Knot Rider Takes Overall PHRF Fleet in Port Huron 100, July 2005

In challenging conditions from 2 kts of wind and lumpy to 15 kts and flat water Knot Rider beat out a fleet of some of the area's best sailed boats including multiple Bayview-Bacardi Port Huron to Mackinac winners over the last several years. With winds oscillating over 30 degrees in the early evening the boat sailed by Kerry Hitchings, Jim and Casey Petz, Jim Gorinac, Marc Gabriele, and Mike Koch the boat closed ground on much lower rated competitors in SR33’s, J35’s, and Beneteau 40.7’s that also had earlier starting times. In Class B, where the boat races locally, they started putting miles on a “PHRF’d” out J105 and the rest of their lower rated competition. Later the wind came from almost all 360 degrees on the compass, driving the crew across lower Lake Huron. In the end Knot Rider had an elapsed time less than all boats but 3 boats rating as low as 48 and easily corrected first overall. “At the awards ceremony we didn’t have the heart to tell the rest of the fleet we did the whole race with just a #2 that we just bought from Juan Mauri,” said Kerry.

Was good talking to you as always today. I look forward to seeing you on the 20th-23rd. Will be ready to help you out any way I can and if you can help me get ride on Thunderbolt or another Hobie, that would be awesome. If/when it is appropriate let me know and I will contact them directly. In any event I will bring the chocolate!

Best Regards,

Jim