Spring Break Miami for Etchells Sailors is a North American Championship

by Etchells Class - Worlds 2023 Media Team 20 Mar 2023 14:16 GMT March 17-19, 2023

While Spring Breakers descend on Miami this time of year to escape the end of winter, 156 Etchells sailors took to Biscayne Bay for their own kind of fun: The Coral Reef Cup. This 3-day regatta March 17-19th sponsored by EFG Bank and LA Tropical Brewery served not only as the class' 2023 North American Championships but the final chance for teams to race at the host venue for next month's 2023 AON World Etchells Class Championships.

Following a successful four-event Winter Series hosted by Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, their neighbors, Coral Reef Yacht Club, served as host for the 46 teams and ran seven races with social events throughout the weekend complete with a Miami-style Pig Roast.

Chris Lanza, event chair and skipper of Vertigo 2 (USA 1368) said: "Despite a predicated cold front and rain all weekend, the luck of the Irish held on past St. Patrick's day and provided chamber of commerce sailing conditions the entire event. PRO Carl Schellbach and his team were able to provide seven quality races over the 3 day event."

"Finally really nice conditions in Miami," said class meteorologist, Chelsea Carlson of Sea-Tactics referring to the multiple abandonments due to weather this winter. "Biscayne Bay delivered three days of solid wind - exactly what we are hoping for in April and good preparation for the teams. Friday we had a southeasterly at 11-14 knots, Saturday was a 6-11 knot southerly, and Sunday was northeast 10-15."

At the end of Friday after 3 races, Steve Benjamin with his brand new Etchells, Stella Blue (USA 1427), was at the top of the podium with all top 10 finishes with George Francisco's American Baby (USA 1454) just behind followed by the Winter Series Champion Jim Cunningham's Lifted (USA 1504).

Saturday then started with winds in the 8-12 knot range but then died to 5 knots, so the fifth race was postponed until the breeze filled back in. Once six races were completed, teams could throw out their worst race. Cunningham climbed to the top of the results on Saturday and continued to hold onto his momentum through Sunday becoming the new 2023 North American Champion.

Cunningham and crew, Steve Hunt, Erik Shampain, and Serena Vilage, are finally the brides not the bridesmaids after multiple recent second-place finishes - including the 2022 North Americans held at Shelter Harbor Yacht Club on Long Island last summer.

"It feels pretty good to finally break through with the win here at the North Americans," said Cunningham. "As usual with the Etchells fleet, it is super deep and talented and you have to get it all right to have a good race. This event was no different as we had seven races with seven different winners. We're feeling good heading into the Worlds in four weeks."

Topping the Corinthian podium was also the Winter Series winner, Andy Cumming with Blackadder II (CAN 1451) with fellow Toronto natives, John Millen, Chloe Congourdeau, and Erin Sauder. Cunning says he is "deeply committed to the Corinthian spirit in this class" and has been actively working to promote the sub-class to encourage more participation and the health of the sport overall.

Standing on the overall podium and only separated by one point were Jack Franco, Richard Clarke, and Ben Lamb in second place with Odd Ball (USA 1513) followed by Jay Cross, Taylor Canfield, George Peet, and Franny Schulte on Skanky Gene (USA 1464).

Now all eyes and focus of the sailors are on the World Championships that will begin on April 17th co-hosted by Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, Coral Reef Yacht Club, and Shake-A-Leg Miami. 65 boats from 9 countries, the largest Etchells Worlds since 2014, will vie for the top award. Among the fleet are 12 World Champions and many National Champions, including today's winner. Stay tuned to 2023.etchellsworlds.org for the latest.

A special recognition to EFG Miami and LA Tropical Brewery who supported The Coral Reef Cup.

