Viper 640 Snake Bytes - August 2, 2022 - Viper 640 International Class Association

 Snake Bytes
August 2, 2022

MAJOR REGATTA NEWS

Get ready for a winter of fun sailing in the southern U.S. The  to be held in October in Gulfport, MI, will be followed by the Southern Yacht Club Viper Winter Series in New Orleans with four events (December through early March). This provides a great build-up to the Viper 640 World Championship hosted by SYC at the end of March. See the articles below for more information.

The Class will not be holding a winter series in Sarasota in 2022-23 but we hope to return to the Sarasota Sailing Squadron next year.

Still to happen in the coming months:

Great Lakes Championship at CORK Kingston, ON    Sept 17-18
Information and registration HERE.

New England Championship at Larchmont YC, NY    Sept 24-25
Information and registration HERE.

2022 NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS UPDATE

The trio of Viper North American Championships is only a few months away! Many teams have already signed-up for the Open, Women, and Youth Championships, but many of you have yet to do so. It’s the old story, sailors wait until the last minute to sign-up for regattas! If you’re planning to sail please click on these links below.

Women’s and Youth NAs – October 15-16
Information and registration HERE.

Viper North American Championship – October 19-23
Information and registration HERE.

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2023 WORLDS – REGISTRATION IS OPEN

The 2023 Viper 640 World Championship will be held at Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans, LA, March 27 through 31. The women and youth World championships will be March 24-26. Registration for the World championship is currently open so you can register right now. Give the folks at Southern as much heads up in terms of how many people are coming, as this will be a regatta you just don’t want to miss.

Overseas teams take note: the organizers are working hard to line up charter boats to encourage teams to make the trip to New Orleans. Announcements about this will be made next month.

2022 Viper Worlds – March 27-31, Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA
Information and registration HERE.

2022 Viper Women and Youth Worlds
, March 24-26 
Information and registration available soon

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2022-23 SYC

VIPER WINTER SERIES

Thanks to Ricky Welch and the rest of Viper fleet at Southern Yacht Club, all of us have the opportunity to leave our boats in the South after the North Americans and sail as many as four weekends from December through March. This will give us great practice on Lake Pontchartrain and have our boats ready for the Worlds when they start in late March. a link to the notice of race is below as is a link to register for each individual regatta within the winter series.

Notice of Race

Four individual regattas are scheduled for the series:

Event #1 December 10-11, 2022 Event Link

Event #2 January 7-8, 2023 Event Link

Event #3 February 4-5, 2023 Event Link

Event #4 March 4-5, 2023 Event Link

On-site storage for Vipers is available at Southern Yacht Club at a rate of $100 per month. Storage will be available starting on December 1st and will continue through the 2023 Viper Worlds. Storage arrangements should be made and paid for in advance via the event website. See Boat Storage Info here.

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EVENT NEWS

2023 SOAR 

July 22-24

Squamish Yacht Club, BC

John Leyland did some Viper racing in British Columbia a few weekends ago as part of the Squamish Yacht Club SOAR regatta. Class Secretary Leyland took home a win in the Sportboat division on Saturday over Melges 24s and a couple of new Fareast boats (19 and 23).

Great conditions made for a Classic SOAR that weekend!

Friday was the Inflow Race starting at Porteau Cove and is an 9 NM downhill ride which started in 12–15 knots building as you get to Squamish. RC indicated gusts were 27-32 at the finish.

Saturday was essentially a 23 NM windward/leeward and not quite as breezy topping out at about 20 for the second downwind leg. Sunday is a long beat home…not as much fun.

