It's only a few short days before the Vipers start racing in Miami with two great regattas and another Miami Scorch in the works. There will be 21 Viper teams competing in the EFG Winter Cup regatta on March 1-2. Not only is this a tune-up for the coming Bacardi Miami Sailing Week (March 5-7), but it is the final qualifier for the 2014-2015 EFG Viper Pan-American Championship. There are currently 32 Vipers registered for BMSW and the Pan-Ams. Those who made the decision to head south are looking forward to the "typical" Miami weather in the high 70s with good breeze even more so than usual in the face of miserable winters throughout the east coast and Midwest.

The Miami Scorch is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3. This informal race across Biscayne Bay from Coconut Grove ends in secluded No Name Harbor where 60 Viper sailors will enjoy a luncheon at the Boater's Grille-a classic waterside restaurant. Then it's back to the mainland to prepare for the start of Bacardi racing Thursday.
 

BMSW Result, when available, will be posted HERE
 

Reported by Travis Yates

Danny Pletsch, Peter and Rachel Beardsley

Sunny reaches in Sarasota

Photos 

Reported by Governor Tim "Timbo" Carter

This past weekend was the 85th annual Mid-Winter event in So Cal. This is the largest regatta on the West Coast with typically 600+ boats racing at 20+ yacht clubs from Santa Barbara to San Diego. The Viper 640 Class showed up with 16 boats this year at Alamitos Bay YC in one of the strongest one design showings for the event. The weather was a cool 60-65 degrees partly cloudy with a forecast of 6-12kts.

Downwind at SoCal Mid-Winters

Sunday morning was cooler with a forecast of showers to hit by the afternoon. In the first race we went hard left and caught a great shift and lead the top mark, and then it was hard work keeping the pack at bay to take the win. It was very sweet since we were sailing with a brand new crew and it was her first Viper event and win.

We all got back before the rain hit for some warm soup and beverages, everybody had a great time and are looking forward to the final event on the West Coast Winter Circuit, San Diego NOODs. We should field 20+ boats and will again dominate the standings for largest class.

GULF YACHTING ASSOCIATION'S OPENING REGATTA

Reported by Craig Wilusz

The 2015 Viper 640 Gulf Coast Championships are being held May 2-3, in conjunction with Gulf Yachting Association's "Opening Regatta," considered the kick-off to the summer sailing season along the Northern Gulf Coast. The GYA Opening Regatta will be part of the GYA's Capdeville Series where up to 30 member clubs across the GYA send teams aboard Flying Scots to compete in this unique interclub series. Fort Walton Yacht Club received the privilege of hosting this prestigious event as FWYC long time member George Goodall recently became the Commodore of the Gulf Yachting Association for 2015.

The GYA has made the decision to switch the Capedeville boat by 2018. The Flying Scot has been used in the Capdeville Series for almost fifty years when the Scot replaced the wooden Fish Class in the 1960's. After a windy November weekend in New Orleans demoing various boats from various builders, the Viper 640 and the VX One made the final selection cut. The final vote will be made the first weekend of September of 2015 to start the transition process. About 30 GYA Member Clubs use a number of Scots in their programs and Capedeville Series. "We want to see the Viper 640 Class and the VX One Class at Opening Regatta to get a feel of Class structure, support, and attitude" says GYA Commodore George Goodall.

Awards presented to the Viper 640 Class will be 1st through 5th overall. A special award will be presented to the "Farthest Traveled" team. The youngest sailor under 18, has a special silver plate with Viper 640 sail plan set aside. The Viper 640 Gulf Coast Championship Perpetual Trophy will be awarded to the overall winner in the Viper Class. This beautiful wooden engraved trophy will be permitted to be put on display at the winner's home club until the next event.

This month marks the 4-year anniversary of when I took delivery of Viper 148, FNG. As I reflect on all the fun times my team has had with the boat, it reminds me of why I chose the Viper 640 in the first place. And that's the answer: The Class. Oh sure, I knew the boat itself was going to be a blast to sail... heck, I ordered one before I even took a test sail. What got me was the class itself. I liked that there was a well-organized west coast circuit of about 10 regattas a year, 6 of which are out of town. The "week-end out of town" regatta scene is one of my favorite things to do. For me, there's nothing like the camaraderie of rigging the boats, while enjoying a beer with the other Viper teams, and I look forward to the Saturday night fleet shenanigans just as much as the racing itself.

Now that we're heading into season five, some of my old teammates want to "get the band back together," so I think our challenge will be to balance intensity with fun... but mainly fun. Maybe I need to disguise the beer cooler to look like a rolled-up spray top?