Saturday morning in the bay area was windy cold and rainy, but nine mercury sailors did not let the weather stop them.As the day went on, the sun came out, the rain went away, but the wind held. The gusts were clocked at 19 on the committee Boat and 9 on the steady side. For the wind ward-leeward courses the direction was OK, but the shifts were better than 20 degrees.The ebb tide became a factor as the day went on.

Race one had Pax Davis and Aaron Lee get the lead at the weather mark on the w-l course and hold off Jim and Kathy Bradley to win.Bradley was a close second followed by Mercurys Class President Park Densmore, who made the trip up from the southland. Tony Basso was this crew.

Race two Bradley really got it going with a nice start on the one and a half sausage course, finishing downwind. Densmore was chasing but had to hold off
Bill Warden and Dave Custodio who placed third. Neither side of the course was favored, but the ebb was running strong in the middle as a little chop was present.

Race three was the same course and the same results. Bradley was quick off the line and played the shifts and the tide very well. Densmore and
Warden continued their battle as Densmore was a little faster upwind.

Race four was the single sausage again. Bradley passed three mercs on the downwind leg by sailing on the North shore out of the tide. Same result as the previous
two races. Bradley, Densmore and Warden in that order.

Race five there was a good four boat race with Densmore, Warden, Davis and Bill Buckingham with Blair Peterson. The four mercs finished within a few secondsof each other. Densmore won followed by Warden and Buckingham.

Congratulation to Bradley who won the Carmiggelt Trophy and leads the NORCAL series.

Many thanks to Maryanne and Ken Popplewell for running the event. EYC Commodore Doug Perry presented the trophy.

Coen Carmiggelt Memorial Trophy

This trophy was donated by Coen Carmiggelt’s parents after his early death. Coen started a Mercury fleet at Lakeport, Clear Lake. He purchased 543, his father Hans, hull 541. Other Mercs were purchased by neighbors and the fleet was born. The fleet hosted the 1979 and 1993 National Championships. Coen raced at the lake and in the bay area. The trophy is awarded to the winner of a designated regatta in the annual NORCAL Series.