Minuteman Model Yacht Club has sailed this unusual regatta for more than 20 years.  It’s limited to skippers over the age of 65 and attempts to level a playing field that might be slanted towards younger skippers.  In this regatta, once the race is completed the final scores are adjusted downward based on a predetermined scale based on age.  Older skippers get a bigger adjustment.  If some scores seem unusually low for a 12-heat race, it’s because of the age/score “adjustment”.

Anyway, it’s a lighthearted race that’s intended to provide a few pleasant surprises at the end.

5 skippers were able to race today and were faced with high winds.  It was a “B” rig day which none of us anticipated, or prepared for, but that didn’t stop us.  We sailed on with de-tuned “A” rigs and fingers crossed.

In the US1 M division, Herb Dreher picked this race to compete with his rare US1M Epic (MEPIC).  The little sister to the Marblehead Epic.  It did well for its first time in competition, and I hope to see it more often.  Alain Jousse sailed his Jim Linville Designed “Patriot” and I sailed my aging “Meerkat”.

Alain did very well with the Patriot and was tied for the lead with the Meerkat at the halfway point in racing.  Unfortunately, gremlins messed up his internal sheeting setup and took him out of the race.

In the second half of racing, the winds let up slightly and rest of the fleet was able to complete with no further breakdowns.

Greg LaPlante was the top score in the DF95 division and took home the Perpetual Trophy “Cane”.  Cliff Martin was top score in the US1M division.

Cliff Martin, Commodore

Skipper	Class	Adjusted Score
Greg LaPlante	DF95	28
Rick Gates	DF95	31
Cliff Martin	US1M	9
Herb Dreher	US1M	13
Alain Jousse	US1M	31