Deep South Regatta
Savannah Yacht Club
Savannah, GA
March 12-13, 2005
Five boats from the Southeastern District raced the 49th annual Deep South Regatta at Savannah Yacht Club on March 12-13, 2005.
Thirty-two boats participated. Ryan Ruhlman posted the highest finish for the district with a very respectable seventh place finish. Lenny Krawcheck finished in 12th. Richard Waldkirch was 23rd. Ron Wright was 26th and Pam Barron was 31st. Tom Shroeder crewed for Dick Hallagan and came in 10th.
The sailors were greeted Saturday morning to winds clocked at 25 knots with gusts to 35 knots. The race committee postponed for an hour and then cancelled the day all together. Sunday start time was bumped up to 9:30 AM and we all hoped for something better. What we missed on the water we made up for at the party. SYC throws quite a spread. They also loaded up the big screen with movies from prior year's races and we had a great time watching the haps and mishaps of the last couple years.
Sunday morning brought great breezes at around 10 knots and by 9:30, we were racing. The wind direction was not conducive to Savannah's usual triangle courses. The RC set windward-leeward courses. We raced and raced - from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. It was really four o'clock before we arrived back at the club for take out. We were treated to three great races. Racing was dominated by aggressive starts (2 general recalls in race 1), speed, and tactics. The current, shorelines, channel markers, and reeds often dictate racing tactics as much as wind direction does at Savannah.
Considering that five of the top six boats were steered by skippers named Fastiggi, Terhune, Starck, Fisher, and Gonzalez - Ryan Ruhlman really had quite a day. He posted finishes of 5, 7, and 11 for an overall 23 and seventh place in the regatta.
PRO Bob Bowden from Lake Norman YC did a fantastic job on Sunday getting all three races in.
Ron Wright