May 26-27, 2012

Larchmont, NY

In 2011, Larchmont Yacht Club started its Viper fleet, and the northeast Viper contingent brought 16 boats down for its inaugural regatta.  In 2012, the Larchmont Viper fleet doubled in size, and once again hosted its annual Memorial Day Regatta for the Viper class.  The regatta counts not just toward the northeast Viper circuit (regatta # 2 of 6), but in 2012, is the first regatta in the Western Long Island Sound Viper circuit.  WLIS now has nearly 30 Vipers within a 20-mile radius, and created an informal three-regatta circuit among LYC Memorial Day, Indian Harbor YC’s YRALIS Champs, and Stamford YC’s One Design Invitational.  Larchmont Memorial Day is a unique event on the Viper circuit, with no entry fee, a late start time both days to allow for significant morning tuning and rigging conversations, and a free fleet party hosted by the Larchmont fleet Saturday night…

All photos courtesy Maureen Koeppel.

The 2012 edition had 16 teams — down a couple from early projections due to conflicting events in the Stamford and Marblehead fleets, as well as a couple of Larchmont teams traveling for the holiday weekend or being stuck offshore on big-boat distance races.

Saturday morning Brad Boston and Ched Proctor walked around the drysail area as everyone got ready to talk about rigging and tuning tips.  Race 1 started in 10-12 kts from the south, windward-leeward twice around.  On the first run, the sky got dark over Larchmont and we could hear thunder overhead, with a strong storm passing north.  The RC allowed the race to finish without shortening, but sent the fleet in for the day after the first race unfortunately.  Team Nickerson from Mystic won the race over 2011 local fleet champ Peter Bauer and his Wild Hogs team, with Justin Scott in third.  While the lightning stayed away, the fleet was hit with a torrential downpour toward the tail end of derigging.

Things dried out enough Saturday night for 40+ sailors, spouses and kids to make it over to Peter and Carol Bauer’s backyard for a BBQ, complete with fleet keg, burgers, hot dogs, and an inflatable wild hog tied to the roof.

Tight finish on Sunday between 169 and 122

Sunday was a lighter northeaster that never settled into the hoped for southerly until well after the awards, but allowed for two solid races in 5-8 kts.  Joe Healey, with Christian Manchester and Ben Parker, won both races, putting them into first overall for the weekend.  Out-of-towners took all the podium spots with Dave & Dan Nickerson with OJ O’Connell in second, and Ben Steinberg / Kelly Dumas / Steve O’Connell in third.  Past British Olympians Barry and Sue Parkin rolled a 2,3 on Sunday to move up to 4th.  New Viper owner Mark McGowan sailing the recommissioned Rattler made it to his first Viper regatta, as did new Larchmont team Pierce Crosbie and Kayvan Heravi, with Paul Zimmerman guiding them around the course on Saturday to round the windward mark in third in their first Viper race.

Results
Forum thread
Northeast Viper circuit standings
WLIS Viper circuit

Wild Hogs… ride hard or stay home.