(L-R: Andrew Kerr, Eric Kownacki, Bob Martin)

Day Three – Kownacki Wins His Second Class Championship

By Derek Martin

There is something about the state of Oklahoma has been awfully good to Eric Kownacki, his second Sanana 20 Championship title (and Andrew his seventh) after winning convincingly here in Oklahoma.  With a comfortable lead going into the final race on Thursday, all he and his crew of Andrew Kerr (middle) and Bob Martin (bow) needed to do was avoid disaster.  The weather was clear and still hot (105 degrees), but the wind was between 15 -31 knots and not nearly as shifty as the previous days.  We all sailed out to the course with the genny up, but soon downshifted to the blade.  A squared-up five-leg course was set, with the finish to windward, and off the line we went.

It was immediately clear that Brit Williams and crew were dialed in, and led the race wire to wire with Eric close behind.  The downwind legs were absolute sleigh rides with some boats opting to go wing-and-wing with the main and blade.  It was fantastic sailing under brilliant blue skies on a boat that was a joy to feel under you as you went ripping along.

Eric slowly ground down the lead that Brit had, but the skipper of “Fayest” was able to hold him off at the end, beating “Alexa” by half a boat length at the windward finish line.  Ron Fish made a remarkable recovery after being over early, and finished third.  The rest of the fleet finished soon behind that wrapped up a remarkably clean regatta sailed by all competitors.

However, there was some drama that took place right after the start.  The individual recall flag went up but there was confusion with the RC over exactly who was over early.  Ron Fish immediately doubled back, but Tom Schock was a third of the way up the weather leg before it was sorted out and he was called over.  Back Tom went, only to find out later in the race that is was that other blue boat, IV McNamara on “Bob’s Borrowed Boat”, that was the boat that was actually over.  IV continued the race, hearing that Tom’s boat was over and believing he was good to go, only to find out at the end of the race that he was OCS.  It was an extremely tough break for one of the nicest guys you would ever want to sail with, who had sailed a terrific regatta. Our heart goes out to you, IV.

The real story of the regatta was Ron Fish and crew.  Ron and Leanne showed up the night before the first race; tuned up a borrowed boat that Vernon Green had done a marvelous job in putting together; and continued to sail well even after their left bulkhead exploded on them midway through Day Two when they had the overall lead in the regatta.  A plywood “patch” was bolted in for the last day’s racing. And yet, in 15-31 knots of wind, as well as being over early, they still managed to finish third for the day and second overall.  That is some fantastic sailing!

Finally, some kudos to John Barnett, Vernon Green, and a whole slew of some mighty fine folks who make up the Oklahoma City Boat Club.  To attract 20 boats, in a down economy, with gas at $4/gallon, to come out and sail in 100 degree heat in wind and weather that was not for the faint-hearted, is a fantastic accomplishment.  The accommodations/RC/food were all first-class, but as usual it is the people that make or break the success of any regatta.  It is a real tribute to all the volunteers that made all of us feel so warmly welcomed, and at home, in the comfy confines of OCBC.  They all personified what makes our sport, and our Class so great. Well done to all and thank you for all of your hard work!

See you all next year in Eugene!

Day 2 Report - Four Races, Lots of Shifts, Spectacular Sailing

By Derek Martin

This dispatch will be short and sweet. Four races in wind (mostly), lots of shifts (definitely), and a great party/Class Meeting/raffle that has us all finally back at the hotel at 11PM. We are pretty well whipped for the day, with one race to go to close out what has been a fantastic regatta on all levels. Eric Kownacki extended his lead over Ron Fish, his closest competition, and now leads by 7 points. Britt Williams and Bob Wright are tied for third, and IV McNamara and Tom Schock are tied for fourth, but too far back to challenge Kownacki. Race Three was a 1-2 finish for the regatta organizers of John Barnett and Vernon Green. John pretty much did a horizon job on the rest of us. Tom Schock came in third. Race Four had Britt and Bob Wright going to school on what John Barnett did on Race Three, and they stayed left and in velocity on the upwind legs and it paid off handsomely with the two of them finishing 1-2 and IV close behind. The wind was all over the place for Race Five, and the fickle finger of fate would give a huge gift to some while thwarting the efforts of others. Steve Humphries stayed way left on the upwind legs, while David Gillespie and the Sailing World boys went way right and they both made out like bandits, finishing 1-2, with Eric sailing his consistent 3^rd by playing the left middle. On Race Six, Eric launched and horizoned the rest of us from wire to wire. Brit played the far left again on the last upwind leg and crossed Schock about two-thirds up the beat, while Tom played the maddening shifts and held off IV to take third.

