THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 22, 1996 TAG: 9610220281
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: COLINGTON LENGTH: 35 lines
Tom Whitaker has successfully defended his Class A sailing title in the Kelly's Kup Regatta, and George Kendall and Hans Falkenberg also have claimed class crowns.
Whitaker, sailing his 23-foot Beneteau, Sea Dreams, reefed and unreefed his mainsail during the five-leg race in winds of nearly 20 knots Sunday and was rewarded for his efforts.
Sea Dreams was the smallest boat in the fastest class, and usually can't keep up with her bigger rivals in heavy winds. But Whitaker said reefing the mainsail for upwind work and letting it out for downwind legs paid off.
Winds were light a year ago when Whitaker won his first title in the regatta, sponsored annually by restaurateur Mike Kelly.
Second place in Class A went to Randy Saunders in his 37-foot Hunter, Wind Song. Third was taken Earl Clark in his 31-foot Tartan, First Light.
Kendall, who has been among the leaders in nearly every Albemarle Sound race this summer with his 29-foot Alberg, Liberty Call, was an easy winner in Class B, and overtook many of the Class A boats that started five minutes in front of him.
Second in Jeanne Beth, a 32-foot Westsail, was Aubrey Kitchen, whose ocean-going vessel thrives on burly breezes. Jim Davis, bouncing around in his 23-foot Pearson, Milinda, was third in Class B.
On Saturday, Falkenberg won the small-boat class in a 15-foot Chrysler, Red Alert. Kendall took second in a 19-foot Cape Dory, Sound Sailor, and third went to Rick Straub in a 23-foot Sea Sprite, Seaweed.
Kelly presented trophies to the winners at a banquet in his restaurant after the race. The race wraps up the season for members of the Roanoke Island Yacht Club, who sail out of Colington Harbour. by CNB