2010 ETCHELLS WORLDS Congratulations John Bertrand!
North Sails 1,2,3!
John Bertrand leading the pach powered by the North PC-F main and LM-2.
The LM-2 H jib, FullRadial and VMG spinnakers were also part of the world champion inventory.
For more information on North Etchells sails , please contact the North Etchells experts.
To order Etchells sails online and have them delivered to your door, click here
The Zhick 2010 Long Island Sound Championship was won by the team of Steve Girling, Ched Proctor and Dave Lutian. Steve's team utilized consevative tactics, superior boat speed and boat handling to avoid disaster in the typical light and shifty Long Island Sound conditions. In the 5 race series they never won a race but never fell out of the top 4 either. 15 boats sailed the event held at Westport's Cedar Point Yacht Club. Steve used the North PCF main, LM2 jib and the VMG and Full Radial Spinnakers.
For more information on North Etchells sails , please contact the North Etchells experts.
To order Etchells sails online and have them delivered to your door, click here
For more information on North Etchells sails , please contact the North Etchells experts.
To order Etchells sails online and have them delivered to your door, click here
San Diego Yacht Club hosted the 2009 Etchells Midwinter West with 32 participants and three great days of racing. Wind conditions were 10 to 15 on Friday and Saturday, with 6 to 9 kts on Sunday. Here's the top 10:
Bruce Nelson
Brian Camet
Vince Brun
Chris Snow
Chris Bush
Marvin Beckman
Argyle Campbell
Peter Vessella
Doug McLean
Bruce Gollison *
* partial North inventory
For more information on North Etchells sails , please contact the North Etchells experts.
To order Etchells sails online and have them delivered to your door, click here
2009 WORLDS Melbourne, Australia - North Sails 1,2,3,4,6,7,9...
Report by Julian Plante
Team Racer XY - Jason Muir, Matthew Chew, Paul Wyatt and Bucky Smith
Photo A Francolini
The Australian Racer XY team of Jason Muir, Matthew Chew, Paul Wyatt and Bucky Smith carried off a near flawless regatta to win Audi Etchells World Championship 2009 title sailed on Port Phillip Bay. Showing amazing consistency in the generally light and tricky bay conditions, the Racer XY team were never out of the top 10, whereas the rest of the competitors each featured a couple of 20+ finishing results. The Racer XY team used North Sails effectively to show a great turn of speed and combined this with exceptional tactics, crew work and preparation to run away convincing winners.
North Sails also powered the other top 4 overall finishers with Damien King’s local Melbourne Barry team of Simon Cunnington, James Ware and Andy Butler jumping up the leaderboard to second overall with a great last day of racing. Pre regatta favourites John Bertrand and his team of Ben Ainslie and Andrew Palfrey finished 3rd overall and lived up to their tag to lead the regatta until the last race, where they were caught on the wrong side of a large shift and paid the unfortunate price of a Black Flag earlier in the regatta. Chris Busch’s American team where the first of the overseas entrants and finished 4th overall.
Since purchasing the boat and joining the Etchells fleet, Jason has always used North Sails, and commented that “everything about the sails has always been very good”. The Racer XY team used the PC+ main with GM-6.5 and LM2 jibs upwind, and VMG plus Full Radial spinnakers downwind. Jason commented that they used their new regatta sails for the pre-worlds to check them and were pleased to find the sails fast out of the box as usual. As a competitor, it was interesting to note the confidence the Racer XY team had in their speed and rig settings for all conditions, usually content to just work up before the race by themselves just checking the wind and not focusing on lineups with other boats for tuning and speed checks as is usually the norm. On their speed against other competitors, Jason felt that they were generally comfortable against most, and observed John Bertrand and Chris Busch as showing a little extra turn of speed at times.
North Sails were pleased to exclusively power 75% (and 90% with a partial North Sails inventory) of the Top 20, and would like to congratulate all clients who participated in the worlds. The North Sails team are completing a review of the worlds sail inventories and planning for the next season ahead. For any further details on the worlds and North Sails Etchells inventory, please do not hesitate to contact your local lofts who are all Etchells competitors and enthusiasts.
