The VX ONE Midwinter Championship ended with four competitors tied on points for the lead, and David Reich of Birmingham, AL winning the tie-breaker. Reich, John Potter, Brian Bennett and Donnie Brennan were all knotted at 12 points after six races, and hopes for completing a seventh race were dashed when the breeze shut off. Winds started around 8 knots but quickly died to 2-3 knots, so the Race Committee shortened the course to finish race 6. Timothy Pitts grabbed the top spot in that contest, with Bennett and Brennan behind him. Reich, also the VX ONE Class President, raced with local Robby Brown, whom Reich called, “a plethora of knowledge.” Reich praised the exciting tight racing of the 10-boat fleet, saying, “It really could have gone to anybody there in that last race, but we came out on the better end of the deal with the tie.” Hosted by the Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, Florida, the Championship is the first stand-alone Midwinters for the young VX ONE Class. “This is a good place for the VX ONE Class,” Reich believed. “My hope is for the Class to continue to come here on an annual basis.” Conditions varied throughout the three-day event. Reich summarized, “We had one good heavy day, a couple medium races and a few light races. It really mixes things up.” Brown is new to the VX ONE, but shared his admiration, “I love the boat. I’ve sailed other sport boats but this is one of the most fun boats I’ve been on. It’s every bit as fast and manageable as advertised.” The top six: David Reich (12 points), John Potter (12), Brian Bennett (12), Donnie Brennan (12), Timothy Pitts (25), Rob Doolittle (25). Photos are available on the VX ONE Class Facebook page, and complete results are online at www.vxonemw.com.

John Potter of Beaufort, SC tallied first-place finishes in both of Friday’s races at the VX ONE Midwinter Championship to bring him into a tie for first place. Heading in to the final day of the event on Saturday, Potter stands with 12 points, as does David Reich of Birmingham, AL, with Donnie Brennan of Mobile, AL just one point behind them. Hosted by the Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, Florida, the Championship is the first stand-alone Midwinters for the young VX ONE Class. Under sunny skies again and temperatures in the low 60s, winds began around 12 knots but dropped throughout Friday’s first race to 6-8 knots. Behind Potter in that contest were Brennan and Timothy Pitts. By the conclusion of the next race, winds bottomed out around 4 knots. Potter and Brennan again took the top two spots, trailed by VX ONE builder Brian Bennett. The Race Committee waited on the water for more breeze to fill in, but it didn’t, and the 10 teams were sent to shore for the day. Racing concludes Saturday. Photos are available on the VX ONE Class Facebook page, and complete event details/results are online at www.vxonemw.com.

David Reich shot out to the lead with a dominating performance on the first day of the VX ONE Midwinter Championship. Reich, of Birmingham, AL, notched two bullets to begin the regatta, then scored a second in the day’s third race for just 4 points overall. Brian Bennett, builder of the boat, follows in second with 7 points, and Donnie Brennan rounds out the top three with 9 points. Hosted by the Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, Florida, the Championship is the first stand-alone Midwinters for the young VX ONE Class. Winds began at 10-12 knots when Reich won the first race, trailed by Brennan and John Potter. Following Reich in race two were Bennett and Brennan. Winds increased to 15-18 knots by day’s end, when Bennett took Thursday’s final race. Reich and Potter were close behind. Temperatures held around 60 degrees under sunny skies. Racing continues through Saturday. Photos are available on the VX ONE Class Facebook page, and complete event details/results are online at www.vxonemw.com.