Wrightsville Regatta
August 24-25
Wrightsville Beach, BC
Report follows results. (Scroll down)
| Skipper | Sail# | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Total | Place |
| Waldkirch | 14695 | 8 | 5 | 16 dns | 9 | 7 | 45 | 10 |
| Sawyer | 14318 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 16 dnf | 1 | 33 | 6 |
| Johnston | 14622 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 31 | 4 |
| Harris | 14701 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 2 |
| Ingersol | 13941 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 50 | 11 |
| Barden | 14941 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
| Michels | 14950 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 42 | 9 |
| Wright | 14620 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 54 | 12 |
| Bridgers | 13848 | 16 dnf | 16 dnc | 16 dnc | 16 dnf | 13 | 77 | 14 |
| Marriott | 13957 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 34 | 7 |
| Pelosi | 14932 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 32 | 5 |
| King | 14356 | 16 dnc | 16 dnc | 16 dnc | 16 dnc | 16 dnc | 80 | 15 |
| Kramer | 14550 | 11 | 8 | 16 dnf | 16 dnc | 16 dnc | 67 | 13 |
| Sloger | 11771 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 34 | 8 |
| Harkrider | 14532 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 16 dnf | 3 | 30 | 3 |
Report
Carolina Yacht Club hosted the 2002 Wrightsville Beach SELD Lightning Regatta on August 23-25, 2002. As is always the case, Wrightsville delivered up some fantastic sailing and socializing. 2002 SELD district champion Pierce Barden posted three bullets on day one to mount a lead he easily defended on day two to win the regatta.
After a fantastic Friday evening social at the home of Jim and Connie Harris, 14 boats launched on Saturday morning and headed out in to the Atlantic Ocean to tame the sea breeze. The race committee laid out a windward-leeward course and racing began in light to moderate winds. Barden won race one followed by John Pelosi and Pete Mariott. By race two the wind was up and the swells were approaching 2-3 feet. It was fantastic racing with wild spinnaker runs in following seas. Barden won for the second time with Jim Harris and new world qualifier Bob Harkrider taking second and third. By the third race, a few boats bailed out on flying chutes. The Atlantic claimed it's second victim of the regatta as Theresa Kramer was de-masted, broached, and retired from the competition. (The first victim was an unidentified skipper who fell off his boat between race 2 and 3!) Barden won for the third time.
Saturday evening, all were treated to a great party at CYC. Dr. Stuart Walker spoke briefly about the role mistakes play in a regatta. He was entertaining and informative. All enjoyed a Southern meal of bar-b-que and fried chicken. Later, mother nature entertained with a fantastic lightning storm - how appropriate!
Sunday morning at 9 AM we headed back out for a 10 o'clock start. The first race was a tactical hunt for wind as it was too early for sea breeze. Dramatic lead changes occurred often all over the course as the fleet split into thirds with one third going right, one third going left, and one third going up the middle. The committee signaled a shortened race and the right side paid off as Jim Harris fought off a challenge by Wayne Ingersol to win the race. The left side took the bone and had to be called in without a finish.
The sea breeze began to fill in lightly and race two was sailed in light but consistent winds. John Sawyer took first, with Barden and Harkrider coming in second and third.
The trip back to the harbor was a colorful parade of Lightning spinnakers that must have been a beautiful site from the shoreline. We were all able to run through the jetties and gibe up the channel to CYC.
At the awards ceremony all were treated to triplicate sets of pictures for skippers and crew. Pierce Barden won the regatta hands down. Jim Harris was second followed by Bob Harkrider, Steve Johnston, and John Pelosi
A fantastic regatta. Thanks CYC.
Ron Wright