'Everyone had a blast' at Sandusky Islands Race

SANDUSKY — Maverick ruled the waves Saturday, winning the 67th Sandusky Islands Race by nearly 90 minutes. The Lakeside Yacht Club entry, sailed by Sanford Burns, was first to finish in 2 hours, 26 minutes and 56 seconds to dominate the field and the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF) A division. "That thing is just a machine," said Andy Davis, race chairman and past commodore of the Sandusky Sailing Club (SSC). "It's a lighter displacement boat with a ton of sail area. It's just a well-sailed, very, very fast 80-footer." Maverick also had the best corrected time of 2:46.48, with Schock & All second with a corrected time of 3:42.35, and Blitzkrieg in third in 3:47.04. Schock & All is owned by Russell Krock of SSC. Matthew Schaedler of the North Cape Yacht Club, LaSalle, Mich., skippered Blitzkrieg. The course started and finished in front of Cedar Point beach, and looped around Kelleys Island. Bruce Roberts, of SSC, sailed Magic to the top spot in PHRF B with a corrected time of 4:18.27, followed by Chip Schaffner of Edgewater Yacht Club/SSC aboard Southbound in 4:18.47, and Afterburn, sailed by SSC's Stephen E. Jackson, in 4:21.52. Ultimate Rush of Leatherlips Yacht Club, Columbus, topped the PHRF C field in 4:02.32 with Matt Rush as skipper. Chris Merkle of the Put-in-Bay Yacht Club (PIBYC) was second aboard Legacy in 4:16.23 and InfraRed, sailed by Bryan Huntley of SSC, was third in 4:20.08. Huntley's father Jim teamed with Norm Winkel to found the annual SSC race in 1956. The PHRF Cruising Class was won by Isabelle, the Royal Irish Yacht Club entry skippered by Brian Renn of Cincinnati, in 5:09.37, followed by Valkyrie, of PIBYC and skippered by Jake Burgy, in second in 5:31.18. SSC entry La vita e Bella, owned by Mark Capucini, was third in 6:00.02. Al Pawlowski of the Vermilion Boat Club sailed Vivant to first in the Jib-and-Main division in 4:22.49, followed by Cracker Jack, skippered by David Carracci of SCC, in 4:25.05. Third went to Eric Meissen aboard Wet Wombat in 4:41.41. The Multihull class was won by Brian Thorpe aboard Alacrity in 4:05.24, with Mini Queen, skippered by Patrick Quinn, in second in 4:26.31. "The weather was fabulous," Davis said. ""The wind was a little light, but at the end of the day it was good conditions with lighter air than we hoped for. And I think everyone had a blast." ----- From left to right, Maverick, Schock & All and Blitzkrieg were the top-three finishers in Saturday's race.Credit: Provided photo/JENNY EVERSON