Sometimes bigger isn’t always better, as was the case for Dan Meyers and his new Judel/Vrolijk-designed Numbers, an IRC 67, at the IRC East Coast Championship, held in Annapolis, Maryland. Meyers arrived at the event as the defending champion, having won on his former Numbers, a Farr-designed 60-footer. Even with a longer, faster version of his race program, the Boston-based team was usurped in the final standings by 3.5 points by John Kilroy’s “box-designed” TP52, Samba Pa Ti, and his all-star crew that included Emirates New Zealand tactician Terry Hutchinson. While Numbers made fast work of the distance race, the West Coasters made short work of the round-the-buoy races, even though they had to contend with IRC 1 competitors. Finishing third in IRC Division One was Michael Brennan’s Sjambok, a RP 45 out of Potomac, Maryland.
Of note to one-design racers is the fact that the IRC East Coast Championships saw a host of OD classes, including strong showings of NYYC Swan 42s and Beneteau First 36.7s. Hopefully this trend will continue as the IRC rule gains momentum in the States. David Schmidt
Posted: November 5, 2007
