Piana Cup Summary: Detroit Team Wins 2004 Piana Cup Regatta December 2004

The first event of the 2005 Etchells Jaguar Cup Series, the Piana Cup, was won by team "Gone" sailing out Bayview Yacht Club. Team Gone consisted of Peter Feldman-helmsman, Glenn Burton and Sean "Doogie" Couvreux. The team had never sailed together before which provided a "No expectations and just have fun" mantra throughout the regatta. This made the racing easier especially when the team was behind. Collectively, Peter (Sears Cup champion) and Glenn (two time Etchells World champion) have sailed Etchells over 40years with Doogie just coming off an Olympic 49er but never having sailed in the class. The competition was very strong including the likes of Dirk Kneulman, Jud Smith with Henry Frasier, Tim Law, Ante Razmilovic as well as local favorites Robert Bell and Buddy Cribb all placing in the top ten. It was like a who's who of Etchells sailing.

Biscayne Bay Yacht club once again hosted the December 4th & 5th event. Dave Brennan was the R/C PRO and provided great committee work. With erratic winds on Saturday his committee was constantly changing the marks to keep the legs as square as possible. On shore, BBYC kept the fleet happy with ample libations and food and sponsors Cruzan Rum after the days sailing. The R/C was very sailor-radio friendly with course, distance, time and OCS's continually throughout the series. The use of a mid-line boat for the 49-boat fleet was employed thereby gaining an extra set of eyes on the line. This kept everyone somewhat honest in that no general recalls or black flags were used. This is a rarity for an aggressive starting fleet like the Etchells.

Saturday; Saturdays racing consisted of winds 5-8 from a direction 010-015 with a mix of sun and clouds. Prior to the start, team "Gone" observed 10-15 degree oscillations with left side pressure.

Race 1 started promptly at 11:00. We made the decision to start a third up+ from the left end to try and pick up the pressure as we headed left. Immediately after the start Robert Bell smoked the fleet heading to left forcing us to bear off and sail below him. Doogie (in 49er mode) thought that by bearing off the boat would accelerate, it did, an 1/8 of a knot but no match for Bell's speed. As the fleet tacked to port Gone went further left for more leverage and pressure. Rounding the top mark we stayed right on the run and increased our lead at the bottom gate mark. Back up the beat the left was still favored so we protected the left and finished by a good margin. The other results for race # 1: Tim Law 2nd and a pair of great lakes sailors, Padnos-Brand-Gamache 3rd; along with Rick Kaiser 4th.

Race 2 started in similar conditions, left side with puffs. We again started near the left end and one tacked the first beat to lead at the top mark. The run was very similar with Jud right on our stern. Near the bottom mark Simon Williams made some gains and rounded the left gate mark. This proved the better course due to fact we had to sail through more bad wind from the on coming spinnaker on the run. Simon was able to pop out and hold his position the rest of the way for the victory. Near the top of the second beat, Jud and Gary Gilbert got into port/ starboard smash situation forcing Gary to make spins. Gary was still able to hold on to 4th, Jud 3rd and Gone 2nd.

Race 3 had the most aggressive start of the series. Just prior to the start was the BIG BANG, an ugly port/ starboard. Pat Stadel withdrew after major damage (bent chain plate, and broken shrouds) to her boat B/Witchcraft. Many boats were called OCS, with many more returning for a re-start. "Gone" returned to the starting line painfully after getting the call 15-20 seconds into the race. From this perspective it was find some clear air and try to take groups of boats at a time. While we cannot comment on the front of the fleet, the racing in the back was toe to toe. Doogie commented on how much we "tacked" on the first leg. He clearly was new to the boat and close tacking angles. The second beat was a parade when a big right hand shift came through. The committee corrected for the following run and squared up the final beat. "Gone" was able to pass 15 boats in the last two legs thus making us feel better about our speed and positioning. Ante in Swedish Blue won the day with Gary Gilbert 2nd, and Gone holding third.

Sunday Race 4 We could not wait to get this race started as we were one of the first boats to leave the dock. The wind had shifted to the right and steadied in at 100-105 8-12 knots coming off the point at Key Biscayne. The shifts were consistent with the right side seeming favored. Our game plan was to stay in the hunt and NOT BE OVER. Peter made an excellent start just above the windward side of the middle-line boat with no one on our bow. Ken Read used this style of starting when he won the Worlds last year on the LI Sound. Being in the middle of the line, we were able to confirm the right side and pick our lane and pressure to make our gains. Three boats that were more right got to the weather mark ahead of us with Jud being in the group. Down the run we straight set and held starboard jib until the layline. The boats ahead gybed earlier and seemed to get blanketed by the bags on the inside of the run. Gone took the right gate thereby creating leverage with the other leader's who took the left. We protected the left side and Robert Hitchcock led at mark four with Dirk right on our stern. Down the run Dirk sailed really fast with his red spinnaker and beat us when the finish line was closer to his side. Hitchcock finished 3rd and Buddy Cribb making a strong move to finish 4th.

Race 5 Going into the last race we had a good margin on Dirk and Jud so we just wanted to be close with no errors. "Gone" started three lengths from the right end. Jud started just below us. Jud started like he was shot out of a cannon, tacked to port and blew away the boats below him. He was first at the top mark with Phil Garland, Buddy and "Gone". Dirk and Charles Baker made big gains down the run by staying to the right. This confirmed a trend to left going back up the beats. Phil Garland was able to stay to the left of the lead group and held on for a nice win. Jud 2nd, Baker 3rd. On Gone, our rig set up was right off the North Tuning guide for wind's 6-12, upper's at 2nd hole 3/8 block behind the mast. Mast step at 17'5 1/2 rake at 47". We used 1 1/2 year old North PC main and full radial & VMG spinnakers. The main we first used during the 2003 Worlds and were deep head to foot. The North LM-1 jib was 1/2 year old and trimmed tight in all conditions.