Das Boot’s grand design for hobleman one-design

[Saturday, July 9, 2006. Chicago]  Jay Muller’s Das Boot, with tactician Mike Wilde aboard, won the Hobleman One-Design Regatta (Beneteau 40.7 Section) on Saturday with a 1^st place in the first race and a 2^nd place in the second race.  2^nd place in the Regatta went to Don Hayes’ Tsunami with tactician Tory Enerson and  4^th and 1^st place finishes in the two races.  3^rd place was awarded to Tom Weber’s La Tempete, with tactician Steve Youngson on finishes of 2^nd and 4th.  La Tempete was tied in points with Ron Buzil’s 4^th place Vayu but their 2^nd place in the first race gave them the tie-breaker over Vayu’s two 3^rd places.  Of interest to note is that these four boats finished in the top four places in both races. 

The regatta was held under sunny and warm skies and a southwest breeze of 7 to 11 knots.

Following the regatta, winning skipper Jay Muller had these observations: “We had great crew work and (the result) was a testament to the way they worked the boat.  In the first race we blasted off the starting line.  I was told we would try to hit the shifts.  Apparently we did.” 

After an early gybe on the first downwind leg of the first race Das Boot was in first place by the leeward mark rounding and stayed there.  Vayu, was called “over early” on that start, gybed around the pin end of the line, rounded the windward mark in sixth place and gybed early with Das Boot.  Vayu was in second place behind Das Boot at the leeward mark and at the second windward mark.  On the final downwind leg, La Tempete pulled ahead of Vayu and finished in second place.  The photo finish was then for third place between Vayu and Tsunami with both of them bow to bow.  With scant yards to go before the finish line, friendly jeers between the boats encouraged each team to do their best.  In the end it was Vayu at the favored pin end over Tsunami by 5 seconds. 

A protest is still pending on the first race between Dave Tarson’s Excalibur and Jim McDonnell’s  Spanker. 

In the second race it was Tsunami leading the section by the leeward mark and they held on to win the race by 1 minute 11 seconds over second place Das Boot.  Though Vayu rounded the leeward and second windward marks in 2^nd place it was Das Boot who passed them toward the end of the last leg and Vayu barley held onto 3^rd place over 4^th place La Tempete by only 6 seconds. 

A protest between Steve Pelke’s Barracuda and Clem Boltz’ CanCan Deux is still pending for the second race. 

With eleven boats participating, this was the largest Area III regatta for the Beneteau 40.7 class since class racing was initiated in Area III five years ago in 2002. 

There are currently 16 Beneteau 40.7’s registered for the upcoming race from Chicago to Mackinac Island.  That will be the most ever for that race. 

Both races of this Hobleman One-Design Regatta count toward the season-long series of the LMSRF Best 40.7 on Lake Michigan and the Area III Buoy Boat of the Year.  Current leaders in the LMSRF series are  La Tempete in 1^st place, Tsunami in 2^nd place and Alan McMillan’s Finesse in 3^rd place.  Area III Boat of the Year leaders are La Tempete 1^st place, Das Boot 2^nd place, and Vayu 3^rd place. 

Full results of all season long series with individual race scores can be viewed at http://www.first407.com/2006seriesstandings.