Force 5 Class Association

Brian Weeks Wins in Galesville

The 2000 Force 5 North American Championship was held at West River Sailing Club in Galesville, MD July 27 through 29. The club overlooks the West River’s scenic view and was a great venue for this year's event. 26 boats participated in this year's main event, which turned out to be a light air battle. A series of three low-pressure systems dominated Chesapeake Bay weather for the week prior to the regatta. These systems' persisting effects impeded sea breeze development throughout the event, resulting in near-zephyr conditions all three days. With these light conditions, the importance of clear air and minimizing mistakes was key since only 3 of the scheduled 8 races.

The competitors sailed out to the Bay in light conditions. The racing was cancelled after a bit since the wind never arrived on this day.

Friday began on a more promising note, a steady 5-knot northerly allowing the boats to sail out to the racecourse with relative ease. The first race started after a brief postponement in the diminishing northerly. Perennial NA champ Bob Cullen, who dominated the day, sailed to a substantial lead on the first triangle but was unable to complete the fourth leg of the shortened course before the 90 minute time limit expired. A fleeting easterly breeze appeared later in the afternoon, lasting just long enough to complete one race. Cullen led the way, taking the first place gun barely within the time limit on a five leg shortened course.

Hopes for better conditions on Saturday evaporated with the morning's light easterly. The RC immediately decided to tow the fleet back into the river to take advantage of the little breeze remaining there rather than wait for the elusive southerly on the Bay. Their decision proved sound: late reports from big boat events confirmed that the Bay remained becalmed throughout the day. The wakes from a constant stream of large powerboats combined with the light and shifty wind, the resulting cross-chop created extremely challenging conditions. Stellar RC work, however, permitted two more races to be completed. In the first, Fred Meno recognized that the right side of the course had less adverse current, rounding the weather mark well ahead of eventual winner Brian Weeks. Meno maintained his lead throughout most of the race, but Weeks managed to pass him on the shifty final beat for the win. Top overall woman finisher Wendy O'Toole took third. The final race was a seesaw affair, with the top five boats exchanging the lead throughout the first beat. Again, Meno rounded first, closely followed by Peter Young, Cullen and Weeks. Young slipped past Meno just before the leeward mark, and he, Meno, Cullen and Weeks again traded places throughout the second weather leg. This time, Cullen rounded the top mark first, followed by Young and Weeks. Weeks demonstrated superior technique through the power boat wakes on the run and rounded the leeward mark first. Weeks, Cullen and Young again exchanged leads up the final beat. Weeks anticipated the final port shift, however, crossing the finish line ahead of Cullen and Young.

Many thanks go out to West River Sailing Club for hosting the event. A Special thanks and a hearty "job well done" to PRO Peter Jones and everyone serving on the Race Committee over the three days.