2010 V-32 National Championship

By Russell Hardie and Ralph Kanko

The Kettering Model Sailing Club (KMSC) (AMYA Club # 237) hosted the 2010 V-32 National Championship Regatta at Delco Park in Kettering, Ohio September 17-19.   The venue is outstanding for RC sailing with generally good wind, a nice walking path all around the pond, and uninterrupted views of the boats and course.  The initial inspiration and event planning was led by the newly inaugurated V-32 class secretary, Steve Pratt, from KMSC.   Thanks to our outstanding Race Director (RD), Jerry Callahan, whose home club is the nearby Radio Control Sailing Club of Cincinnati (RCSCC) (AMYA Club # 217) and many volunteers from the KMSC, the three day event went beautifully.  

Friday, Sept 17

Registration and weight-in began at noon. Sailing began with practice races on Friday under the direction of the RD, who worked out the skippers with challenging courses including a “wagon wheel” that used all the marks on the water!  This was followed by pizza at the park. 

Saturday, Sept 18

Formal racing began Saturday Morning at 9:30AM with 12 skippers in light to moderate wind of approximately 4-6 mph that built slightly over the day.   We sailed as a single fleet using the Low Point System with a total number of throw-outs equal to 1/6 of the number of completed races.  Our RD worked hard to give us great courses that always had a demanding windward leg, where plenty of positions were swapped as we navigated the numerous oscillating wind shifts.  The lengthy two lap courses demanded consistent performance and concentration from the skippers to hold a good position.  Scott Rowland of Centerville Ohio sailed out to an almost insurmountable lead during the first day of racing.   By 4:00 PM we had completed a healthy 18 races, with several skippers in very close contention for the remaining top spots.    After racing, many skippers enjoyed dinner together at a local restaurant.

Sunday, Sept 19

Sunday started off again at 9:30 AM, but this time with lighter wind.  The wind was sufficient to allow us to get in 5 races before leaving the fleet hanging in what would have been Race 24.  That race attempt was abandoned prior to rounding the first mark due to lack of wind.    We waited it out hoping for new wind, but it never returned before the schedule called for wrapping up the regatta.    So after 23 completed races the regatta was officially over.  Scott Rowland, who continued his outstanding performance from Day 1, secured the V-32 National Championship.   Amazingly, after 23 races over two scored days, we had a numerical tie for second place between Russell Hardie (KMSC & RCSCC) and Rob Hill (KMSC & RCSCC) that required a tiebreaker.    Fourth place went to Bob Bottenhorn (RCSCC) and fifth to Ralph Kanko (KMSC Commodore).  

After the racing on Sunday, we enjoyed a nice lunch in the park and awarded handsome plaques to the top four finishers that were engraved with a V-32 line drawing.  Also awarded were AMYA gold chevrons to the top three finishers and medals to all participants.    The KMSC would like to thank the RD, all the volunteers, and all the outstanding skippers (especially those who made long trips to race with us) for making this a terrific event.  

REPORT from RD: Scott Rowland won 16 of 23 races to win going away. He sailed smart, he sailed well; and he sailed fast. Was he faster than all the others? I doubt it. He just has skills the rest of us do not have. Fortunately, he shares it with the rest of us. Congratulations, Scott! Russ Hardie and Rob Hill ended up in a tie for second place. Russ won the the tie breaker by having more firsts. We tried to get in a 24th race so we could have another throwout, but the wind would not cooperate. To his credit, Rob was leading an aborted 24th race when the wind went to zero and agreed to our abandoning the race. It was not a fair test. Bob Bottenhorn was fourth and Ralph Kanko was fifth. Congrats to all! -Jerry Callahan

SUMMARY

Event:	2010 V-32 National Championship Regatta
Class:	V-32
Date:	September 17-19, 2010
Location:	Delco Park, Kettering Ohio
Host Club:	Kettering Model Sailing Club (#237)
Entries:	12
Winds:	Generally SSW 4-6 mph
Races Completed:	23
Scoring System:	Low Point, single fleet (throw-outs equal to 1/6 of the total races)
Race Director:	Jerry Callahan
Regatta Committee:	Steve Pratt, Chair; Dave Eckard; Jose’ Garcia; Russell Hardie; Ralph Kanko
Assistants:	Mark Camden, rescue boat from Miami Valley Model Yacht Club; Dave Eckard, advertising and registration; Kay Eckard, scorekeeper; Scott Eckard, photography; Karen Hardie, lunches; Nina Smith and Kurt Weissgerber, RD assistants

 

2010 V-32 NCR Results

Place   Skipper               Points             Sail Number

1          Scott Rowland             24                    26

2          Russell Hardie             62                    04

3          Rob Hill                       62                    08

4          Bob Bottenhorn           85                    13

5          Ralph Kanko                106                  46

6          Jeff Weaver                 110                  40

7          Gene Wisner               114                  77

8          Pete Pippen                 127                  93

9          Jose’ Garcia                 162                  66

10        Mark Camden             168                  52

11        Dave Eckard                200                  96

12        Brian Freeh                 228                  53

 

Photo Gallery 2010 V-32 Nationals, Kettering, OH

(Pictures courtesy of Scott Eckard)

 

Rowland (26), Mark Camden (52), Pete Pippen (93), Bob Bottenhorn (13), Russell Hardie (04), Ralph Kanko (46), Gene Wisner (77), Jose’ Garcia (66), Dave Eckard (96), Rob Hill (08), Jeff Weaver (40), Brian Freeh (53)	Russell Hardie (04), Rob Hill (08), Mark Camden (52), Bob Bottenhorn (13), Scott Rowland (26)
Ralph Kanko rounding the leeward mark.	Jeff Weaver leading the group.
Another leeward mark rounding.	3-2-1-bing!
You go this way, I’ll go that way!	Colorful sails are one of the charming and unique features of the V-32.
At times on day 1 we had some wind!	Bob Bottenhorn (13), Rob Hill (08), Jose’ Garcia (66), Jeff Weaver (40), Ralph Kanko (46), Russell Hardie (04), Pete Pippen (93), Mark Camden (52)
The guys behind the boats	Bob Bottenhorn, Rob Hill, Scott Rowland, Russell Hardie
Line up 1: Mark Camden (52), Brian Freeh (53), Gene Wisner (77), Pete Pippen (93), Scott Rowland (26), Jose’ Garcia (66), Ralph Kanko (46),Bob Bottenhorn (13), Dave Eckard (96), Jeff Weaver (40), Russell Hardie (04), Rob Hill (08)
Line up 2: Mark Camden (52), Brian Freeh (53), Gene Wisner (77), Pete Pippen (93), Scott Rowland (26), Jose’ Garcia (66), Ralph Kanko (46), Bob Bottenhorn (13), Dave Eckard (96), Jeff Weaver (40), Russell Hardie (04), Rob Hill (08)