- New Viper 640 Class Officers Elected At AGM November 28, 2016
Through the combination of online and in-person voting, a Constitutional Quorum of over 100 Owner Members cast ballots for new Class officers to serve two-year terms (2017-2018). The new slate of officers is:
North American Region
President – Steve Chapman
Secretary – John Leyand
Treasurer – Tony Chapman
Northeast – Peter Beardsley
Southeast – Travis Yates
West – Geoff Fargo
Great Lakes – Darren Gilbert
European Region
Europe Pres – Ian Nicholson
Europe Secretary – David Pittman
Australasia Region
Australasia Pres – Graeme Monkhouse
Australasia VP – Mark Griffin
Australasia Secretary – John Park
Australasia Tech Comm. Rep – Rod Beurteaux
International Board (includes three Regional Presidents)
International Board Chair – Justin Scott
Int’l Gov. – Tony Chapman
Tech Comm. Chair – Dave Nickerson
Int’l Gov – Tim Carter
Int’l Gov – Kay VanValkenburgh
...read more - All Rules Change Proposals And International Constitution Accepted at 2016 AGM November 28, 2016
At the 2016 Viper 640 Class Association’s 2016 Annual General Meeting held November 17, in Bermuda, the Class voted on four specific changes to the Class Rules as well as voting on acceptance of an International Constitution. Over 100 votes were cast on each issue which represents a 50% quorum of Owner Members required for passage. The specific new rules follows:
1) Hiking Lines – Amends Rule 8.3 in the Equipment and Fittings Section – Passed with 96% approving
The new rule will allow hiking lines to be attached the hiking straps and to the hiking strap eyes on the cockpit floor. The change allows a more direct line of support to the person hiking and can help pull the strap up so feet can get under more easily. It also better accommodates the needs of teams sailing 4-up.
Effective March 1, 2017
2) GYA ...
...read more - Zeke Horowitz, Ian Coleman, and Brendan Healey Win Aspen Viper 640 International Championship sponsored by EFG November 20, 2016
Sunday, November 20, 2016
When it was decided that the Viper 640 sports boats would travel to Bermuda during November 2016 for its major regatta, everyone was looking forward to the big winds that prevail on the Great Sound at that time of year. Unfortunately on two of the days too much wind prevailed. The 4-day event, the Aspen Viper 640 International Championship sponsored by EFG, was held from Wednesday – Saturday, November 16-19, in conjunction with the 2016 North American Championship. The regatta came down to only six races over two days of sailing. As was the case on Thursday’s second day of the event when 25+ knot westerly winds with puffs well into the 30’s kept the racers ashore, the final day’s racing also had to be cancelled as the low hovering around Bermuda brought winds well in excess ...
...read more - Aspen Viper 640 International Championship Day 2 – A Boat Breaking Day November 17, 2016
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Day 2 at the Aspen Viper 640 International Championship Regatta, Hamilton, Bermuda
“Boat breaking conditions”, is what competitor Nick Lounsbury titled today. At noon the wind was 32 gusting to 43 which put sailors on standby until 1220 at which a final decision was made to cancel for the day. What is it like sailing Vipers in these conditions? “We go into safety mode,” said 2015 North American Champion Luke Lawrence. “On a day like this, even Brad (Boston) and I would have flipped.” The team of Sidewinder wasn’t going to accept a day off, there was plenty of breeze funneling right into Hamilton Harbour that made for a run for the speed record. Topping off at 16.4, Travis Yates, Mike Meighan, Dave Hillmyer, and guest Lara Dallman-Weiss were awarded with both the daily speed record (accompanied by ...
...read more - Cardwell Potts and Ted Ferrarone win EFG Viper 640 International Championship Warm-up Regatta November 14, 2016
November 14, 2016
For Immediate Release
Hamilton, Bermuda
Cardwell Potts and Ted Ferrarone win EFG Viper 640 International Championship Warm-up Regatta
Cardwell Potts, sailing with his wife Jennifer, Ted Ferrarone, and Kendra Emhiser, a quartet of Viper 640 sailors from Larchmont (NY) Yacht Club won the Viper 640 International Championship Warm-up Regatta in commanding fashion with a line score of 1-2-1-3-2 over five races for a total of nine points. That performance gave the Potts/Ferrarone team a 23-point lead over another Larchmont Yacht Club team comprised of Peter and Rachel Beardsley with Jay and Rachel Rhame. Viper Class Governor Justin Scott (Darien, CT) was in third with 36 points followed by Zeke Horowitz (Annapolis, MD). Several teams opted to sit the last race out in building breeze and with several days of sailing to go and plenty of beaches to see.
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> Hosted by the ...
...read more - Scuttlebutt picks-up on Snake Bytes’ Words from the Prez… November 2, 2016
Scuttlebutt Editor Craig Leweck regularly reads Snake Bytes reflecting his long-term interest with in the Class. In the last issue of Sailing World he did an article on Group 3 pros in one-design racing and incorporated some thinking the Class had shared with him about how we successfully manage…and welcome…Group 3s to sail with us…under our terms!
This morning he received Snake Bytes and picked-up on the Words from the Prez article from Dr. Jim Sears, outgoing Viper Class Prez. Craig added some interesting and compelling context to Jimbo’s comments boosting further the imagery of the Viper 640 as the sportboat to race. Here’s Craig’s posting:
Make it Hard for People to Leave
by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt
When the Viper 640 Class gathers in Bermuda for its International Championship on November 16-19, there will be 46 teams representing five countries to compete for the ...
...read more - NoR for Sarasota Winter Circuit Posted October 17, 2016
Notice of Race HERE.
