Host club members top the entries in the South East Regional Championships of the MC Scows and the Melges 17 scows at the Lake Eustis Sailing Club this past weekend. The South East Region runs from Texas to North Carolina but the regatta is "open", so boats from Michigan and Wisconsin were also present in the 37 boats entered.
First place in the MC scows was David Moring of Ocala but a LESC member. Second place was Jon Pomerleau of Winter Park, but a LESC member. Third place was Eric Oppen of Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Mark Marenokos from Charleston, South Carolina was the first "master" ( over 50) and the eleventh overall. The first "grand master" (over 60) was Lenny Krancheck of Charleston. Jack Kern from Texas was the first "mega master" (over 70) and fourth over all. Ben Getchell of Eustis was the first youth and seventeenth over all.
In the Melges 17 scow races Mary Ann Ward of Cocoa Beach and LESC member was first with crew, Ross Blair. She grew up sailing on Lake Eustis as Mary Ann Erban. Second was Jim Wilgard of Glenn Lake, Michigan with crew, Brian McMurray. Third was Benjamin Birver of Pewaukee, Wisconsin with crew, Sprink Drake.
High winds and waves on Saturday with the arrival of the cold front caused cancellation of the third race with only a few capsizes.
Next weekend will see the regular club racing on MC scows, Flying Scots, Wayfarers, and Lasers with Optimist Pram classes for youth and 420 sailing for high school teams on Saturday.