If this is the preview of the 2004 North American Championship, we have some great racing in store for us. With the 10:30 a.m. starting time, the Beverly Yacht Club RC managed three races a day on Friday and Saturday and two on Sunday. The RC was a little slow getting out to the course (6 miles out) on the first day, which was just as well since some boats were counting on a shorter run to the circle and an 11 a.m. starting time. After a short delay the RC set their course and off we went in 12-14 knots of breeze. All the courses throughout the Regatta were "W" courses (finish to weather) with either three or five legs with the weather mark a healthy 1.5 miles out. On Friday the wind steadily built and ended up in the mid teens. All three races were sailed in the northeasterly which started out at 35 degrees for the first two races and then clocked right ten for the final race. HOSS proved that she was well-prepared for this regatta and the NAC by banging out two firsts and a second, with KIMA winning a daily second with a 3-3-4 and WET LEOPARD close behind with a 2-4-7.

On Saturday we waited for wind, finally getting started a little before noon. The fourth race (three legs) was light and the boats that went right were greeted with a beautiful rightie that propelled them into the lead. HOSS was left and suffered their worst result of the regatta (but was not hurt by their penalty). The fifth race (five legs) got started on the third attempt under a black flag. The wind was clocking right all day with the fourth race at 205, the fifth at 230, and the sixth at 240. The sea breeze was picking up all day and you could see the puffy cumulous go from nothing to filling the skies over the land. By the sixth race the wind was up to high teens and with time running low we got another three legger. Again the right paid dividends with the locals attributing it to waves rather than wind changes. HOSS finished with two bullets, but it was a big day for WET PAINT with a 3-1-2, moving her all the way up to a tie for second with WET LEOPARD.

On Sunday, the sea breeze had filled in by starting time and the wind was solid from 240 so the RC set a five leg course. WET LEOPARD took a flier to the right and was greeted by a 30 degree right shift that put them in the driver's seat for the rest of the race. HOSS dug back for a second and KIMA, who did not go quite as far right as LEOPARD did, took third. The final race had to be described as a "gear buster". With winds getting up into the mid twenties (some said low thirties), it was a question of depowering the rigs and trying to keep the boats flat and powering through the huge waves. Boats were surfing the waves coming downwind with keels humming at 12-14 knots over ground. It was a hoot! Unfortunately, COOL KIS lost the top of their mast slamming into a wave on the last part of the last beat. Only 15 of the 21 boats competing in the Regatta finished the race. HOSS, INDEFATIGABLE, and SAVASANA proved that they are ready for the heavy stuff finishing 1-2-3.

For those that delivered their boats from Newport area on Thursday and back again on Sunday night (was KIMA the only one?), it was "deliveries from hell". On the way up it was NE (directly on the nose) with rain and big waves. On the way back it was SW (directly on the nose) with bigger wind and bigger waves, but no rain. A number of boats decided that discretion was the better part of valor and parked their boats in Marion until the NAC or postponed their deliveries until the wind calmed down.

For those planning the 2004 NAC, you will be happy to know that the circle will be closer in (2 miles instead of 6). But we can ask for no better conditions.

[Submitted by Nelson.]