Saturday, March 13, 2010

Ecklund Wins Audi Melges 20


Joy Dunigan
Ecklund Wins Audi Melges 20 Bacardi Miami Sailing Week, Also Named 2010 Winter Series Champion

March 13, 2010 (Miami, Fla.) - Congratulations to Jeff Ecklund (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) on STAR, as he and his crew of Harry Melges and Morgan Reeser have won the Audi Melges 20 division of Bacardi's Miami Sailing Week, hosted in part by Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC), supported by Shake-A-Leg Miami and Melges Performance Sailboats. It was the third act of the Miami Winter Series in which Ecklund is also champion. In second overall is Peter Keck (Lake Geneva, Wisc.) on M&M Sailing with Bill Ward and Sam Rogers as crew. Chuck Holzman (Farmington Hills, Mich.) on Flyer was third with crew members Scott Nixon and Pat Drummond.

The Audi Melges 20 and Melges 24 fleets ended the event on a high note with three races a piece. Under absolutely beautiful blue skies, big seas and a steady 18 knots of breeze with gusts up to 22, they went racing. Two Course 4s and a final five-legger completed the day.

Keck came on strong for the first race, acquiring a nice lead to take the win ahead of Eric Wynsma (East Grand Rapids, Mich.) on Superfly followed by Holzman for third. As the day progressed some of the most amazing downwind runs were witnessed for the first time ever in the fleet. For races two and three, Holzman hardlined the competition with a blistering 1-1 finish. In race two, he took an initial lead with Ecklund finishing second, Wynsma was third. At one point in race three, Holzman found himself half way down the run, before the next boat was around the top mark. By this time, fleet leaders Ecklund and Keck had dropped from racing altogether and left Holzman, Michael Kiss (Macatawa Bay, Mich.) on Bacio and Marc Hollerbach (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.) on Fu to complete the top three.

In the Melges 24, today's conditions were just what the fleet ordered. It was a beautiful sight seeing the Melges 24 ripping downwind, hotter and faster than ever! Topping the fleet was Jennifer Wilson/Donald Wilson (Chicago, Ill.) on Convexity, Steve Kopf (Charleston, S.C.) on Blur in second and Guy Mossman (Charleston, S.C.) on Battle Rhythm finishing third.
View Full Melges 24 Results
View Melges 24 Photo Gallery

Thanks to all the competitors who have participated during the entire series. A very special thanks to Bruce Golison and his extraordinary race management team, especially to Regatta Chairman Ron Rostorfer and team.

TOP TEN RESULTS (After 7 Races)
1.) Jeff Ecklund, STAR; 1-1-3-1-4-2-[16/DNF] = 12
2.) Peter Keck, M&M Sailing; 4-3-1-2-1-11-[16/DNF] = 22
3.) Chuck Holzman, Flyer; 6-6-5-[11]-3-1-1 = 22
4.) Eric Wynsma, Superfly; 2-5-7-5-2-3-6-[7] = 23
5.) Michael Kiss, Bacio; 5-4-4-[8]-7-5-2 = 27
6.) Marc Hollerbach, Fu; 3-9-2-10-[10]-4-3 = 31
7.) Joel Ronning, Catapult; [9]-2-8-7-5-6-7 = 35
8.) Erwyn Naidoo, Bohica; 7-8-6-4-8-[9]-5 = 38
9.) John Arendshorst, Blink; [11]-11-9-3-6-8-4 = 41
10.) Robert Wilber, Cinghaile; 10-7-10-9-[11]-7-9 = 52
Full Audi Melges 20 Results
Official Event Website