October 27, 2003: Challenge IV Wins 2003 North American Championship

Manhasset Bay Yacht club played host to this year’s championship event during their annual fall series. As the last regatta of the year on Long Island Sound, each of the eight boats entered presented a formidable pack of seasoned crew ready to compete for the 1st place half hull. The event was sailed with class sails that are distributed to the boats prior to the start of racing. The class sail inventory consists of a mainsail, genoa and 3/4oz spinnaker. All boats carry their own #3 jibs and 1.5oz spinnakers. When conditions call for heavy air sails the Fleet Captain calls for the #3 and 1.5 oz spinnakers to be used. The J44 class maintains 16 sets of class sails for one design racing. Every sail is identical and are replaced every few years when needed. This format has made the class as fun fair and exciting as well as the strongest big boat one design class in the Country. Class sails are available for charter for boats outside the Long Island Sound region wishing to compete in J44 one design racing.

Conditions were tricky and many were unlucky as winds varied tremendously in direction and speed. No one knew this more than the crew of RUNAWAY. After the first start of the regatta the wind speed dropped off to almost nothing but Larry and Anne Glenn found a small lane of breeze to keep the boat moving just off to the right side of the fleet and quickly found themselves rounding the top mark almost a half mile in front of the next boat. A groaning sound that could be heard for miles in every direction erupting from the decks of RUNAWAY as the race committee fired 3 guns to cancel the race! The Skipper declared, " There is NO Justice". (Photo available upon request)

Racing was extremely close and after the first week of racing, Norm Schulman’s CHARLIE V led the pack in first place The skipper had to skip racing on the second Saturday and turn the helm over to his long time crew. CHARLIE V’s crew sailed strong without their skipper but slipped out of the top spot with a tough race.

The winner had yet to be decided when the starting gun sounded for the last race. Jeff Willis sailing aboard CHALLENGE IV was in first place and 2002 champion Jim Bishop, sailing his J44 GOLDGIDDER was in second place. When the dust settled Challenge IV won the last race and finished with a total of 9 points, 3 points ahead of Golddigger and 4 points ahead of Charlie V.

Congratulations to the Challenge IV - 2003 North American Championship.
Skipper- Jeff Willis
Crew- David Willis, Todd Willis, Rudy Ratsep, Garrison Hudkins, Tom Bischoff, Fran Johnson, George Ryan, Scott Jacobitti, Steve Lincon, Kyle Erlandsen