- Class sponsored coaching at Regattas January 8, 2009
Written by Justin Scott
The Etchells class and the Star class have recently introduced rules that prohibit coach boats. The Viper class has taken a different route for the last two years. We agree with those that point out that coaching on the day of racing, between races, is a much more effective way of helping a sailor lift his or her game than clinics or training days.
We also agree that an expensive coaching program is a hell of an advantage for a boat that can afford the dough and doesn’t accord with the Viper philosphy of providing economically affordable racing.
We love what coaching can do for sailors trying to improve their skills. But we want a level playing field.
In the Viper class we try and get the best of both worlds. Individual coach boats are not present. However we ...
...read more - Coral Reef Cup, Miami March 20-22 January 5, 2009
Written by Dan Tucker
The Viper Class has been invited to join the Coral Reef Cup on Biscayne Bay, March 20-22, 2009. This regatta is hosted by the Coral Reef Yacht Club. Miami and the Bay are the home of our newest Viper 640 Fleet, they’ve stepped up immediately to host their first Viper regatta. Let’s reciprocate by turning out for a warm welcome to the Viper family. There are 9 or 10 Vipers already committed for this regatta. Please let us know on the Class Forum if you’re planning on attending. We’d love to see 15-20 Vipers turn out for what is sure to be a spectacular Viper event! A strong turnout can have big impact on growing this fledgling fleet, so come on out!
Racing sailboats on Biscayne Bay in the winter has been described as, “practice for ...
...read more - 2008 Carolina Keelboat One Design Report November 20, 2008
Written by Jason Weisberg – USA82
The weekend of November 7th 8 Vipers gathered from north and South to compete at the Lake Norman YC Carolina Keel One Design regatta. The sailors could not have asked for a more beautiful setting.
The conditions on the first day were somewhat shifty but fair while we had wind that ranged from 7-15knts. The lake provided a beautiful backdrop of fall foliage as we race up and down the 1.1 mile legs. With the exception of an equipment failure for Justin Chambers and co. and mental failures by myself and crew, the day provided some exciting racing. The second day proved to be more challenging with diminishing wind speeds and ultra shifty lake conditions. We started with 5-8knts and wound down to 0. Prospective new Viper owners were inserted on and off ...
...read more - 2008 Atlantic Coast Championships September 25, 2008
Written by Charles Goodrich
A great event, lots of photos and an article in the Stamford Advocate…. .
“Races!
We had two days of light winds, with 4 races on Saturday and 3 races on Sunday (after a postponement ashore in the morning). Both days were beautiful, with blue skies and temperatures in the ’70s.
Demonstration/Tuning!
Most teams stopped by to get tuning advice from Paul Young (the builder) on Friday afternoon. It was great to see so many Vipers being “tuned” all at once.
Social!
We had a packed social hour and dinner at the Stamford Yacht Club Saturday evening. Between breakfasts, Saturday’s dinner and the awards presentation on Sunday after racing, I think everyone had a great time off the water.
Results!
Trophies were given to each skipper and each crew of the top 5 teams. (Each team was allowed one throw out race.) Congratulations to ...
...read more - Larchmont NOOD September 7, 2008
Written by Justin Scott
Vipers came in first and second in the new sportsboat class at the Larchmont NOOD.
The smaller sportsboat class with 20′ sportsboat racing against each other on a portsmouth handicap is a concept that we have been batting about with other classes for a few months. The first time we were on the same startline was at the Newport Regatta in June. In Newport we started on the same line with the same gun but each class was scored as One Design. At Larchmont we raced as one fleet with a Portsmouth handicap.
It was fun!
The racing was nearly postponed for a day with the approach of Tropical Storm Hanna. Then the evening before, the forecast eased and it looked like we would get a day of racing in front of gradualy building wind and waves. We left the club ...
...read more - YouTube Video from 2008 North Americans August 15, 2008
Written by Barracuda Productions
Alex Bolan, aka “The Barracuda” shot this video during the last day of the 2008 Viper 640 North American Championships at Marblehead. Depending on your internet bandwidth, you may also be able to watch it in high quality. Click HERE , and then look for the “watch in high quality” link just below and to the right of the video.
...read more - Smoke On The Water August 4, 2008
Written by Felipe Payet
A new Viper 640 sailor’s experience at the North American Championship
As a new owner of a Viper 640, I was thrilled to get the opportunity to charter a boat for the North American Championship Regatta, and jumped at the chance to attend the event. After all, what better way to get up the learning curve quickly on the Viper 640 than to attend the North American Championship?
Read more…
...read more - Record Attendance at Viper 640 North American Championships July 29, 2008
Written by Marblehead Viper Fleet
Twenty six Vipers raced in the Viper 640 North American championships in Marblehead that finished on Sunday. The number of competitors has increased by 45% for two consecutive years mirroring the growth of interest in this modern 21 foot sportsboat. The Class Association has grown from a mere 20 boats 2 1/2 years ago to 100 boats in North America today. What makes this growth particularly interesting is that it occurred without the extensive marketing and promotion that is usually associated with the launch of one-design sportsboat classes. The Viper class pursued a different formula.
“It was back to the future” says Justin Scott, Viper 640 Class Association president. “The great classes of yore like the Lightening and the Etchells and the Star were not launched with a large marketing campaign and expensive advertising budgets, They were beautifully designed, well built boats ...
...read more - 2008 North Americans – Online Replays July 25, 2008
Day one of the 2008 Viper 640 North American Championship/Marblehead NOOD is now in the record books, and we now have animated replays of the races available for online viewing. After a cancellation of all racing on Thursday due to dangerous weather in the area, Friday was warm, sunny, and provided sufficient breeze to get two light air races in.
In order to enable interactive replays of the racing during our North American Championship, 12 of the 26 participating boats are carrying Velocitek SC-1 GPS sailing computers during the regatta, and we will be posting interactive replays to the web for your viewing pleasure. Replays for races 1 & 2 are already available on our Interactive Replays page, and you can check back every night for replays of that day’s racing.
Click here to view online replays
...read more - 2008 Coastal Living Newport Regatta July 16, 2008
Written by Dan Tucker
The 2008 Coastal Living Newport Regatta was a blast for the Viper Sailors
The other sportboats in Division 4 had fun as well! Eight Vipers traveled to Newport for a sportboat fest. We shared a line with the RS K6’s, Laser SB3’s, 5o5’s and Nacra 17’s. We were joined by an Open 5.70 as well.
The weather was sunny & gorgeous both days, with Sunday being the breezier day -sustained wind @ 20 knots with some gusts to 25 according to SailFlow. Downwind boatspeeds were in the mid-teens, it was exciting Viper sailing! Saturday was a nice warmup with 10-12 knots.
Class President Justin Scott sailed strongly to an early points lead, which he held throughout the weekend, winning with 18 points over 10 races (with one throwout). Second was Charles Goodrich of Rowayton, CT (middle crew, above) on El ...
...read more - Charleston Race Week – 2008 April 29, 2008
Written by Justin Scott
The growing Viper 640 sportsboat class made their first appearance at Charleston Race Week with ten Vipers sharing the starting line in Charleston harbor. The most important trophy for the three day weekend was awarded to Simon Eve. Simon is 14 and this was his first regatta in a Viper.
Simon won the Ronstan/Selden award for “Viper Sportsperson of the Regatta”. The award is determined by each competing skipper voting on which competitor most represented the corinthian spirit of our sport by making the regatta the most fun for all other participants.
Fourteen year old Simon won by a landslide. In his first ever race in a Viper, he led Race One of the regatta from the start until a few boat lengths from the finish, and finished second. The panel of Viper owners that presented the award ...
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