VX One Class Association

Eiber Wins Winter Series 3, Currie Wins Series



Jeff and Emery Eiber on 275 win Winter Series 3
Sarah Wilkinson Photo

Sunday closed out the third and final VX One Winter Series at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron. After drifting for hours, Sarasota waved goodbye to the VX One fleet with a solid 8-10kt sea breeze to add two final races to the series. While no sailing was had on Saturday, plenty of swimming and piña coladas passed the time. Friday proved to never underestimate the ability of mother nature when an under 6kt forecast turned into 12-14kts and blue skies, making for the best racing of the March stop. At the end of the 6-race series, class President Jeff Eiber took home 1st place, followed by Sam Padnos in 2nd and Bill Lydens rounding off the podium in 3rd.

Working backwards, the Sarasota Sailing Squadron welcomed the VX One class back in February for the second event of the series. This two-day event brought sunny skies, warm weather and 15kt breezes to make for competitive racing. Ian Maccini, of Blue Lobster, commented that “it is more than just a competitive fleet that makes this class, it’s the venue [Sarasota Sailing Squadron] that keeps us sailing and coming back.”  7 races were enough to let father-son duo and VX One designer Brian and Hayden Bennett to win a tie breaker with Jeff Eiber for 1st place. Eiber claimed a strong 2nd place, followed by Canadian Paul Currie in 3rd. The first event of the VX One Winter Series in January tested the fleets ability to handle heavy breeze and produced some of the most exciting racing of the series. Saturday showed steady 20kts with gusts into the thirties. The class handled the conditions well, with the all-girls team JUGS (Just Us Girls Sailing), comprised of Kelly Cole’s 148, managing to stay upright while hitting a top speed of 17.9kts during the first downwind of the day. Sunday was out of range, with gusts into the 40s, for the VX One class but that didn’t stop their competitive spirit that they took to the go karting track, unfortunately those points did not count overall, just bragging rights. Sarasota Bay once again kept the fleet on their toes and tested their abilities on Monday with breeze that was light and shifty. Chris Alexander was able to connect the puffs to bring home 1st place, followed by Paul Currie in 2nd and John Potter in 3rd.

Report by Sarah Wilkinson

The Wild Deuces Team
Ian Maccini Photo