Team Captain Hook Wins Americas Regatta in St. Petersburg

December 2, 2007

Team Captain Hook returned to action in St. Petersburg, Florida, competing in the America's Disabled/Open Regatta, hosted by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.  With Skipper Bert Foster on the helm, David Burdette trimming jib, and Ernie Brody trimming main, the team won the regatta with an impressive 7 points after 5 races, scoring 2 firsts, a second, and a third.  They were able to "throw out" their worst finish, which was a fourth.

The entire regatta was sailed in very light breeze on Tampa Bay, with the Race Committee able to get off 3 races the first day, but only one race each day on Saturday and Sunday.  It was very satisfying for Team Captain Hook to do well in a light-air regatta, as they have had difficulty with light air all year.

The four good teams from the Newport Trials were there, plus the Canadian champion and the Irish champion.  A seventh local boat completed the Sonar Fleet.  Finishing in 2nd place with 11 points was World Champion and Paralympic Trial winner Rick Doerr.  Ken Kelly of Canada finished 3rd, and John Twomey of Ireland finished 4th.

2007 Americas Regatta Sonar Sailors.  Back Row (L-R): Mike Hersey, Brad Kendall, Bill Donahue, Tim Angle, Bert Foster, Roger Cleworth, Betsy Alison, Ernie Brody, Marc Shaw, Don Terlson.  Front Row: Jennifer French, Rick Doerr, David Burdette, Ken Kelly

Captain Hook Finishes 3rd in Paralympic Trials, But It Was SOOO Close!

Ricky Doerr of Clifton, New Jersey, will represent the United States of America at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Qingdao, China, winning the Trials in Newport, Rhode Island, after 16 races over 9 days, with the lead not secured until the last day.

Team Captain Hook, with Skipper Bert Foster at the helm, David Burdette trimming jib, and Jim Thweatt trimming main, began the regatta with a 1st place finish and a 5th on Day One.  The team was surprised to arrive at Sail Newport on the 2nd day to learn that the Race Committee had "abandoned" the second race of the first day, the race that Captain Hook had won.  This meant that their first place finish would not count.

Three races were raced on Day Two, with the team finishing 3rd, 4th and 2nd in the six-boat fleet.  On Day Three, Captain Hook again sailed to a disappointing 5th place finish in the first race, followed by another bullet.  After the races, all Sonar skippers were invited to meet with the judges to discuss the abandonment of Race 2.  Later that evening, we learned by checking the website that the judges and reinstated the race, giving Captain Hook back their first place finish, and the team was now in 2nd place after 3 days of racing!

The frosting on the cake came on Day Four, with 2 bullets for Captain Hook, putting them in the lead!  The next day, October 10, was a reserve day (no races scheduled), and also Bert's 71st birthday.  Seventy-one years old and leading the Paralympic Trials!  WOO-HOO!

Thursday was a disappointing day, with two 5th place finishes.  The windy was shifty and streaky, and the team found it very difficult to read.  Friday was a better day, with two 2nds, putting Captain Hook in third place, only 3 points out of first, with 3 races to go!

Saturday racing began after a one hour postponement in light and shifty breeze.  Captain Hook struggled to a 3rd in the first race and a 5th in the second.  However, Paul Callahan of Newport, who finished 1st in the second race of the day, was later disqualified in a protest hearing.  Sunday was the last day, with only one race scheduled, and Captain Hook still had a chance to win it all.  The team would have to win the race and Doerr would have to finish at least in 4th to tie on points, and Captain Hook would win the tie breaker, having more first place finishes than Doerr.

It was not meant to be.  Doerr led the race at every mark, and won the regatta, earning the right to go to China.  Team Captain Hook has no regrets.  Being together for only 10 months, we did everything we could to win.  The Captain Hook Paralympic campaign was an amazing experience, and it may not be over.  We are still awaiting the decision of the Olympic Committee to approve and select a training partner for Rick Doerr's team.  It is possible that Team Captain Hook will travel to China in May 2008 to train with Ricky and participate in a big international regatta in Qingdao.  Stay tuned.

Team Captain Hook Wins Disabled North American Championship
August 6, 2007

Chicago Yacht Club

Captain Hook wins the NA regatta in convincing fashion with 7 firsts, 3 seconds out of 13 races on Lake Michigan off Belmont Harbor.  The regatta was a disabled regatta for Sonars, main and jib only (no spinnakers).

Bert and Carmella leave Sunday, Aug 19th to pickup Captain Hook in Zenda, WI, where it has been worked on by the Melges Performance Boatworks.  We, then, tow to Newport Rhode Island for the famous C Thomas Clagett Memorial Clinic and Regatta.  In August of 2006 this was Bert's introduction to Disabled Paralympic sailing.  Going to this regatta represents one full year of the Paralympic Sailing campaign by Team Captain Hook.