Adults Lasers Class Regatta Results: Full Fleet / Masters
OLYMPIC CONTENDERS DUEL AT ORANGE BOWL REGATTA
Coconut Grove Sailing Club’s 47th annual Open Orange Bowl Regatta saw a duel of Olympic proportions, December 27-30. Young Laser Class Olympic hopefuls Robert Davis of Kingston, ON Canada and American Kyle Rogachenko of Collegeville, PA put on spectacular sailing performances, with one or the other winning all 10 of the races in the 25-boat fleet. Especially telling was that one race could be discarded, and for Robert, it was a second place finish!
The four-day regatta got off on a slow note, with very light air on Sunday, December 27. After a postponement waiting for wind, a 4-5 knot steady breeze developed and the fleet was sent on a windward-leeward twice around course. Not a fast race, but quality light air conditions prevailed. Two races had been planned that day, but only one was sailed due to the conditions.
CGSC’s Race Committee used a rotating Principal Race Officer assignment for the regatta. Jo Ann Mathieu took over on Monday from Ron Rostorfer. A good, but shifty NW wind settled in, and four races were conducted, putting the regatta back on schedule. It was a grind for the competitors, even though the Race Committee passed out water and power bars after each race. David Hartman, a Great Grand Master was heard to remark to Jo Ann, “Why aren’t we still racing, it’s not dark yet?”
Kyle Rogachenko recovered from an opening race 4th to win three of the four races, with Robert Davis taking three seconds and a first. Gordon Lamphere from Lake Forest, IL emerged as third place in the fleet. Among the Laser Master fleet, who were also competing in the overall Laser Class standings, a good matchup emerged with CGSC’s Augie Diaz holding a one point lead over Michael Matan from New York City after five races.
The PRO for the balance of the regatta was CGSC Race Chair Susan Walcutt. Tuesday was a transition day for the wind. The first lap of the windward-leeward course was to the NW, and the second lap to the EAST! It wasn’t pretty, and the race was shortened at the second windward mark. Still, no time was wasted. Things steadied out from the NE after that, and two good quality races were completed. This brought the total to eight of the 10 races scheduled, with Robert and Kyle tied on points! Generally, after each race, these two were seen sailing together discussing how the race was won – or not won! Michael Matan overtook Augie for the overnight lead among the Masters.
By Wednesday, our usual easterly arrived – a great sailing breeze, and fairly steady. Robert and Kyle again traded firsts and seconds. Augie had two bullets to win going away among the Masters. But, after ten races with one discarded, Robert and Kyle were still tied for first overall!
The trophy presentation featured The Orange Bowl Committee’s sailing events Chair, Lester Johnson. Lester has held this office for many, many years, and is one of the finest gentlemen anyone could hope to meet. He’s lived the history of CGSC’s 47 Orange Bowl Regattas, and his remarks are always interesting. He introduced Laura Sherrod who will be taking over the OB Committee sailing chairmanship next year.
The only sad note at the presentation was that the tie between the two outstanding performances of Robert and Kyle had to be broken, with Kyle taking the win on the tie-breaker. Gordon Lamphere was 3rd. In 4th place was Puerto Rico’s Francisco Medina, while Roman Plutenko of Chicago, but originally from the Ukraine, finished 5th. Among the Laser Masters, after Augie’s win and Michael Matan’s second, Paul Wurtzebach of Woodridge, IL finished 3rd. Olga Koubrak of Toronto was awarded first place in the Laser Radial Class.
CGSC’s Race Committee did another excellent job, getting in all ten races in what were, at times, difficult conditions. Besides the three PRO’s mentioned above, the Signal Boat owner was Henry Bernstein with his Hunter 34, Ivory Gull. Many thanks to Henry! Signal Boat crews included Marvin Schenker, Dottie Rostorfer, Jo Ann Mathieu and Vicki Rosenbloom, along with Dick Podder and George Bradley.
Support boat crews included Dave Brown, skipper of the Mark Boat, Pin and Gate Boat skippers Art Auwaerter, Carl Updyke and Kit Temple, with crews Bernie Meier, Anne Edwards, and newcomers Megan O’Connell, Scott Findley and Alan Mercer.
Shore support personnel were led by CGSC Secretary Cathy Buller, with Nadia Maudsley and Elizabeth Libby.
Written by: Ron Rostorfer - CGSC PRO and former Race Committee Chair
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