Ten Mercs entered the 2016 Midwinter Regatta at Cabrillo Beach YC. The Mercs were the only class on the course on a fantastic sailing day. With five races the first four had breezes of 5-8 knots. The final race got up to about 14-15 knots.
Race one was a once around windward leeward finishing on the wind. Randy and Katherine Smith worked their way to the lead and never gave it up. Dave West and Mark Roberts Chased but settled for second. Tom Priest and Damon Guizot placed third.
Race two was twice around and with the southwest wind moving around to the west. West got off very fast and was never headed. Smith had to work hard to stay ahead of Greg and Peter Clark who placed third.
Race three another twice around with Clark picking the right side of the course and scoring a decisive win. Smith worked hard to place second over West who was third.
Race four was three times around as the velocity of the breeze was picking up. West got off very fast and could not be caught. Clark was chasing, but could no catch up. Priest had another good race to place third.
The last reace had Don Whelan and Robert Lanzafame off to a good start, hit the right shift and went on to win on the twice around course. Chris and Jeffrey Lanzafame had their best race of the day to place second. Smith, once again, had to work hard to place third. West was leading Smith by one point at the end of the day.
Day two with three races to be sailed, the weather was again super. The wind stayed about 10 to 12 knots with push to the west.
Race six was two lap sausage finishing on the wind. Smith took the start and was never headed, but West was right on his tail as he had to pass some Mercs to place second.Whelan was in the grove from his previous day victory and placed third.
Race seven was a two lapper with West taking the lead and being chased by Whelan. They finished first and second. Smith had to work hard to place third.
Race eight was a three lapper. Eric and Tracy Conn tacked to port off the start and were gone. He led for all three laps. Meanwhile West was able to win the regatta with a second place and Whelan placed third. For the entire regatta, the fleet was very close one mistake and you lost a place.
Congratulations to Dave West for a nice win. Many thanks to Greg Clark, RC Chair of CBYC for organizing an excellent regatta. The CBYC always treats us well.
| 2016 LA Midwinters | |||||||||||
| Boat | Skipper | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | Total | Finish |
| 429 | West | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 1 |
| 543 | Smith | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 2 |
| 466 | Whelan | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 34 | 3 |
| 475 | Clark | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 36 | 4 |
| 468 | Priest | 3 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 49 | 5 |
| 542 | Conn | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 50 | 6 |
| 569 | Lanzafame | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 54 | 7 |
| 580 | Davis | 7 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 55 | 8 |
| 472 | Densmore | 4 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 57 | 9 |
| 432 | Worden | 10 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 72 | 10 |
Photos by Volker Corell from Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club