One more race tomorrow morning, and the weather is supposed to be clear with winds out of the south at 15 gusting 20. Can’t wait!

Day 1 Report  - Kownacki takes the early lead of 20 boats, with Fish one point behind!

By Derek Martin

Only two races were held today in conditions that were what we call . . . well, challenging.  The morning started with thunderstorms, and the 0930 push off from the dock had to be postponed, with the first race not starting until after 1100. The aftermath of the thunderstorms left the winds seemingly clocking from all directions of the compass. The first beat tuned into a single tack beat, that turned into a close reach that turned into a broad reach. The next “downwind” leg turned into a single-leg close-hauled beat to the leeward gate that had now become the upwind gate (where the right side mark of the gate was pulled as the leaders approached them). The course was shortened due to the lessening wind and a new leeward mark was set (no gate) and a finish line to windward was set. There was confusion on just exactly what leeward mark to go around in the constantly changing wind direction, speed, and mark settings. This cost Tom Schock and the crew on “Gratitude”, who had built a sizable lead, when they went to the far downwind mark (which used to be the upwind mark), instead of the newly set leeward mark.  Eric Kownacki (in second) also was headed to the wrong mark when Ron Fish (close behind in third on One-Tone Tomato), turned back upwind around the correct mark. Kownacki quickly doused the chute, rounded, but couldn’t catch the always-fast Fish, who took the bullet. Dave Reed (editor of SAILING WORLD) made the most of his opportunity, and took second with Eric close behind.

The ends of the race-course were swapped and after a brief delay, the second race was started. Wouldn’t you know it - the wind shifted again just before the start and the first leg was a single-tack beat, followed by a tight reach to the leeward gate. The next windward mark was shifted significantly to the left as the breeze started to die. After rounding the windward mark, it was Kownacki and IV McNamara first and second, with Tom Schock, Brit Williams, Ron Fish, and Mike McKeever on “Fiesty!” in the next group headed down to the leeward mark. Then the wind completely died.

The longish beat back to the finish line had Eric and IV out in front, with the next four players changing places as the whole fleet worked their way to the finish in winds that provided just enough to feel like you were moving. About 600 yards out from the finish, the wind completely died, then sort of filled in from astern, turning the sprint to the finish into a breathless downwind wheezer. Nine of the boats did not finish within 30 minutes of the first place boat (Eric), and were finished ‘TLE”, racking up a frustrating 21 points.

After that, all the boats were towed in, the keg was tapped, and a fantastic potluck dinner with Oklahoma BBQ being the main course was served. Afterwards, we were all treated to an exhibition of, wait for it . . . belly dancing! And I’m here to tell you that one of the great memories of this already fantastic regatta will be of Tom Schock dancing with a sword balanced on his head, or IV McNamara in a conga line with four tastefully attired belly dancers. Having the belly (and the cup size) to hang right there with them, we were all mesmerized with his style and grace.

Tomorrow is another day with morning thunderstorms, but clearing mid-morning and hopefully the promised winds out of the south at 15-20. The weather over the last four days has gone from too much (25-45) to not enough, but through it all we’ve all been having a GREAT time, and the warm and friendly people of the Oklahoma City Boat Club have been the most gracious and fun-loving of hosts. Can’t wait for Day Two – hoping to get in four races!

Results from OKC Boat Club Website

DNC = Did Not Compete, TLE = Time Limit Exceeded (didn't finish within a specified time limit)

Keep up to date on the Santana 20 Class Championships (aka Nationals) by following reports on this website, discussions on the S20 Class Bulletin Board, the Sailing World Seared Tuna Blog, on Facebook at Santana 20 2011 Nationals, and on the Oklahoma City Boat Club website.

Regatta Documents and Notes

• Notice of Race

• Entry Form

• Flyer