TERRY TYNER WINS 2006 SEASON OPENER.

The district opener was sailed over the weekend of April 22/23 with 10 boats in attendance.  The newest fleet in our District was the host for this event putting three boats on the line.  Seven travelers attended with some new faces and new boats.  Long time team mates to Pete Marriot; Randy and Lauren Beauchamp sailed their own boat, Will Tyner and his Sears Cup team were on the line as well as newcomer to our district David Puckett.  Day one brought stormy conditions and a steady SW breeze at 15 to 18 knots.  After a short  postponement for weather the Race Committee squeezed in one long race before the lightning ran us in.  The race was closely contested between Team Bridgers and Team Sawyer with Sawyer taking first.  Back on the docks and out of the weather by 5 pm allowed all of the teams to get lubed up early for the low country boil.  Later that evening we were treated to a rabbit catching show featuring Randy Beauchamp!  (The rabbit is still free.)

Sunday's race started at 10:00 am with a shifty 6 to 10 knot Westerly breeze.  Team Tyner with substitute team mate Cindy (also known as "the wife") got off the line in first but traded places often with Team Sawyer, and Team Bridgers.  After Bridgers split to the enticing left side of the course, the cat was out of the bag as right was favored and the finishers were Tyner, Sawyer, and Pelosi.  The final race was going to determine the regatta winner as the breeze began to build to 8 to 12.  Will Tyner's team had a great weather leg rounding in a solid third with local Bob Modzel and Pam Barron close by.  Team Pelosi and Bridgers were both off and running with a big ol lead!  At the leeward mark equipment failure left Will's team in down wind mode with a stuck halyard giving way to Team Beauchamp.  The  race was won by Pelosi with Bridgers sailing a close second.  Team Tyner needing a boat between his and Sawyers with only a few yards before the finish found opportunity when the Beauchamps over tacked giving a extra inch and allowing Tyner to sneak into a  third, with Sawyer finishing 5th. 

It was great seeing everyone this weekend and I would like to thank all who traveled to our club.  Richard Waldkirch, John Sawyer, David Pucket, Randy and Lauren Beauchamp, Pam Barron, John Pelosi, and Avis and Henry Bridgers.

It was a great regatta and a great weekend.  I would encourage everyone to attend next year to support this growing fleet in Columbia!

RESULTS

Place    Skipper           Boat          Race 1        Race 2       Race 3                Points
1            Tyner            14825         3                 1               3                         7
2            Sawyer         14318         1                 2               5                         8
3            Pelosi           14932         6                 3               1                        10
4            Bridgers        15141         2                 7               2                        11
5            Waldkirch      14695         4                 4               6                        14
6            Barron           15180         5                 5               8                        18
7            Puckett         15146         7                 6               7                        20
8            Beauchamp   10889         9                 8               4                        21
9            Modzel          14266         8                10             10                       28
10          W. Tyner        13123        10                9               9                       28