Top 20
MUIR, Jason - PC+, GM-6.5, LM2, FR, VMG
KING, Damien - PC-F, GM-6.5, LM2, FR, VMG
BERTRAND, John - PC-F, GM-6.5, LM2, FR, VMG
BUSCH, Chris - PC-F, GM-6.5, LM2, FR, VMG
SMITH, Jud
DRENNAN, Noel - PC-F, GM-6.5, LM2, FR, VMG
CHILDERLEY, Stuart - PC-M, GM-6.5,DC270, FR, VMG
BULKA, Mark
MEAD, Laurence
JOHNSON, Ian
CLARK, David
GARNER, Brendan
TAYLOR, Graeme
ROBB, Kirwan
TILLY, Jervis
BROWN, Robert
DOYLE, Mark
PLANTE, Julian
GAIR, Alastair
PRATT, Christopher
For more information on North Etchells sails , please contact the North Etchells experts.
To order Etchells sails online and have them delivered to your door, click here
This past weekend 55 boats competed in the final Jaguar Series event, the Etchells Midwinter Championship. This event is really the main event for the fleet for the winter and the event everyone gears up for during the Jaguar Series. Biscayne Bay provided the competitors with a variety of conditions, which allowed for some tight and exciting racing. North Sails continued to lead the way, with current World Champion Bill Hardesty winning the event for the second year in a row. North Sails were 1,4,5,6,7*,8*. North customers also won 5 of the 7 races in the regatta. North Sails are clearly leading the way in the Etchells class, and many people are taking notice. It is impressive to see more and more of the leading boats at the regatta sailing with North Sails!
Top 10
Bill Hardesty's sail inventory
to win
the Midwinters and
the
Florida
State Champs:
North PC+ main
LM-2 and GM-6.5 jibs
Full Radial and VMG spinnakers
1. Bill Hardesty
2. Tom Lihan
3. Hank Lammens
4. Jeff Siegal
5. Tony Rey
6. Allan Terhune
7. Bruce Golison *
8. Bruce Burton *
9. Peter Duncan
10. Buddy Cribb
* partial North inventory
North customers also won 3 of the 4 events in the Jaguar series.
For more information on North Etchells sails , please contact the North Etchells experts.
Packed with amateurs and professionals in a 60 boat fleet, the Etchells class proved again during their Florida State Championship what a challenge it is to win an Etchells regatta on Biscayne Bay. This was the third of the four events that comprise the class’ Jaguar Series, and despite a forecast that called for strong winds, the anemometer stayed in the boat’s sweet spot of mid-teens for the weekend event. Bill Hardesty showing great speed climbed on the standings to win the event.
Top 10
Bill Hardesty
Jud Smith
Ante Razmilovic
George Andreadis
Frank Atkinson
Marvin Beckman
Bryon Ehrhart
Jeff Siegal
Tom Lihan
Peter Vessella
Bill Hardesty's sail inventory
to win
the Midwinters and
the
Florida
State Champs is listed below.
For more information on North Etchells sails , please contact the North Etchells experts.
To order Etchells sails online and have them delivered to your door, click here
#1 Allan Terhune powered by North! Photo John Payne
January 13, 2009 - This past weekend the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club hosted the 2nd regatta of the 2009 Jaguar Cup, the Sid Doren Memorial Regatta. Miami and Biscayne Bay blessed the fleet with amazing weather, and the 63 teams fully enjoyed it, especially those from the cold Northern States. Many teams sailed Friday to tune up for the event. There were some short races being run and some other tuning sessions going on as well. The weather for the weekend was for light breeze and the forecast was correct. Saturday, the RC managed to get in 3 quality races in a nice 5-10 knot easterly. Sunday, came as forecasted, with little to no wind in the morning and racing was abandoned.
My team of my wife Kate and Todd And Kristine Wake managed to win the event. Bruce Golison sailed a very consistent day to finish second and Tony Rey finished third.
Below are some thoughts and tuning numbers I used from this weekend:
World Champion Bill Hardesty finsihed 5th Photo John Payne
Tuning
Headstay - 47 ½”
Mast Butt- 12’ ‘6”
Uppers -16 Loos Gauge
Lowers set ¾” mast sag
¼” mast chock behind the mast
Race Notes
One thing we really worked hard was to have a run way and a lane off the start.. It was light air and we thought that having full speed at the gun was the most important as you would gain a good number of boat lengths on the fleet as they tried to accelerate. It helped to put us into the front pack early into the race.
Downwind - It was ultra important to know the bearing of the gate (especially the last race) and to have a clear lane…there were huge gains to be made down wind.
Jib halyard tension is really important in the changing conditions. There were many times where it looked as if people had it too tight!
