First 40.7

BIG TURNOUT FOR COLORS REGATTA

Tsunami Pulls Off Victory in Race 5

(Sunday, June 10, 2007) Over the weekend of June 9-10th the newly renamed Columbia Yacht Club Colors Regatta saw a turnout for the Chicago Beneteau 40.7 Fleet that tied the record number of participating boats at ten. Going into the fifth and last race on Sunday afternoon, Collaboration 2, skippered by Bob Vickery, had 12 points and a three-point lead over both 2^nd place Turning Point which was skippered by Dave Hardy and 3rd place Das Boot.

In the end, as the committee boat horn sounded the victories and defeats of each boat as they crossed the line, it was Don Hayes' Tsunami who rose in the standings from 5^th place to 1^st place by winning the last race, and Ron Buzil's Vayu who moved up from 4^th place to 2^nd place after finishing 3^rd in that race. There was a three-way tie in the final standings for 2^nd place as Vayu, Turning Point and Collaboration 2 each had 20 points at the end of the regatta. Vayu won the tie-breaker with their two bullets. Turning Point was next because their 2^nd place finish in the first race beat Collaboration's best race which was a 3^rd place. This is another example of the extremely close racing in the 40.7 fleet with one single point separating the top four boats.

This is the only class regatta of the year in which professional sailors are allowed aboard competitors. Professionals reported aboard were Mike Considine of UK-Halsey Sails on Das Boot, Perry Lewis (North Sails) on Tsunami (Sunday only), Seth Morrell on Barracuda, and Andrew Kerr on Vayu (Sunday only).

One protest was heard by committee at the end of racing. Collaboration protested Turning Point for an alleged infraction of Rule 18.3 (Tacking at a Mark). Turning Point was exonerated by the committee.

This is the third time in the last five years that Tsunami has won the regatta and the second year in a row that Vayu finished 2^nd behind them. Don's son, Bryan Hayes', was driving the winning boat and Don's son-in-law, Tory Enerson was the tactician. Don's daughter, Wendy, was on the crew.

Ten members of the 40.7 Fleet participated in this regatta which is the first major regatta just before the season's biggest, the Chicago NOOD Regatta, to be held next weekend.

Final Scores:

Division=Ben 40.7

Photos of the event are viewable beginning on the Image Gallery "2007 40.7 Fleet " or go to Colors07 Photos

(best viewing is by using the slideshow option)

History of the 40.7's at the Columbia One Design Regatta since 2003: