The Wadewitz Regatta, held on September 25-26 and hosted by Fairhope (AL) Yacht Club, brought twelve Capdevielle Vipers and one Open Viper to the waters of Mobile Bay. Conditions for the event ranged from miserable and challenging (at least from the PRO’s point-of-view) to some really competitive sailing on the bay. Three races were conducted on Saturday but only one on Sunday due to a dying breeze. Buccaneer Yacht Club won the event, followed by Pensacola and Southern yachts clubs who took second and third places, respectively. The highlight of the weekend was GYA Past Commodore Harry Chapman (Bay Waveland Yacht Club), at 89-years-young, steering his first Viper event, with crew Clinton Edwards and Mary Ellen Edwards. Commodore Chapman, it is believed, is the only skipper to steer in a Capdevielle competition in all three Capdeville boats – the Fish Class sloop, the Flying Scot, and now the Viper 640. Great job Commodore Chapman!
GYA Past Commodore Harry Chapman driving a Viper at 89!
On October 15-17 the Pensacola Yacht Club will host WFORC (West Florida Open Race Challenge, formerly West Florida Ocean Race Challenge) and have included a Viper class for the regatta.
Lastly, the rescheduled 100th sailing of the Lipton Challenge (rescheduled from Labor Day weekend due to Hurricane Ida) will take place October 29-31 at Southern Yacht Club. The Lipton Challenge Cup was donated to Southern Yacht club by Sir Thomas Lipton in the early months of 1920. From 1920 through 1968 the Lipton Challenge was sailed in the Fish Class sloop, the Flying Scot from 1969 through 2017, and beginning in 2018 in the Viper 640. The Lipton Challenge has been sailed every year since 1920, except 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina, and remains the most coveted trophy in the Gulf Yachting Association’s Capdevielle series which consists of twelve intraclub competitions throughout the year.
