Class stalwarts Jay Rhame, Peter Beardsley and Rachel Beardsley notched three bullets on what would become the last day of racing to overtake early leader, last year’s champions Mark Zagol, Drew Buttner and Tim Desmond aboard NESS to win their first Viper 640 North American Championship.
Hosted by Hampton Yacht Club, ten races were sailed over three days and a range of conditions on Hampton Flats in the James River at the southern end of Chesapeake Bay. The fleet of 29 boats saw breeze touching 20 knots for the first two races, 10-16 knots the second day, and then 6-10 on the third day for what would be the deciding races.
Team Glory Days
The defending champions aboard NESS jumped out to an early lead, winning three of the first five races. Never notching below a top five finish, it seemed they were cruising to another championship. However Glory Days stayed close, never notching below a 6th, and the team from Shelter Island and Rumson, NJ took advantage of the decreased wind on the third day to show off their trademark light air speed.
Despite trailing by nine points heading into the final three races, Glory Days ran off three straight bullets to give themselves a one point edge heading into Sunday. The RC monitored conditions closely on Sunday, but a ridge of high pressure over most of the east coast, along with trademark strong tides in the Flats didn’t allow the fleet to leave the dock, and the regatta was called and new North American champions were named.
At the Awards Ceremony, Peter Beardsley recounted sailing in the Viper North Americans for over 15 years. “We were very excited for the North Americans at our then home club, Larchmont, over ten years ago. We ended up in the high teens.” Keep plugging, he advised. While the title was the first for Jay and Peter, it was technically Rachel Beardsley’s second North American class title, after she won the Women’s North Americans at Gulfport YC in 2022.
Mark Wheeler and Team from Vapor Trails
As usual with the Viper Fleet, well-attended open debriefs were held after racing every day over stocked coolers. The four day regatta also featured an Annual General Meeting, a Class dinner, and a Class party hosted by long-time Viper sailor Jane Moore, at her home overlooking the race course.
HYC local Mark Wheeler took home the Masters Trophy, placing a strong third overall, and International Class President Steve Chapman won the Geoff Ewenson Memorial Award for outstanding service to the Class, the first winner of the EWE Award since 2022.
Steve Chapman won the Geoff Ewenson Memorial Award
Next year’s Viper North Americans are set for Pensacola Yacht Club September 30 – October 4, to be followed in 2027 by the North Americans at Boston Yacht Club in Marblehead Sept. 22-26.