The next eventfor the Jaguar Cup is the Florida State Champs, Feb 7-8. Our Etchells experts Vince Brun, Ched Proctor and and Allan Terhune look forward to seeing everyone there and are available to help to get your team ready for the regatta! Call them today!
Bill Hardesty, 2008 World Champion.
Photo Tim Wilkes
June 28, 2008 (CHICAGO) – Bill Hardesty, Erik Shampain, Steve Hunt, and Jennifer Wilson of San Diego take their first Etchells World Championship title after ending the regatta with a strong 12 place finish in race 6. After dropping a 39 point finish from their score, the team secures first place overall with a total of 30. Hardesty was the pre-event favorite having won both the Midwinters East and West.
Chris Busch, Chad Hough, Chuck Sinks, and Peter Burton, also of San Diego, came in second with 38 points followed by Jud Smith, Henry Frazer, and James Porter with 41. After protest and redress hearings at the end of today, Peter Duncan moved from 16th to tie Beadsworth/Dwyer at 56 points for 4th. Duncan won with tie breaker with his 2nd place win in today’s race.
The 6th and final race of the regatta was run today in beautiful conditions with 10-20 knot westerly winds, waves, and warm sunny weather. Bush, Hough, Sinks, and Burton took the lead on the first downwind leg, and from there they proceeded to walk away from the fleet on every leg and capture first place by a substantial margin.
“We went right on the first beat while most of our competitors went left,” Busch explained. “We were pretty behind after a bad start at the right end of the line, but we found better velocity and some good shifts on our side and we were able to work out way back through the fleet. Once you’re out front, it’s a lot easier to stay there It’s the races where you’re deep and have to fight your way back that really make the difference.”
Busch, Hough, Sinks, and Burton definitely take the role of the stealthy stars of the regatta. After a disappointing 49th finish on the first day, the team moved to 8th with a 2nd and a 4th on the second day of racing. They continued their climb up the score board with respectable finishes in races 4 and 5 which brought them up to 6th and then into the top three. With a decisive win today, the San Diego team ultimately captured 2nd place by three points from Smith, Frazer, and Porter.
Winners Hardesty, Shampain, Hunt and Wilson sailed an impressive regatta. “Our two firsts on the second day really helped. We’ve been training hard, and it paid off.” Hardesty said. With the exclusion of their 39 point drop race, the team never scored below 13th in the racing this week. On how the team managed to stay consistent in the tricky conditions Hardesty explained, “We sailed conservatively. Once we figured out what was working for us, we stuck with that strategy.”
Chris Bush, 2nd place. Photo Tim Wilkes.
Remarkably, with the exception of one drop race apiece, Hardesty, Busch, and Smith all posted top 20 finishes in the five races counting toward their final score. It is undoubtedly this impressive consistency, despite challenging conditions, that places these three boats on the Etchells Worlds podium this year.
The next Etchells World Championship will be held in March 2009 on Port Philip Bay, Melbourne with the host club being Royal Brighton Yacht Club. For a complete list of the final results link to event photos log on to www.etchellsworlds2008.com or www.chicagoyachtclub.org.
Bill Hardesty, Erik Shampain, Steve Hunt & Jennifer Wilson
7
1
1
(39)
8
13
30
2
47
USA969
Chris Busch, Chad Hough, Chuck Sinks & Peter Burton
(49)
2
4
19
12
1
38
3
20
USA102
Judson Smith, Henry Frazer & James Porter
15
9
(41)
2
1
14
41
4
56
USA1327
Peter Duncan, Thomas Blackwell & William Barton
17
22
10
5
(51)
2
56
5
46
IRL1375
Dave Dwyer, Andy Beadsworth & Simon Fry
(40)
24
22
4
3
3
56
6
81
GBR1352
Graham Bailey, Stephen Bailey & David Heritage*
24
7
3
(64)
7
18
59
7
51
USA706
Artie Means, Will Stout & Chuck Skewes
13
3
(84\OCS)
13
17
16
62
8
41
CAN1349
Hank Lammens, Dirk Kneulman & Dwayne Smithers
35
27
(43)
11
2
11
86
9
33
USA1227
Vincent Brun, Ben Mitchell & Jeff Pape
4
5
5
(51)
25
47
86
10
19
USA1310
Robert Wray, Scott Nixon & Mike Wolfs
37
4
9
34
6
(50)
90
* partial North inventory
What North designs they used? 1st place North PC+ main, LM-2 and GM-6.5 jibs, and VMG and Full Radial spinnakers
2nd place North PC-F, LM-2 and LM-2H jibs, and VMG and Full Radial spinnakers
Congratulations to both teams for a fantastic performance under very difficult sailing conditions!!!
