1994 - ncesa

Fred Stritt, sailing D-6, rounded the first weather mark with
a nice lead only to fade the first time downwind. TI1en the
breeze smoked in from the right side of the run and the
players over there made big money. Tom Burton built a nice
lead to win the first race over John Dennis of Minnetonka.
Bill Allen finished a close third.
The second race of the regatta was Sunday morning in
very light air, so light that one-third of the fleet did not finish!
Did not finish?! Did the race take all day?! Yes! Jin1
Gluek, sailing Kingfisher V-137, led from start to finish in
this light and variable condition. Tom Burton was in the
hunt again pursuing the Kingfisher around the course. A
boat handling seminar was put on by Gluek and Burton as
they jibed seventeen times down one of the runs! Burton
could not sneak by. Gluek won Race 2 with Burton in second
and Bill Allen in third. Fourth went to ..... well they were way
behind; in fact, so far behind that the first three boats were
in and having dinner by the time the fourth boat finished!
Needless to say, after two hours went by, the committee took
the last positions at the last leeward mark.
Race 3 was much of the same as Monday morning
dawned: warm, sunny and not much wind! Again the committee
decided to sail the fleet and again Gluek and Burton
battled for first and second! This was an important duel. This
could be the regatta! Burton held on to beat Gluek in a
grudge match. The two-boat race left the rest of the fleet
behind, so far behind that again the race committee had to
take positions from the last leeward mark. Much of the fleet
had to drift and sit in the sun and no wind for hours! This
really was starting to be a test of patience.
The stage was set for a last day shoot-out between
Burton, Gluek and Allen. Two races were sailed in moderate
conditions on this nice sunny day. Perfect conditions finally.
New faces appeared in the front of the fleet as Paul Biwer,
sailing V-26, started first and increased his lead. Team Biwer
sailed a great race up to the finish and did all the text book
drills! He sailed fast, covered the leaders and kept his teamwork
together; however, Dick Wight snuck out to a corner
and came rumbling in to beat Paul by literally a foot! Bmton
was back in the pack and Gluek was trying to catch up from
being behind. Allen finished a very good race in fifth, Burton
finished 13 and Gluek 18. Who was going to take charge and
win this event?
Tom Burton, in the final race, sailed to a fomth and
clinched his first Inland Championship! Congratulations,
Tom, on a great regatta. Brian Porter put his boat into Full
Throttle and smoked the fleet in Porter conditions. Dick
Wight had a 1-2 the last day to finish second in the regatta
and Billy Allen finished tenth the last race to finish third
overall.
Tom and crew broke out the champagne at the traditional
Inland ceremony. This was a tough regatta and Tom sailed
competitively throughout to take home his first Inland
crown.
THE REPORTER
11
Tom Burton and gang. Waiting for their U-haul.
Upon reviewing this photo, Burton commented, 'That's not a
smile. I'm saying "Oh, shit!"'
Take another look! This is during the race.