The 2024 edition of the Weta Class East Coast Championships was held at Kerr Lake, North Carolina from June 14-16, 2024. The event was held in conjunction with the Carolina Sailing Club’s 67th Annual Governor’s Cup Regatta hosting 69 boats in 11 classes on two racecourses.
Eleven Wetas came out to contend for the Championship in widely varying conditions; nice breeze, light breeze and no breeze all with temperatures in the high 80’s to low 90’s. Sailors started arriving on Friday to set up their boats and get a feel for the sailing area. The Mid-Atlantic Weta Fleet hosted a short race clinic for all Governor’s Cup participants. This gave veteran racers a chance to review and practice leeward gate rules and procedures; and for those new to racing, the chance to learn. The clinic was followed by a well-timed Hamburger/Hot Dog barbeque social hosted by the CSC Weta and Wayfarer Fleets. Once we had all had our fill, the Swarm, or most of it, headed back to Camp Site #64D to swap tips, ideas and stories.
Saturday morning, we woke to sunny skies, temperatures in the low 70’s and a nice breeze out of the north at between eight and ten knots. After we all conducted our personal morning routines...one of mine is making sure I’m properly caffeinated (thank you Bill C.!); we headed over to the regatta venue to claim our light breakfast, check in, renew a few old friendships, make some new ones and pick up our regatta SWAG. Following a 10:30 competitors’ meeting we topped off our water bottles, reapplied the sunscreen, made a few final tweaks to the boat and headed out to the South Racecourse in a fading northerly. The Isotope class started first then eleven Wetas, and one Hobie 16, hit the start line in race one of the 2024 East Coast Championship. The breeze hung in there at 5-7 knots for the first, and most of the second up wind legs, then became “spotty” at best. Race two started in a nice 6 knot breeze out of the northeast but quickly faded to 1-2 out of “everywhere”. We managed to finish race two and started race three in light to no breeze. Through it all though, the competition was quite close. At the end of day one Bill Swanson was in first, Jim Serpa second and Gareth Ferguson and Chuck Carroll tied for third. Carolina Sailing Club hosted an awesome meal following a good, although frustrating for some, day of racing. After a great meal it was back to Camp Site #64D for more stories and a good night’s sleep.
Sunday arrived with sunny skies, temperatures in the low 70’s and winds out of the east at 10 knots. This time the weatherman was wrong, the wind stuck around! With the scores as they were, all Bill S. had to do was stay out of trouble but second place down was still anyone’s to claim. We were able to race two good races in a steady 8-10 knot breeze and completed the 5 race Championship. In the end, although the racing was extremely close, Sunday’s results were the same as Saturday’s; Bill Swanson, Jim Serpa and Gareth Ferguson tied with Chuck Carroll for third. Gareth won the tie breaker by winning the fifth race!
BUT…that meant that Chuck won the “Almost Award”! What’s the “Almost Award” you ask? Come to next year’s East Coast Championship and find out.
Congratulations to this year’s East Coast Champion – Bill Swanson, Halifax Sailing Association.
2nd Place – Jim Serpa, Fort Walton Yacht Club
3rd Place – Gareth Ferguson
This regatta has always been a great weekend regardless of what the weather brings. The people who attend are what make the weekend special. Consider joining us next June.
Full results can be viewed at https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/regatta_uploads/27453/2024NCGOVERNORSCUPFINAL.pdf