Author: Tony Pocklington

Wrap up of 2018 2.4mr North Americans and U.S. Nationals

2019 CanAm Championship Series Draws 20 2.4mR Competitors Smith Takes National and North American Titles in Back-to-Back Regattas
Port Charlotte, Fla. (December 13, 2018) – While most of the U.S.A. was getting smacked by an early taste of wintry weather and unseasonably cold temperatures, the conditions were more than ideal for sailors in the 2.4 Meter class as they kicked off the 2019 CanAm Championship Series at Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club (CHYC) in Port Charlotte, Florida. With at least nine competitors from Canada, two from the Virgin Islands, one from Norway, and Americans coming from as far as Seattle and San Diego, a fleet of 20 started the championship series with back-to-back regattas on the Peace River.
Read more here 24MSeries_NAsNatls

2018 2.4mr US Nationals

The 2018 US 2.4mr Nationals were hosted by the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club December 7- December 9. This event was also regatta #2 of the 2019 2.4mr CanAm Championship series.
Racing Friday started under sunny skies and an 8 mph breeze from the ENE. Race Committee handled the shifty, diminishing breeze and managed to get 4 races completed. Dee Smith finished day 1 in first(2,1,1,<4>), Tony Pocklington second(5,5,4,2), and Bruce Millar third (1,2,5,<9>). Day 2 produced similar conditions, diminishing breeze, though from the ESE shifting to the SE as the day progressed. 3 races were completed, a fourth race was abandoned as the wind died. Close racing under sunny skies with big oscillations presented opportunities for all. After day 2 racing the leaders were Dee Smith(2,2,1) 1st, Bruce Millar(1,6,6)2nd, Tony Pocklington(6,<9>,2)T 3rd, Bjornar Erickstad(4,4,3)T 3rd . Day 3 was not meant to be as a cold front pushed its way into the area with lightning and gusts up to 35kts. First place went to Dee Smith with 9 pts, Bruce Millar finished second with 21 pts, and Tony Pocklington taking the tiebreaker for third with 24 pts. Final results are available here http://www.regattanetwork.com/event/17779#_newsroom+results

2018 2.4mr North Americans

The 2018 2.4mr North Americans were hosted by the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club in Port Charlotte Florida. Tuesday Dec 4 saw 3 races completed in shifty light winds out of the N. Dee Smith led at days end with 5 pts (2,2,1). Bruce Millar finished the day second with 6 pts(1,3,2), and Peter Eager third with 13 pts(5,4,4). Day 2 the breeze increased to 12-15 kts from the NNE. The start area presented a challenging chop that diminished near the top of the course. 3 races were completed with Dee smith emerging as the overall winner with 7 pts (1,1,<3>). Bjorar Erickstad moved up to second with 12 pts (3,3,2), and Allan Leibel rounded out the podium in a tie for third with Bruce Millar with 15 pts. Allan took the tiebreaker finishing the regatta with a 2,2,1.
Complete results can be seen at this link http://www.regattanetwork.com/event/17779#_newsroom+results

CanAm news release 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Jan Harley, Media Pro, 401-683-8224

 

CanAm Championship Series Returns to South Florida’s West Coast

 

NOR for 2.4 Meter Series Now Available

 

Port Charlotte, Fla. (November 8, 2018) – The U.S. 2.4 Meter Class Association has announced its return to South Florida’s West Coast for the third edition of the class’ CanAm Championship Series which will feature five regattas hosted from the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club (CHYC) in Port Charlotte, Florida.  Well-known as an ideal area in which to escape the winter, Charlotte Harbor has become a favored destination of the 2.4mR class due to the reliable breeze and to the protected waters of the Peace River where races are held.

The 2019 CanAm Championship Series kicks off next month with the six-race 2.4mR North American Championship from December 3-5, 2018, followed later that week by the nine-race 2.4mR U.S. National Championship, December 6-9.  After a break for the holidays, competition resumes in the New Year with the 2019 Edge Sailing Midwinters scheduled for January 25-27, and CanAm #4 from February 22-24, each of which is scheduled to have five races.  The series concludes with the nine-race 2019 CanAm Championship Finale from March 29-31, with the series champion determined from the results of all five regattas after his or her worst score is discarded.  For competitors who do not race in all five events, the scoring will count all events sailed (i.e. they will not drop their worst result).

Reigning 2.4mR U.S. National Champion Dee Smith, of Annapolis, Md., winner of the 2017 2.4mR CanAm Championship Series, has already made his plans to be back in Florida. “The CanAm Championship Series is the best racing you can get in 2.4mR sailing in North America,” said Smith.  “Great race management and fun people. It is tactical, fun racing. I will be back in December!”

 

Sailors from as far away as Norway, San Diego and Seattle, along with a strong contingent of Canadian snow birds, were among the almost two dozen entries in the 2018 championship series.  For many, the opportunity to race regularly and have a break from the winter weather is an irresistible combination.

“Sailing a monthly 2.4mR regatta against great competition in Charlotte Harbor is an ideal winter activity,” said Ottawa’s Peter Wood, President of the Canadian 2.4mR Class, “especially when you need to put on a warm hat, gloves and snow boots just to leave the house.”

Competitors who register for the entire series by November 30, 2018, will have their boat storage from December through March included as a perk.  Details of the regatta schedules, social events, hotels and more may be found in the just published Notice of Race, available here.

 

About the 2.4mR:  The 2.4mR originated in 1983 in Sweden and attained confirmation as an international class less than 10 years later.  Class racing puts the emphasis on the tactical – not physical – skills of the sailor as the single-handed boats are equal under the strict rules that govern the class.  With a length of 13’ 8” and the advantage of being easily transported and stored, this sleek keelboat has gained favor with a wide range of able-bodied sailors and sailors with disabilities (there are 1200 boats worldwide and roughly 200 in the USA alone).  For more information on the class, please visit http://www.canada24mr.com/ or www.us24meter.org/