Overall Results:

Pos	Bow No	Sail No	Yacht Name	Skipper / Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	Pts
1	4	USA 1504	Lifted	Jim Cunningham / Steve Hunt / Erik Shampain / Serena Vilage	SFYC/NYYC	11	4	7	1	3	18	12	38
2	35	USA 1513	Odd Ball	Jack Franco / Richard Clarke / Ben Lamb	LIYC	3	3	19	13	34	1	7	46
3	64	USA 1464	Skanky Gene	jay cross / Taylor canfield / George peet / Franny schulte	NYYC	15	14	8	15	6	2	2	47
4	93	GBR 1493	Eat	Paul Ward / Charlie Cumbley / Paul Childs	Royal Southern YC	1	20	4	9	35	5	15	54
5	77	USA 1477	Veracity	John Sommi / Victor Diaz de Leon / Will Ryan / Beccy Anderson	Shelter Island Yacht Club American Yacht Club	16	11	1	23	7	9	11	55
6	54	USA 1454	American Baby	George Francisco / Chris Larson / Chuck Norris	TCYC / NYYC	10	8	3	22	8	4	22	55
7	50	CAN 1501	Cruel Jane 2	Luke Lawrence / Andrew Macrae / Brad Boston	OYS	13	6	27	14	19	6	3	61
8	81	USA 1481	Louise	Thomas Carruthers / Bill Hardesty / Jeff Reynolds	SDYC/LTYC	5	10	11	8	20	8	25	62
9	68	USA 1368	Vertigo 2	Chris Lanza / Tomas Hornos / Tim Banks	Coral Reef Yacht Club	6	23	23	10	10	13	1	63
10	27	USA 1427	STELLA BLUE	Stephen Benjamin / Michael Buckley / Ian Liberty / Dave Hughes	Seawanhaka Corinthian YC	2	2	9	26	22	20	8	63
11	94	USA 1494	A Mac	Jack Jakosky / Andy Beadsworth / Brian Ledbetter	NHYC	7	1	17	12	32	7	20	64
12	49	HKG 1496	Racer Smithy	Mark Thornburrow / Duncan Archer / Mike Huany / Malesh pAGE	RHKYC	4	26	2	19	37	14	5	70
13	19	USA 1419	Rebel	Scott Kaufman / Carlos Robles / Gonzalo Ribero / Joachim Ascbenbrenner	NYYC/ SIYC	27	22	14	3	25	3	18	85
14	51	CAN 1451	Blackadder II (Corinthian)	Andrew Cumming / John Millen / Chloe Congourdeau / Erin Sauder	Coral Reef Yacht Club	12	21	33	40	5	21	4	96
15	53	USA 1453	Oatmeal	Mark Mandelblatt / Andrew Palfrey / Jed Lee	American Yacht Club	23	7	28	2	21	16	32	97
16	38	GBR 1438	Swedish BLUE	Ante Razmilovic / Noel Drennon / Senet Bischoff	Yacht Club Costa Smeralda	8	25	6	20	16	24	41	99
17	96	USA 1296	Caramba	Jose Fuentes / Marc Gauthier / Wilson Stout / Hugo Rocha	Annapolis Yacht Club	29	16	31	16	1	12	26	100
18	26	USA 926	Big Dawg	Malcolm Lamphere / Kay Becker / Ereiner Hobbs / Monica Morgan	Chicago YC	17	5	32	11	26	25	16	100
19	98	USA 1398	Privateer	Michael Jobin / David Gilmour / Keith Swinton / Ned Breed	Corinthian Yacht Club	32	12	24	5	15	19	27	102
20	9	USA 1509	Rock On	Argyle Campbell / Alex Curtiss / Mark Ivey / Jesse Kirkland	NHYC	21	18	10	31	11	11	36	102
21	29	USA 1429	Viva	Donald Jesberg / Eric Doyle / Payson Infelise	San Francisco YC	34	13	22	7	2	35	35	113
22	91	USA 1491	Mahalaga	Peter Vessella / Ezra Culver / Karl Anderson	BBYC/StFYC	9	28	15	32	12	33	17	113
23	41	USA 1341	Encore	David Huck / David Huck Skipper / Steve Girling / Colin Foster	Atlanta Yacht Club	31	30	30	44	4	15	6	116
