Second Annual Alamo Classic for IOMs
November 17,
2007
Written by Brig North
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Saturday, November 17,
2007, saw the IOMs descend on Woodlawn Sailing Club in San
Antonio for the Second Annual Alamo Classic Regatta.
Ray Seta and his band of Pirates are famous for their
hospitality, and this year was no different. The
club’s motto is “No one goes home hungry”, and no one did!!
Woodlawn Sailing Club is
the home to several radio control sailboat fleets, including
the Victoria, a local class known as the OD 39, and the IOM.
The club chooses its boats carefully and really supports the
classes in which its members participate. The club
will play host to the 2008 Victoria Nationals next year as
well as the Third Annual Alamo Classic for IOMs.
Building momentum from
last year, we had 15 boats competing this year compared to
11 the prior year. We also had a good showing of folks
from out of town, including six boats from TRYC in Dallas,
two from Austin, two from Houston, and five from the host
club. It was great to have the Texas contingent
hanging out, swapping stories and eating food, lots and lots
of food. Oh yes, there was a regatta too!
A GREAT innovation was
implemented by the Pirates this year in the form of a gold
and silver fleet, with the gold fleet comprised of the old,
grizzled IOM veterans and the silver fleet for the folks who
were fairly new, if not brand new, to racing the IOM.
The fleets were started as one, but scored separately.
This year we had five new IOMers getting their feet wet.
Welcome Mitch Martin from Austin, Eric Rosenbaum from
Dallas, Rich Hoffman from Dallas, Randy Rimmer from San
Antonio and Mando Rivera also of San Antonio. This is
a great way of encouraging participation and getting new
people trying these great boats.
Tom Meyer of Austin Yacht
Club was brought in to act as RD for the event, and he was
met with some very challenging conditions. The wind
was zero to three with many a sucker puff in there.
Despite the tough sledding, nine races were run over the
course of the day. Unlike last year when no throw outs
were allowed, one was allowed this year.
At the end of the day,
the Dallas folks took home a lot of Woodlawn booty. In
the silver fleet, Mitch Martin of Austin was followed by
Rich Hoffman and Eric Rosenbaum of Dallas. In the gold
fleet, Brig North was followed home by David Eldridge and
Mike Hughes, all from Dallas. Very neat trophies of
dinner plates were provided, proving that a club doesn’t
have to spend a mint to have memorable, valued trophies.
The other highlight of
the event is the tee shirts. This year’s edition was a
bright orange affair with a very prominent IOM symbol on the
back. I know we will be quite visible on our next
outing!
The exciting racing,
wonderful venue and fun people will keep all of us coming
back for more. Sailing at Woodlawn is a blast!
Neither Mama, Papa nor Tony Seta, or any of the other
Pirates of Woodlawn are about to let you go home hungry!! |
