VX One Class Association

Fleet Reports



Update from Fleet (Awesome) 8
This upcoming weekend, the boat show will be coming to St. Pete. Having no experience with boats or sailing before marrying my husband Andy, I vividly remember my first boat show – the very same one, in December of 2011. Between trips to the outdoor bar, we toured what seemed like hundreds of boats – some power boats, but mainly cruising sail boats. Toward the end of the afternoon, I spotted something that looked a little different and fun. “That looks like the kind of boat you’d like,” I vividly remember saying to my new husband. We headed over to check it out. Tucked in a back corner at the end of a dock were Brian Bennett and David Guggenheim with the VX prototype, #101. One trip out in the bay, and we were sold. My husband is not quick to make expensive decisions, but I think the fact that I was in love with the boat was all he needed. He was ready to write a check that day. Three years later, we are very much in love with our VX and the VX family. It has been a wonderful platform for me to learn to crew on a sailboat, and after a blowing weekend last month in Sarasota, I have overcome any sailing fears I may have harbored in the past. It has also been great for Andy and me both to spend time with his sons Richard and Phillip as they have sailed with us in several regattas. We are beyond excited to have some growing interest in Tampa Bay and the west coast Florida area. Robert Bilthouse’s boat at Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa has been our newest addition. We also have added Paul Currie in Naples (or Canada) earlier this year. Robbie Brown and Doug Fisher have been doing a fantastic job promoting the boat in the Tampa Bay area and down in Sarasota. I can imagine that the Sarasota Sailing Squadron midwinter series will give us huge visibility and promotion that will really benefit our local fleet. In addition, we will once again be sailing in the St. Pete NOOD on Valentine’s weekend and would love to have some other boats join us in showing off its fantastic design and performance.
Beth Walford

Update from Fleet 6
Fleet 6 was “born” last Summer during Brian and Hayden’s demo in Holland, MI. Our Fleet covers the Great Lakes/Midwest, and we currently have four boats in our fleet with two new hot possibilities for Spring 2015. We had our official fleet debut in Sarasota with great racing and plenty of fun. For 2015, we are working on our racing schedule and have already confirmed our Great Lakes/Midwest championship for September 19-20, 2015 in Holland, MI.

Update from Fleet 1
Gulf Coast Fleet 1 sailed eight events in 2014; each consisting of 5-7 races. Four events in the spring and four events in the fall. Two events in the Florida Panhandle, two in Alabama, two in Louisiana, two in Mississippi. For participation, there were 7-9 boats at five events and 4-5 boats at three events. Fleet 1 is currently at nine boats; we gained a new boat, but lost a boat. All eight events were sailed in predominantly 12 knots or less breeze; with crew weights ranging from 320-420 lbs.; we all realized that while light is fast in 12 under, it really pays to be 420-460 in everything above 15. Last year’s fleet champion was the Frost/Bolyard combo on USA 128. This year’s fleet champion is Team Poor Decisions, Kevin Northrup on USA 148. Racing this year was very tight with any one of four boats able to win up until the last event in Pass Christian. When the dust settled, Northrup defeated Chris Alexander, 2014 North American Champion, by a slim 100th of a point. Cox/ Sprague scoring was used with the best 5 of 8 counted. For 2015, Gulf Coast Fleet 1 and Tex/Ok Fleet 4 will mesh racing schedules for at least two events (more on that in January). Pictured is the (almost complete) Fleet 1 Series Champion Trophy.
Sail Fast, Donovan Brennan, Fleet 1 CaptainFleetUpdateDec14