viper fleet was so hospitable and so much fun to sail against. You have a really good thing going .  I can't say enough so I'm going to shut up.

14 races......each one a keeper!