October 13-14, 2012
The Etchells fall schedule is in full swing with the last One Design Weekend, sailed on October 13 and 14th. The regatta saw fierce competition between Lola, Down Under, and Rhino, sailed by Geoff Davis, AndrewWhittome, and Bruce Nelson, respectively. With the forecast of 13 not puffs and average winds of 10 knots, Saturday proved to be beyond expectations, with puffs to 16-17 knots and sunny, warm sailing. Â As a bonus, if any Etchells skipper or crew ever daydreamed, looking back at 21 J105, provided a brief respite from the competitive sailing on the Etchells Course.
With the “youth movement” alive and well on Rhino and Lola, it appears that a new group of college sailors is ready willing and able to fill the shoes of their parents. Sailing with Jeff Davis on rhino was Tyler Sinks, Boston College graduate and son of Chuck and Lynn Sinks.  While the elder Sinks (Chuck) sailed with Dennis Conner on DC’s Pholly, Tyler Sinks earned the mantra of “brain trust”, coned by Lola owner and middle man Geoff Davis. Likewise, Bruce Nelson conscripted collegiate sailors from Newport Beach and UC Irvine, and Steve Wright likewise constricted smaller, more agile and younger sailors on his efforts to a fourth-place finish on the weekend.
Although Geoff Davis’s math on Lola was somewhat suspect after adding the crew weights for his for crew, Geoff and his stable still sailed quite well, finishing with three firsts for the weekend. Likewise, Andrew Whittome, sailing with Charlie Mann and Sonya Smith, sailed quite well. However, Whittome’s efforts to put distance between Down Under and Rhino for the series and High Point Regatta proved difficult if Down Under was to keep pace with Lola.
Sunday proved equally as pleasurable. Although the 16 knot forecast for Saturday did not repeat, the racing was still exciting with gusts to 15 knots and visible wind shears. For those lucky enough to find a wind shear, they could lay the weather mark on a single tack. If not, the agile sailors found themselves almost a half a leg behind the competition.
With a single ODW left on the schedule, the competition remains tight for High Point Champion between Bruce Nelson on Rhino and Andrew Whittome on Down Under. With several crews, including Kjeld Hesteheve, planning on going to the 2013 Etchells Worlds in Italy, the competition will prove to be intense, but only surpassed by the camaraderie. Â For anyone interested, contact Bruce Nelson, agile fleet captain or though Pascoe, the fleet secretary.