By Guy Gurney
The 91st Atlantic National Championship was held at Cedar Point Yacht Club in Westport, CT from August 15 to 17. Clear winners in the fleet of 27 boats were David Peck, Tom Peck, Diane Peck Rothman and Bill Healy from Niantic Bay Yacht Club, aboard Miss April. They won four of the six races, throwing out a fifth! Second was Steve Benjamin in Cassidy, a constant threat as always, and in third was Rodrigo Meireles with Èlan.
From left to right, Bill Healy, Diane Peck Rothman, helmsman Dave Peck and Tom Peck sailed Miss April to the Atlantic Class National Championship…the Peck family’s 21st Atlantic title! (Photo courtesy of Dave Peck)
Conditions were almost as good as it gets on Long Island Sound, with light to moderate easterlies. It must have been sweet for the Pecks, who have been narrowly beaten by Benjamin at recent Nationals, last year on a tiebreaker. This time, Miss April seemed to have a little something extra in speed and pointing ability. Rodrigo Meireles, sailing his first Atlantic Nationals as skipper, was very consistent, as was Scott Reichelm in Shucks who finished close behind in fourth. These were the first two of a big Cedar Point contingent, numbering 14 boats, the entire club fleet.
A memorable moment came when Tom Davidson, from the Madison Beach Club fleet in Madison, CT, arrived at CPYC the morning of the first race to find his boat Magic had sunk overnight at the dock. The electric bilge pump hose had been left hanging overboard with its end in the water, and a siphon effect had filled up the boat. After a slick lifting operation the boat was recovered, and Tom bounced back with a seventh in the first race the next day.
Twenty-seven boats competed in the 91st Atlantic Nationals, hosted by Cedar Point Yacht Club. © John Kantor
To learn more about the Atlantic – a classic for today’s sailor! – and The Atlantic Class, visit atlanticclass.org. ■
An avid Atlantic racer for many years, Guy Gurney is one of the world’s foremost yachting photographers. His work can be viewed at guygurney.com.