24	25	IRL 1425	Tquila	Luis Doreste / David Vera / Alberto Vera	RCNGC	28	17	26	4	36	10	39	121
25	78	USA 1378	The Martian	Marvin Beckmann / Tomas Dietrich / Luke Patience / Marina Cano	Houston Yacht Club	18	DSQ	12	24	29	23	19	125
26	63	USA 1363	War Canoe	Michael Goldfarb / Chris Rast / Giulio Desiderato / Matteo Ramian	NYYC	14	24	38	39	24	17	13	130
27	73	USA 1373	Victory	Victor Cribb / Alec Anderson / Mark Spearman / BB Bellacosa	Coral Reef	20	42	5	30	38	27	14	134
28	61	BER 671	Renegade	John Hele / Jeremy Wilmot / Jim Gibson	RBYC / IPYC	41	29	29	6	13	29	30	136
29	56	USA 1456	Freedom	D Craig Mense / Fredrik Bergstrom / Nikki Bruno / Fred Strammer	Chicago Yacht Club	22	9	34	17	31	30	33	142
30	39	USA 1397	Tar & Feathered (Corinthian)	Don Dowd / Sandy Weil / Bill Lynn	American Yacht Club/NYYC	35	DSQ	18	41	23	26	10	153
31	18	GBR 1418	Exabyte	Shaun Frohlich / Duncan Truswell / Ed Wright	RORC RSnYC	25	15	44	25	30	38	23	156
32	44	GBR 1441	Highlife	Peter Rogers / Ben Cooper / Duncan Yeabsley	RLYC	42	33	13	18	33	39	29	165
33	69	USA 1469	Blackfish	Ronald Zarrella / Rob Scrivener / Adam Minoprio	Great Harbor Yacht Club	33	36	16	36	41	42	9	171
34	11	USA 1177	Big E	Rick Merriman / Phil Trinter / Jackson Benvenutti	NYYC/SDYC	30	19	36	38	14	40	34	171
35	55	USA 1455	Arena	James Markby / David Bedford / Will Bedford	RLymYC	26	32	21	33	39	28	31	171
36	31	CAN 319	319 (Corinthian)	Andre Beese / Bruce Scott / Aiden Young	OYS	36	43	25	37	17	41	21	177
37	90	USA 1090	Leading Edge (Corinthian)	Jeff Dever / Kyle Assad / Scott Hoffman / Rachel Hoffmann	Coral Reef Yacht Club / PBSC	40	35	20	27	43	37	24	183
38	12	USA 1012	Natasha (Corinthian)	Ted Hardenbergh / Jamie Hardenbergh / Mark Hardenbergh	Massabesic YC	24	31	40	34	42	34	28	191
39	15	USA 1415	La Tormenta	Shannon W Bush / Emory Williams / Evan Aras / Charlie Hibben	CRYC/NYYC	19	37	35	21	40	DNF	DNS	199
40	7	USA 1307	Nemesis (Corinthian)	Jeff Nehms / Tom Dawson / Fred Chandler	Biscayne Bay YC	38	38	45	45	9	31	42	203
41	5	CAN 1305	It's A(nother) Conspiracy (Corinthian)	Adrian Hanley / Peter Draycott / Oliver Hanley	OYS/ BHYC	37	41	37	42	27	22	40	204
42	10	USA 291	Mendocino (Corinthian)	Hayden Scott / Frank Keesling / Gavin Scott	Dillon Yacht Club	45	46	46	29	18	44	44	226
43	71	USA 1371	Flying Colors	Ken Womack / Don Peckman / Wes Graham	Texas Corinthian Yacht Club	39	34	43	46	28	36	DNF	226
44	14	GBR 1409	ADA	David Maclean / Sul Sahota / Harry Blowers / Quentin Bes Green	Cowes Yacht Haven	43	39	39	28	45	43	43	235
45	75	IRL 1375	JaJa	Alex Lacy / William Lacy / Andrew Crosbie / Diana Kissane	Howth YC	DNF	45	41	35	44	32	38	235
46	22	USA 1202	Jeremiah (Corinthian)	Jonah Pruitt / David Bannister / Johnny Gleason	Coral Reef Yacht Club	44	44	42	43	46	45	37	255