A perfect fall day in Monterey, helped get this Perry Cup off to a good start.
Thanks to the Race Committee, with PRO Dick Clark, Judy Clark, Chip Wood, and Art Stratton, along with Jack and Pattie McAleer setting marks.
Mercury Perry Cup – MPYC - November 4, 2023
The 53rd annual Perry Cup got off to a great start with good winds of 10 to 12 knots. There was little swell and light wave action; perfect for Mercury racing. Anticipating the daylight savings time change, the fleet arrived at the start line an hour early. So, PRO Dick Clark ran three practice starts to get the fleet ready for some great racing.
Mark Chandler with his wife Liz crewing (524) showed good speed as he and Bradley Schoch with crew Patrick O’Hara (563) fought it out all the way around the course. At the finish, the Chandlers pull ahead to win with Schoch second.
The PRO lengthened the course by having Jack and Patti McAleer move the weather mark out to sea another 200 yards. The Chandlers found the longer course to their liking and led all the way. Jim and Kathy Bradley(553) gave chase but could not shorten the Chandlers’ lead.
The third and last race of the day saw a 10-degree wind shift to the left and Jim and Kathy made the best of it with a leeward end start. Once again Chandler crossed the fleet in front, this time with Randy Smith and his crew, Junette Kushner right on Chandler's tail. Bradley’s tack for the lay line turned out to be spot on, moving him ahead at the weather mark. The first three boats all turned the mark bow to stern. Jim and Kathy stretched it out on the run but Chandlers came right back on the upwind leg. At the finish of this three-time-around course, Jim and Kathy held the lead with Chandlers second and Bradley Schoch back on the pace taking a third.
The regatta’s second installment is the first Saturday in December. There is a lot of racing yet to go on this great winter series but for now, the Chandlers have a two-point lead on Jim and Kathy, and Bradley Schoch is 3 points back from there. More boats out means more fun for all so let’s see more boats out in December.
A special attraction for the day was the return to Monterey of the Western Flyer; revitalized and looking spectacular. If you don’t know about this grand old boat, read John Steinbeck’s “Log of the Sea of Cortez”.
