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SIMON STRAUSS TOPS THE CHARTS — 2007 USMCA MELGES 24 NORTHEAST DISTRICT CHAMPION!

25 OCTOBER 2007 • Since late April 2007 twenty-nine Melges 24s have been battling over the coveted 2007 USMCA Northeast District Rankings with honors going to the team traveling to a minimum of three designated Northeast events. The best scores accumulated obviously grants the win. This year — none other that the fabulous Simon Strauss from New York City on Team Gill is the winner!

Strauss was quick to comment, "Consistency and attendance are the two words that best describe why we've wone the Northeast District Championship — as in the past two years! And, I could not have done it without quite a group of sailors — Alan Block, Meredith Block, Becky Damore, Jane deLashmutt, Eric Dorman, Kingsley Hill, Jeff Madrigali, Laura Muma, Alexandra Strauss, Chris Van Tol, Jamie Weyndling and Matthew York aboard for one or more regattas – the abilities to get on seamlessly with new faces and to sail the boat fast were key this year. Being consistently at the top – and attending the regattas -- were required to win." The Gill team reflects on some fantastic sailing days, "by far the most consistent fun conditions were off Ocean City, New Jersey in late August; big seas, planing breeze, hot and sunny weather. A regatta that everyone should make special plans to attend in 2008! We had a fabulously windy final run off Newport, Rhode Island in July before almost ending up on the rocks off the Newport “cottages.” The competition in Annapolis in October was intense; five boats vying for the top places. Great racing in 2007 and a preview of what’s to come at the North Americans in 2008 and the Worlds in 2009."

Simon is also very quick to point out that with some great sponsors and providers of gear include all the folks from Gill in Buford, Georgia and Nottingham, England led by Dave Pritchard, Ed Furry from www.iniki.com and Nigel Young at North Sails Ireland/UK.

This sensational team of talent, skill and lots of personality competed against some of the toughest competitors in the country, including a very close second place finisher Bill Carleton on Tiburon from Annapolis, Maryland, two-time Melges 24 U.S. National Champion Owner Neil 'Doc' Sullivan on M-Fatic. Does that boat name sum it up or what? Rounding out the top five is another Annapolis local Jim Golden on Chill Out in fourth and Gary Schneidman in fifth on Tango. In sixth was Arthur Bresse on Snaahlz.

2007 USMCA NORTHEAST DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RANKING STANDINGS
1.) Simon Strauss, GBR-592; 115
2.) Bill Carleton, USA-378; 110
3.) Neil Sullivan, USA-566; 99
4.) Jim Golden, USA-606; 96
5.) Gary Schneidman, USA-37 ; 94
6.) Arthur Bresse, 93
7.) David Ford, USA-655 78
8.) Sean Scarborough, USA-717; 76
9.) JC Raby, USA-47; 71
10.) Mike McGuckin, USA-718; 70
11.) Justin Damore/Peter Cucci, USA-631; 62
12.) Bryon Marchant, USA-568; 61
13.) Tom Carter, USA-25; 51
14.) Terry Hutchinson, USA-623; 40
15.) Chuck Holzman, USA-660; 39
16.) John Hamilton, USA-658; 39
17.) Alan Field, USA-587; 39
18.) Othmar Blumencron, USA-679; 37
19.) Peter Wenzler, USA-12; 36
20.) David Ford, USA-513, 36
21.) Shawn Grisham, USA-674; 34
22.) Tom Treat, USA-290; 32
23.) Steve Kopf, USA-489; 31
24.) Gary Martin, USA-88; 30
25.) Jack Jennings, USA-659; 30
26.) Charley Hess, USA-114; 28
27.) Clive Daem, USA-244; 27
28.) Mark Beck, USA-665; 27
29.) Glen Leach, USA-150; 24

VIEW DETAILED RANKING