Learning the new racing rules was not the main factor in Ash Beatty's win in the Spring
Regatta, but it certainly did not hurt. Todd Edwards and Bishop Stieffel both tried port
layline approaches with Ash coming in on Starboard and both times ended up losing boats
doing 720's. Ash's consistant top fives in varying conditions were what put him over the
top for his first victory on Mobile Bay after several runner-up finishes there. The
victory puts Ash one point ahead of Bishop Stieffel in the Circuit.
Todd had a one point lead going into Sunday with scores of 1,2,3 for the second Circuit
event in a row, and for the second time lost it on Sunday. Maybe a different approach
should be considered... Zane Yoder came back in the last two races with a 2,2 to tie with
Bishop and take the third spot while Kevin Northrup's two bullets were enough to win a tie
breaker with Clinton Edwards to round out the top five.
This was the fourth race on the '97 Circuit and the last one until after the Regionals and
North Americans.
PL Skipper Total R1 R2 R3 R4 1 Ash Beatty 11 3 3 1 4 2 Todd Edwards 13 2 1 3 7 3 Zane Yoder 20 8 8 2 2 4 Bishop Stieffel 20 7 4 4 5 5 Kevin Northrup 22 1 9 11 1 6 Clinton Edwards 22 4 7 8 3 7 Ellis Ollinger 23 10 2 5 6 8 Tommy Harris 34 6 11 9 8 9 Chuck Barnes 36 5 6 6 DNC 10 Jerry Blouin 42 11 5 7 DNC 11 Julian Bingham 43 12 10 10 11 12 Melissa Warren 46 9 14 13 10 13 Alva Carbonette 52 16 12 15 9 14 Lance Loper 52 13 13 12 14 15 Ramond Long 61 15 15 16 15 16 Daniel Kolenich 62 14 16 DNC 13 17 Trin Ollinger 64 DNC DNC 14 12 18 John Deputy 71 17 DNF DNC 16