The Finn class completed its 2021 North American Championship over the weekend at Pass Christian Yacht Club with seven races in medium to light winds on the Mississippi Sound of the Gulf of Mexico. Local sailor and former U.S. Sailing Team member John F. Dane (USA 69) dominated the results with five first place finishes and two seconds. He was quick off the starting line, picked his route through the shifts, and defended well downwind. Second and third place went to the brothers Rodion (USA 16) and Nikita Mazin (USA 7). Finn stalwart Darrell Peck (USA 35) was fourth and newcomer Caio Gerassi (BRA 58) was fifth. Full results at https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/22826

Twenty-two sailors, ranging in age from 27 to 70+, traveled from all points east and west for the event, six from the Miami fleet, who will host this winter’s four event Miami Winter Series for the inaugural Florida State Cup, three from San Diego, three from Mobile, Alabama, and solos from Newport Harbor, CA, New Hampshire, and Chicago.

Pass Christian YC, one of the oldest sailing clubs in the USA, and regatta chair Tom Duffy, put on an outstanding and hospitable regatta with plenty of food and beer to keep the pain levels low and the fellowship high. A social highlight was the Mississippi-style shrimp boil, featuring shrimp netted that day in the gulf waters and a live rock ‘n roll band. The Race Committee management, directed by PRO Shannon Bush, was stellar, hitting the target times, laying square lines and true weather marks, and squeezing in the third day’s two races between rain storms.

By Charles Heimler