2023 GYA JUNIOR LIPTON

The 77th Jr. Lipton Regatta was held July 23-24 at Fairhope Yacht Club with eight GYA youth teams competing. Top honors went to Bay Waveland Yacht Club, whose team sailed a great series with finishes of 1, 1, 2, 1, and 3. Taking 2nd and 3rd were Southern YC and Fairhope YC, respectively. Perpetuals: the Walter Chamberlain Trophy, winning skipper of the 1st race, went to Ricky Miller of Bay Waveland Yacht Club; winner of the Sportsmanship Award, selected by competitors, went to the Fairhope Yacht Club team; and winner of the coveted Uncle Roy Trophy, winning skipper of the final race, went to Nate Hartwell of Fairhope Yacht Club.

Full results at https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/24684#_newsroom

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VIPER 640 GUIDING PRINCIPLES

As the world around us continues to evolve and the sailing world evolves along with it, it is important that we are mindful of the way we treat and interact with fellow sailors, both on the water and to shore. The North American Viper 640 Class Executive Committee is putting forth the following statement reminding us to treat our fellow sailors as we would wish to be treated ourselves:

The Viper 640 Class is guided in all its actions by principles that are consistent with its values and beliefs. Every action will be tested against these principles. Every action, statement, policy, or publication will honor and promote the principles of:

  • Respect
  • Dignity
  • Equality
  • Diversity
  • Inclusion

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CALL FOR CLASS OFFICER NOMINATIONS

The Viper 640 class constitution calls for officer elections every other year. At the annual general meeting at the North Americans in October, we will be voting on a full slate of officers for North America. with the exception of the West Coast regional vice president, all incumbents have agreed continue in their current positions. However, if there is someone you would like to nominate for any position comment including the West Coast vice president, please contact Class Administrator Buttons Padin. The North American officers standing for reelection are:

President – Peter Ill

Secretary – John Leyland

Treasurer – Tony Chapman

East Coast VP – Peter Beardsley

Gulf Coast VP – Cathy Cromartie

Great Lakes VP – Brian Johansen

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BUILDER’S UPDATE

Rondar is completing seven new Vipers and should ship three to Canada and four to the USA in the next few weeks. We’ve all heard it before: “supply chain issues” have delayed mast deliveries and hence shipment to North America. Expect to see these new beauties in Gulfport at the North Americans.

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SAIL REGISTRATION STICKERS

With the northern hemisphere’s summer sailing season in full swing, and with the North Americans just around the corner, you have probably ordered new sails for your Viper. Don’t forget that, in addition to the Sail Royalty sticker that your sailmaker stitched onto your sail, you need a free Sail Registration sticker to be compliant with the Class’s one set of sails per year rule. If you need sail registration stickers, email Buttons Padin indicating sail maker, which sails (M/J/S), and the date of first use.

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 BOW NUMBERS

While many of you have ordered your Class-required bow numbers, a number of you haven’t yet. With all the racing that’s going to happen in the next 6-9 months, don’t wait if you’ve not yet ordered your bow numbers. You can now order your bow numbers directly from Championship Regatta Graphics and they will send them directly to you. Order your Viper bow numbers HERE.

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INTERNATIONAL DUES INCREASE

All Viper owners received a message last week indicating that the International Viper 640 Board has approved a new $25US international dues for each boat starting January 1. In North America, that will be in addition to your current $55US dues for a total of $80US you will be billed in January. For Australia, Europe, and Africa, the International Class will be billing every owner that $25US with each Region able to vote upon whatever level of local dues they desire. Full explanation: 2022 Fee increase (International) letter to owners final.pdf.

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Member Dues

All Viper owners should have received numerous notes to pay their Class Dues. If you haven’t yet, please click on this link and sign-in to Wild Apricot using your e-mail address.  VIPER DUES

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    Questions or comments? 

    Have a something to share? Have a question or comment? How about a great Viper photo? Contact Viper 640 Class Administrator Ed “Buttons” Padin at epadin@padesta.com.

    Ed Padin: Viper 640 Class Administrator, Office: 914-834-8286  Address: 360 Huguenot St. #1709, New Rochelle, NY 10801 
    Viper 640 Class Association Website:  www.Viper640.org   
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