Bruce Mahoney dominates the Opens and Bob Weddon clinches the Classics at the NA Nationals

The 2021 A Class North Americans were held from September 13-17 at the Carlyle Sailing Association (Carlyle,IL). Bailey White reports.

Ten races were completed in winds from 5-21 knots. The fleet consisted of 15 Foilers and 25 Classics with sailors from 16 states. Four races were on Monday with a building breeze that started at 8 knots and ended up peaking in the low 20’s. The wind was very streaky and shifty as you might expect in lake conditions. Bruce Mahoney (Houston,TX) dominated the Foilers with four firsts. In the Classics Bob Webbon, Woody Cope and Chris Brown were battling for the lead.

Four races were also completed on Tuesday with winds which started out 8-10, then building again into the low 20’s, and dropping off to 6-8 for race four.
Again Mahoney dominated the Foilers with four bullets. Bailey White and Chris Batchelor were trading spots for 2nd and 3rd. Again Webbon led the Classics with Jeremy Laundergan and Ben Hall moving up into 3rd and 4th.

Like day one the Foilers reveled in the huge puffs. In the Classics the sailors that jumped on the wire in the big breeze, made huge gains. One noteworthy finish was Kiwi Burdett’s win as he rode the wire the whole last leg to just nip Hall and Webbon at the finish.
Wednesday was a welcomed lay day after 8 challenging races.

Racing resumed on Thursday with a light air forecast. Two races were held in 5-8 knots. This was the conditions the Classics could compete with the Foilers.
In the first race Webbon , Laundergan and Hall had a close finish beating the first Foiler (guess who? Mahoney again). Batchelor and White had great speed in the light stuff as well.

In the second race Bailey White led wire to wire with Hall two boat lengths behind with Webbon 2nd and Laundergan 3rd.
Friday, the fourth day of racing, was cancelled due to lack of wind.

Top five in the finals results:
Foilers:
Bruce Mahoney (Mahoney Projects)
Bailey White (Lake Lanier Sailing Club)
Chris Batchelor (USVI)
Mike Christiansen (Sarasota Sailing Squadron)
Richard Stevens (Lake Lanier Sailing Club)

Classics:
1. Bob Webbon (Upper Keys Sailing Club)
2. Ben Hall (Bokeelia Yacht Club/ Bristol YC)
3. Jeremy Laundergan (Duluth YC)
4. Mike Krantz ( Lake Lanier Sailing Club)
5. Woody Cope (Gulfport YC)

Huge thanks to the team at Carlyle Sailing Association who hosted one of the best North Americans the class has had. Every aspect of the regatta was outstanding.

Pics - Kay Ward and Paul Hanson