Series invitation and logistical overview HERE.
...read more - Dates for 2017 Viper 640 North Americans Announced October 3, 2016
October 25-28, 2017
Ft Walton Yacht Club, Ft. Walton Beach, FL
Mark your calendars now…
The Ft. Walton Yacht Club will be hosting the 2017 NAs on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. Craig and Deb Wilusz are working on all the details and will post the NoR shortly.
Got any ideas for NA sponsors??? Contact Craig at contact@gulfperformancesailing.com.
...read more - Mark Folkman Wins Queen Mary Sleigh Ride August 31, 2016
August 20, 2016
Reported by Mark Folkman
Five Viper teams and one VX-1 braved the elements and departed King Harbor in Redondo Beach, CA, for a “distance” race to the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA on August 20. The race course was 24 miles in the open ocean around the Palos Verdes Peninsula, then along the Los Angeles Harbor Breakwater wall with the finish off the stern of the venerable Queen of the Seas (aka hotel).
The first leg was a one tack beat to the “R10” bell buoy in 8 knots of breeze and, at the buoy, Tim Carter #223, Mark Folkman #130, and Bob Hayward in #227 were nearly abeam as the course turned to a jib reach. Soon, after the kites were out, the wind went aft, and wind speed began to increase. Increasing to twelve, eighteen, pushing to ...
...read more - Zeke Horowitz Wins YRALIS Viper Champs August 10, 2016
American Yacht Club
August 6-7
Thirteen boats made it out for part or all of the weekend to sail 6 races over two days. They faced a light but fairly steady southwester on Saturday, and a puffy northerly Sunday with racing at the mouth of Mamaroneck Harbor once the breeze filled.
Zeke Horowitz’s Jenny and Peter Beardsley’s and David Owen’s Ghost Panda traded firsts and seconds over the weekend, with Horowitz’s Team Jenny, with Ian Coleman and Chris Klevan, prevailing. Ted Ferrarone, Charles Swanson and Kendra Emhiser on #88 stepped it up on Sunday to place third after Christian Manchester’s Vicious Panda and Byron Lamont’s and Andrew Weiss’ Dragon Fire showed good speed on Saturday.
Results
...read more - David Owen and Peter Beardsley Win 118th Larchmont Race Week August 10, 2016
Larchmont Yacht Club
July 16-24
Sailed over the weekends of July 16-17 and 23-24, the historic 118th running of Larchmont Race Week concluded Sunday afternoon with the Viper class participating in the second annual Around Execution Lighthouse Race – a winner-takes-all event with Vipers, classic Herreshoff S-Boats, PHRF racers, and a Gunboat 62 sharing the same starting line.
Preceding that race, however, were three days of solid racing with 21 Vipers competing. From the first Saturday, it was David Owen sailing #222 Ghost Panda in the lead. With a 2-2-1 on the first weekend, Owen and team would never look back. Joined by boat partner, Peter Beardsley the second weekend, the duo managed to win both of Saturday’s races and placed 8th overall in the Execution Light Race.
In second, also with a consistently strong scoreline, were Cardwell Potts and Ted Ferrarone in #88. ...
...read more - John Leyland Rocks at 2016 SOAR Regatta August 10, 2016
Squamish Yacht Club
July 23-24
Well the little boat that we all love did its thing this weekend up Howe Sound at the SOAR Regatta in Squamish, BC this past weekend. Howe Sound is essentially a fjord with mountains all around making for a great place to sail.
Friday’s 9nm Inflow Race didn’t provide the epic conditions they were predicting but were great just the same. This is an everyone start together race to Squamish with a variety of boats ranging in size from a Hanse 400e to our beloved Viper. We started in about 10-12 knots of breeze and after ping ponging our way out from the symmetrical chutes got out to better breeze and off we went with the puffy breeze building the rest of the way. We were the 4th boat to cross the finish line doing 14+ less than ...
...read more - Steve Chapman Wins 2016 Viper Canadian Championship August 10, 2016
Kingston Yacht Club
July 9-10
Kingston Yacht Club hosted the Great Lakes Viper fleet for our 3rd annual Canadian Championship. Famous for great sailing with good thermal winds, 10 boats arrived Friday to a warm welcome. Lots of beer and good food Friday night at the Kingston Brewing Company helped the fleet prepare for the excitement ahead. Saturday morning we had great conditions, sunshine and a nice 12-15kt SW breeze. Racing was tight and the RC got off 3 good races. With each hour the winds increased as the promised thermal kicked in.
After the 3rd race the RC stopped racing as winds at the top mark hit 29 kts and capsizes became numerous, including one turtled boat! Thanks to James Colburn (87) who jumped on to assist.
Burgers and beer on the cozy KYC deck alleviated the stress of the day. Many of ...
...read more - Ron Schute Wins 2016 Nepean One-Design Regatta August 10, 2016
Nepean Sailing Club
June 19-20
For the Great Lakes Vipers, heading to Nepean Sailing Club near Ottawa in June has become a tradition. Since 2005, NSC has hosted the annual event which attracted 81 boats in 2016, including 10 Vipers. Despite the light winds which dominate at this time of the year this is a very popular event. Saturday was our day for a floating Viper pit as no racing took place! The club put on a great BBQ with a live band that evening leaving everyone with smiles despite the lack of racing.
Sunday brought wind and we managed to get in 4 races, with 4 different boats taking a bullet through very close racing. Ron Schute, on 117 Rum Theory, defended his title to take the 2016 event, followed by Matt Rowlinson on Viper 70 Gendel and Steve Chapman on 211 ...
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