Rob Doolittle of Mandeville, LA utilized consistent finishes to earn the 2013 VX One North American Championship. Hosted by Rush Creek Yacht Club in Rockwall, TX, the 21-boat fleet completed eight races from November 8-10. Racing The Spaniard with Bob Hodges, Doolittle posted scores of 4,4,3,3,(7),3,1,6 for 24 points. Kevin Northrop put together an impressive regatta for second place with 26 points. Erich Schloemer’s Animal took the bronze position with 37 points. No racing took place on Sunday due to lack of breeze on Lake Ray Hubbard for this second North American Championship of the young VX One Class. “We stayed pretty conservative, and we wanted to stay in the top 10 for every race,” summarized Doolittle. “One of our strategies was if we thought the boat was favored, we’d start closer to the pin just to stay clear of the crowd because that’s where you can get buried. You gotta get off the line. You can keep on making gains as you round marks, but it’s a race to the windward mark.” Among the 21 teams competing in the event were an entrant from Australia and one from Great Britain. Racing GBR149 were Nathan Batchelor and David Eve. Batchelor is a Sales Manager at Ovington Boats and based in Newcastle (northeast of England). He is a European J/24 champion 2010 (helm) and has placed fifth at the J/24 Worlds as helmsman (2010), third at the J/24 Worlds calling tactics (2011), fourth at the J/24 Worlds on tactics (2012), and a member of the 470 GBR Olympic development squad at the helm (2008). Eve was born in England and now lives in Charlotte. He is an ex-Viper owner and an early adopter of the VX One with boat number 105. Racing AUS136 was Andrew York. York is the proprietor of Forestay Pty Ltd trading as VX One Australia. He has won the Laser Nationals and has sailed in 13 world championships, placing in the top four in Laser, Tasar, J/24s, Etchells and Dragons. Yorky has been the Laser Olympic and National Coach, and served on the Olympic Athlete Planning Committee for Yachting Australia. He sailed in the 1983 America’s Cup as mainsheet for Advance and as navigator with the Kookaburra 1987 defense. He has skippered boats in five Sydney to Hobart races and won the Blue Water Pointscore (long ocean races at the CYCA, including the Hobart race) with a race to spare as skipper at his first try.
The VX One North American Championship top five:
Rob Doolittle & Bob Hodges – 4, 4, 3, 3, [7], 3, 1, 6 = 24
Kevin Northrop, Karl Kleinshrote & Mya Newman – [19], 2, 2, 4, 5, 7, 5, 1= 26
Erich Schloemer & Gavin Roudolph – 3, 7, 8, 1, 9, [17], 2, 7 = 37
David Eve & Nathan Batchelor – 7, 5, [17], 6, 8, 1, 9, 4 = 40
David Guggenheim & John Potter – 9, 11, 4, 8, 1, 5, [14], 11 = 49
Photos are available on the VX One Class Facebook page, and complete results are online at www.vxonenac.com.

Rob Doolittle continued posting steady scores to take his lead into the final day of the VX One North American Championship, hosted by Rush Creek Yacht Club in Rockwall, TX. In the 21-boat fleet, The Spaniard has notched all finishes in the top seven, and after dropping the seven, has netted just 24 points in the eight races thus far. Kevin Northrop has also tallied an impressive line and stands just two points back with 26 points. Erich Schloemer’s Animal holds third place with 37 points. Winds started at 8-10 with some puffs to 12 knots on Lake Ray Hubbard for this second North American Championship of the young VX One Class. It was overcast for much of day with some sun eventually breaking through, and temperatures were pleasant in the low to mid 60s. David Guggenheim won Saturday’s opening bout, with Andrew York’s Tachyon and David Reich behind him. The Eve/Batchelor team on Flying Finish secured the next victory. The Hickman/Beling squad placed second, and Doolittle third. Doolittle moved up to first in the next contest, trailed by Schloemer and Reich. Northrop collected the day’s final triumph, ahead of Lawrence Frost’s Flash Gordon and Donovan Brennan’s Budgie Smuggler. Racing concludes Sunday. Photos are available on the VX One Class Facebook page, and complete results are online at www.vxonenac.com.

Rob Doolittle recorded consistent scores over four races to take the early advantage on day one of the VX One North American Championship, hosted by Rush Creek Yacht Club in Rockwall, TX. With a line of 4,4,3,3, The Spaniard has totaled 14 points, which is one ahead of Brian Bennett on VX Racing Team. Bennett got off to a blazing start by winning the first three races, although a 12 in race four put him in second place overall. Erich Schloemer’s Animal stands in third with 19 points. Winds averaged 8-12 knots for the 21 teams on Lake Ray Hubbard for this second North American Championship of the young VX One Class. Following Bennett in race one were the Hallowell/Brown team on Mos Eisley Cantina and Schloemer. In race two, it was Kevin Northrop in second and then Donovan Brennan’s Budgie Smuggler. Northrop took the silver position again in race three, trailed by Doolittle. Schloemer earned line honors in the day’s final contest. Tim Pitts’ Proto placed second and Doolittle third. Racing continues through Sunday. Photos are available on the VX One Class Facebook page, and complete results are online at www.vxonenac.com.

24 teams have descended upon Rush Creek Yacht Club on Lake Ray Hubbard in Heath, Texas for the 2013 VX One North American Championship. Racing begins Friday and runs through Sunday. Keep up with the action at www.vxonenac.com.

Registration for the 87th Bacardi Cup and Miami Sailing Week presented by EFG Bank is now open. The NOR has been posted and additional information on the event can be found at www.miamisailingweek.com. Don’t wait any longer and register for one of the most awaited events of the year! Registration fee includes the following benefits:
• Skipper backpack with hats and tees for every sailor
• Access to the Bacardi hospitality/VIP lounge for the entire week with complimentary services
• A welcome cocktail reception
• Daily Bacardi Happy-hour and Bacardi Rum tasting
• A Mid-week party
• An Awards Ceremony dinner event
• An event program and daily prizes
• A week filled with music, old friends, parties and plenty of great RUM!
Keep an eye out for the BSW monthly newsletter and make sure you are among the first ones to know about plans for the upcoming regatta! Sponsors include: Bacardi USA, EFG International, SLAM, West Marine, North Sail, WRI, Yachting Times, Sail Magazine, the City of Miami and all the Coconut Grove host Clubs that help to put together this marquee event.