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2007
North American F17 Catamaran Championships
Held July 28th thru July 31st
Hosted by:
Performance Sports International and the Catamaran Racing
Association of
Michigan
The Venue:
Sailors from
Florida,
Indiana, Colorado,
Ohio, New Jersey
and Michigan
competed for the Championship. The event was held in, Caseville Michigan located approximately 150 miles north of Detroit Michigan.
The shores of Saginaw Bay
provided a great venue with Turquoise water, clean sandy beaches
and beautiful views of the
Charity
Islands and dazzling
sunsets. Twenty Boats registered for the F17 North Americans
sailed over a four-day period in winds that ranged from 18 to 20
mph on Saturday to 6 to 8 on Monday. No races were held on the
final day due to lack of wind.
The Officials:
Event
Chairperson / Organizers:
Eric Kennedy , Mark
Biggers,
Judy
Biggers, Connie Kennedy, Peggy Gillespie
Event Sponsor
Chairperson / Organizer:
Peggy Gillespie
Event PRO:
Matt Bounds
Race Committee:
Matt Bounds, Jack Soullier, Paul & Kim Krutty
Trophies:
Special thanks for the stain
glass work by Mike “Wiz”
Wisniewski

Winds:
Saturday
11knts to 16knts.
Sunday
9knts. To 12knts.
Monday
3knts
to
5kts.
Tuesday
under 3 knts. Races cancelled
The
Champion:
Bob Curry
Age:
50
Sailing:
31 years
Titles:
15 National sailing titles on various boats ranging from the
Hobie 14 to the Nacra 6.0
Two World Titles on the
Hobie 14 and the Mystere 6.0, Two-time winner F17 North
Americans.
Occupation:
Meteorologist for the Department of Defense 20 years retired.
Lives:
Crest View Florida
Perpetration
for event: Practice as
often as possible, keep tabs on other competitors from around
the country, stay fit working around his ranch in Crest View.
Second Place:
Mark Batchelor
Age:
58
Sailing:
50 years
Titles:
4 National sailing titles three on the F17 and 1 on the NACRA
5.5 UNI 4
Junior sailing titles in the Lighting and Blue Jay model boats,
holds a speed title for a 250 square foot sail class boat of
27.9 knots set in Maui… Spent 18 months training with the Dennis
Connors 1987 Americas
cup campaign in Hawaii and Australia.
Occupation:
Owner/Administrator of the Animal Cancer & Imaging hospital
group.
Lives:
Howell Michigan
Perpetration
for event: Sail and tune
his boat at local Regattas study and review racing tactics.
Visualizes winning and strategies in the days leading up to the
event.
Third Place:
Bill Gillespie:
Age:
38
Sailing:
18 years
Titles:
In search of fist Title has been runner up at the F17 national 4
out of the last 5 years…Competed in the Alter cup Series 2 of
the last 5 years
Occupation:
Business Owner/Administrator
Lives:
Fairlawn Ohio
Perpetration
for event: Sail as much as
possible, attended a tuning clinic hosted by Multi Champion and
well know sailor Matt Struble
Fourth Place:
Chad Schwall
Age:
33
Sailing:
25 Years
Titles:
In search of first title, raced and sailed on many large mono
hull boats in his youth
Occupation:
Retail Sales
Lives:
Bay City
Michigan
Perpetration
for event: Sail and tune
his boat at local Regattas study and review racing tactics.
Attended a tuning clinic hosted by Multi Champion and well know
sailor Matt Struble
Masters
Champion (50 and older):
Jim Young
Age:
60
Sailing:
50 Years
Titles:
20 National and North American titles on various different
boats. Jim has been associated with 14 Olympic class medal
winning programs on boats that range from the Star to the
Tornado class catamaran
Occupation:
Full time sailing coach and part time rigging expert.
Lives:
Grand Lake
Colorado
Perpetration
for event: Did not have
time to sail much but did compete in the CAT FIGHT weekend
Regatta in Racine
Wisconsin in June.
Coming Events:
F17 Great Lakes
Championship (info)
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