1997 SUNFISH SOUTHWEST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Ninnescah Yacht Club
JUNE 21-22, 1997

A wise man once said in having to do with sailboat racing, "Often times, the most interesting of contests cannot often be bound in the front runners, but in the middle and end of the racing fleet." And so it was at the Southwest Regional Championship Regatta.

June 20, 1997. Slowly they filtered in, moving cautiously into an unknown port, taking in the lay of the land. Ten Sunfish silently followed their masters anxiously awaiting there chances to fly. Competitors arrived from all parts of the Central States Sailing Association, Texas Yachting Association, and from the Gulf Coast Region.

June 21, 1997. By 11:30 am ten glistening Sunfish lay on the beach at Ninnescah Yacht Club. This would not be an easy weekend as the winds built to 18 knots with gusts to 25. Race 1 would be slightly delayed as the high winds kept the committee boat from anchoring properly. Race 1 began as Clinton Edwards shot out to lead the fleet around the race course. Joanne Weberlein was never far behind. Local Gary McCutcheon mixed it up with Joanne and Clinton.

Clinton Edwards swept the entire regatta, with 5 straight bullets. Just as impressive, Joanne Weberlein sailed consistently second, for three second places and if it had not been for an over early which she was scored a DNS for not returning to restart she would have had second place easily. Gary McCutcheon sailed three third place finishes. Vicki Palmer sailed three fourth places. So the top four finishers were extremely consistent and didn't mix things up too much.

It could be said that the real action was in the middle of the heat. Brian Beddow was all over the score board with a sixth a second and even a seventh to finish overall as fifth. Gary Beddow who has never been accused of sand bagging sealed his sixth place with two eighths and a seventh. Patricia and Vic Manning must have been too preoccupied with each other as they finished seventh and eighth. Spring time Love, isn't it wonderful!!!

Rick Shaw showed consistency with three ninth places to finish tenth. Ben Wagner was heading for the same consistency when he shed his colored sail and wooden dagger board Sunday to move right into the middle of the fleet standings. So it could almost appear as though someone must have lined us up and said, "stay in line, you sail first, you second and you third and so on and so on." To sum up the regatta, I'd have to say, one consistently sailed regatta!!!!

 - Brian Beddow, Fleet 663

FINAL STANDINGS