Over the 5-day period from October 26–30. 2015, Viper 640 Class President Dr. Jim Sears, Class Secretary Brad Milligan, Brad's regular crew Ryan Hunter, and an assortment of SoCal sailors and friends headed down to the British Virgin Islands to compete in the 2014 Sailing World Sperry Topsider NOOD Championship Regatta. Sears got the gig having won the Long Beach NOOD Regatta in his Viper and got to avenge his second-place finish last year. The short story is that these Viperers won the event in style (both on and off the water) as reported by Brad Milligan.
Tales from the BVI NOOD Championship as told by Brad Milligan
It all started in 2013 when Dr. Jim Sears (current Viper 640 Class President) won the San Diego NOOD overall championship on FNG. He was awarded the grand prize of a trip to the British Virgin Islands to race against the nation's other champions. I (current Class
Secretary) was invited to attend after finishing a respectable 3rd along with my regular crew Ryan Hunter. After a week of fantastic duels against the St. Petersburg team we fell short by one point. A barnacle encrusted bottom on the first day caused us serious issues racing three windward leeward races. After cleaning the bottom we scored straight bullets. Not enough. Read More
Fast forward a year. The format for entrants had changed. Sailing World decided to increase the number of participants by opening up to invitees. We jumped at the chance by choosing a team representing the San Diego and Los Angeles area, including 5 different yacht clubs. With a dual focus on winning the race and winning the party we carefully selected 12 crew to man the race boat and the "mothership" catamaran. We adorned both boats with proper Viper flags and began the week.
The first day's racing again consisted of the three windward leeward races. The fleet mixed it up but in the end we won the day. The second day was a true indicator of the battle to come. After a nice morning snorkel at the Baths on Virgin Gorda, we raced to a finish line off of the Bitter End Yacht Club. This is usually a tight, on the breeze race that becomes very tactical. This year was no exception. Our biggest challenger became an Irish team, also invitees, which were not only formidable on the water, but became our closest friends on shore. We beat them across the line.
After a lay day that was spent diving, drinking, and watching the Pro-Am, we rested-up for the most difficult day of all. It was a long, hot, downwind race to Jost Van Dyke. A race of such distance that the race committee divides it into two, for a designated swim stop to rehydrate and cool off. The first race was a battle with the Irish and then letting the San Diego winner Gary Mozer sneak by before the finish line. A third. We rested up, topped off with IV's (we did bring a nurse with us after all), and set off on the second race of the day. After a short beat to the windward mark we turned for the reach to Jost Van Dyke and after getting established looked behind to gauge the fleet. They were virtually over the horizon. We killed the start and never looked back. We were firmly ahead by 5 points with one race to go.
The last day was a race around Sandy Cay a small island in need of serious 'reef avoidance' tactics, by Great Thatch, and on to the finish at The Bight on Norman Island. We had an exciting start (rubbing is racing) and were off through the cut keeping Great Thatch to starboard. While we were DFL at the start we were second around the island and then firmly in the lead never to look back. Our Irish friends were a very solid second and then it was off to Willy-T's to celebrate.
The conditions were incredible, the Race Committee fantastic, and the social activities were sublime. As the winners we get to return with a fully comped race boat. We get to return...with even more local knowledge.
Awesome! Congrats all.