For more information on sail models and the regatta, please contact the North Etchells experts.
2008 ETCHELLS MIDWINTERS WEST BILL HARDESTY WINS.. AGAIN!
North Sails, again, dominates the 2008 West Coast Midwinter. Congratulations Bill Hardesty for the great regatta.
Top 12:
1. Bill Hardesty 2. Brian Camet 3. Bruce Golison * 4. Russ Silvestri 5. Will Stout * 6. Bruce Nelson 7. Randall Pittman 8. Jim Moxham 9. Marvin Beckman 10. Jim Gregory 11. Frederic Laffitte 12. Keith Whittemore
* North spinnaker
Top boats used: PC+ mainsail, LM-2 and LM-2 H jib, and the combination of FullRadial, K-3, and VMG spinnaker.
If your are gearing up for the Chicago Worlds, the latest results our sails have achieved in both East and West Coast proves that there is no faster sails in the market than North. Top teams all over the World are ordering the North designs! If you haven't done so, contact us today!
For more information on sail models and the regatta, please contact the North Etchells experts.
2008 ETCHELLS JAGUAR SERIES CONGRATULATIONS OVERALL WINNER BILL HARDESTY!
Boats with North sails dominated the 2008 Jaguar Series!
The 2007-08 Jaguar Series in Miami, FL has been, as advertised, a blend of great racing and camaraderie and, with three out of four regattas having been completed, North Sails customers are dominating the events!
In December, Bill Hardesty and his team won the 73-boat Piana Cup and in the beginning of January Chris Busch and this team outsailed the 81-boat fleet in the Sidney Doren Memorial Regatta to win this classic event by 9 points. In February, it was Bill Hardesty and his team’s turn again as they sailed with spectacular consistency in the 87 boat Florida State Championship to post scores of 3-1-4-5. An amazing 19 point win over a huge, world-class fleet.
With the 2008 Etchells Worlds being held in Chicago in June, a record of 85 boats showed up for the Midwinters, last regatta of the Jaguar series, and again Bill Hardesty and his team dominated the regatta taking the big win for the Series!
Midwinters Result:
1st Bill Hardesty 2nd Jud Smith 3rd Andy Beadsworth 4th Michael Allen 5th Jeffrey Siegal 6th George Andreadis 7th Rob Brown
Jaguar Series Result
1st Bill Hardesty 2nd Jud Smith 3rd Jeffrey Siegal 4th Andy Beadsworth/Dave Dwyer 5th Tom Lihan 6th George Andreadis
Top boats in the Series used both choices of PC+( all purpose ) and PC-F ( flatter luff curve main for very stiff masts ) models mains, LM-2 light to medium jib, LM-2H medium jib, and GM-6.5 medium heavy jib, for upwind gear. The Full Radial and VMG was the sails of choice for downwind.
For complete info on our fast Etchells sails contact our Etchells experts. To order our fast Etchells sails, click here.
2007 ETCHELLS AYC SPRING REGATTA Report by Allan Terhune
The 2007 Etchells season started in Annapolis this past weekend with the one day AYC Spring One Design Regatta. 10 Etchells sailed 4 races in very light and very shifty conditions. It was a good way to shake off the cobwebs and get ready for the NOOD regatta and North Americans, which will take place over the next couple of weeks. After 4 races, my team of my wife Katie, Jason Werner and I wound up in a tie for first with Jose Fuentes and Team Caramba. Jose won the tie breaker and won the regatta. Both of us used the PC+ main, LM-2 jib and Full Radial Spinnaker was very fast!
Top 3:
1. Jose Fuentes 11pts North PC+, LM-2, Full-Radial 2. Allan Terhune, Jr. 11pts North PC+, LM-2, Full-Radial 3. Jordan Smith
For full results visit the Etchells class web site.
For complete information on the designs used by the teams, tuning tips and regatta details, don't hesitate to contact Vince Brun.
The first regatta of the Etchells' Jaguar series was held in Miami this past weekend. 58 boats raced 5 races in conditions ranging from 15 to 25 knots. The winning team of Andy Beadsworth,
Oscar Strugstad and Simon Fry scored 3 firsts and third to easily win over World Champion Judd Smith. Beadsworth's team used the North PC+ main and GM jib for all races.
Peter Vessella
Top 10
