Team McLube Race Report:
2009 McLube/Harken Moth Pacific Coast Champs

For the second year running, the Moth PCCs were held at Coronado Yacht Club in excellent conditions. Most of the 13 boats trained on South Bay for 2-4 days before the racing, with very valuable help from Bora Gulari and Charlie McKee. We had foiling conditions each day, and this practice and technical assistance was a big step forward for most of us. We got our foil settings and rigs going much better, so when the racing started on Friday we were much closer to the more experienced guys.

Enlarge Photo. Photo courtesy of Ulf Lindhe Bladerider reseller from Sweden.

The first day of racing had great wind from start to finish, allowing
6 races plus 3 slalom races. The first two heats belonged to Hans Henken from Coronado, who came out swinging with 2 bullets. Charlie McKee won the next two races, with Dalton Bergan from Seattle taking heat 5, and Bora Gulari from Detroit finally finding top form in the day?s last race. Charlie had a slight lead at the end of the day, with Hans and Bora close behind. Zack Maxam from Newport Beach had a strong day after a long layoff from his Moth.

The US Moth Class has started a tradition of short slalom races at the PCCs, involving a reaching start followed by 3 jibe marks and a short beat. The fleet was split in half, with 6 boats in each heat, then a final slalom between the top 3 from each heat. Just for fun and amusement, these races do not count in the standings, but they provide an opportunity for some great video. Charlie McKee won the first heat convincingly and brother Jonathan took the second. In the finals, it was a dogfight between Charlie and Bora Gulari all the way to the last tack, with Bora holding a slight edge. But they understood the finish in a dying breeze and Dalton Bergan swept in for the victory.

The second day of racing also started out with great wind but faded a little for the last two races. Charlie took control of the regatta with a 1, 2, 1, 1 in the first four races, building a lead he never relinquished. Bora also had a good day to stay within range. But Dalton started to find his range, especially in the marginal foiling conditions of the last 2 races, moving up to challenge Bora for second spot. Matt Pistay from Seattle started to show his potential with a third and 2 fourths, and Jonathan McKee and Ian Andrewes from Hawaii both had good races.

The McKee brothers flying high. Enlarge Photo.

The final day looked like it might be a bust, but a 8-10 knot breeze gradually filled in, providing plenty of excitement for the final 3 races, since the difference between foiling and not could be hundreds of yards in a matter of minutes. Dalton passed Jonathan on the last run to take the first race, with Bora third and Charlie fourth. Dalton also won the next heat convincingly, his third victory in a row, to seriously challenge for the title with just one race to go. But both Bora and Charlie showed their experience in the last heat. Bora won the race to secure second for the regatta, with Charlie finishing next to cement a 5 point regatta win. Dalton was third to cap a great comeback, but one point shy of Bora. Everyone learned a lot about marginal foiling on this day. 16 year old Jack Driscoll of San Diego won the Junior Trophy, and 53 year old Bates McKee from Seattle won the Masters Trophy.

In the end it was a fantastic event for all, and we will surely be back next year. Jon Rogers of Coronado Yacht Club did an outstanding job with the event organization and race committee, and the top guys were very gracious in sharing their information. This spirit of cooperation allowed even the new guys to greatly improve as the week went on, so look forward to even closer racing in the future. Next stop on the tour is the McLube/Harken Pacific Rim Champs in Kaneohe in three weeks, and the season will culminate in the Moth World Championships in Cascade Locks, OR. in August. Special thanks to McLube for their financial support to the entire class this year.

Final Results:-
1 - Charlie McKee - 25 pts
2 - Bora Gulari - 29 pts
3 - Dalton Bergan - 30 pts
4 - Jonathan McKee - 54 pts
5 - Hans Henken - 61 pts
6 - Matt Pistay - 73 pts
7 - Zack Maxam - 84 pts
8 - Ian Andrews - 106 pts
9 - Andy Mack - 127 pts
10 - Bates McKee - 132 pts
11 - Jack Driscoll - 150 pts
12 - Matt Noble - 168 pts
13 - Adam Lowry - 170 pts