2022 Micro Magic (NCR) on 9/22/2022

by Mike Wyatt
13 Micro Magic Skippers from ten States turned out for the 2022 edition of the Class National Championship, the first NCR for Micro Magics to be held in Ohio.
Everything started the day before the NCR, with a Match Racing event (separate pairs for Micro Magics and Soling 1 Meters who shared the regatta week).
Match Racing Winners: Greg Norris - Micro Magics; Bob Piper - Solings. Afterward, there was Welcome Picnic at the Wyatt House where everyone joined for a great picnic dinner, and a wine tasting (again a white sparkling wine from Dick and Barb "Azzam of Alabam" won!).
Weather for the entire Micro magic portion was good- 60's with puffy clouds and lots of sun for NCR Day 1, some light rain on Day 2.
Race management was Fleet racing - 1 start. Day 1 winds (per the Weather Almanac) were NNW at 6-15 MPH, with an occasional gust to 20 MPH. Courses were windward to a pair of 2 Marks to Port, a run to a set of Gate Marks, 2 laps, then to the Finish in the middle of the course. We completed 13 races on Day1. Toward the end of racing it began to rain, soaking the Committee and the competitors (but not like what was to come.)
We broke for the evening activities: a tour of Titan Aircraft, a manufacturer of 75% scale war plane kits (their T-51 Mustang w/ V12 cylinder 300+ HP BMW N74 engine cruises at 180 MPH with 2 passengers. A video about the T-51 is at:
The tour was followed by dinner at a local grill.
On Day 2, the forecast was not as favorable, with cooler temperatures. Clouds filled in and winds freshened to 10-18 MPH, and a gust or two to 27 MPH. With the stronger winds, C Rigs were the normal choice, and we got in 20 additional 2-lap races, for a final event total of 33 Races. After all went their motels and other abodes to dry out, the evening activities were at local steakhouse, where a few of the Soling 1 Meter sailors showed up prior to their event the following two days.
At the end AMYA President Ray Seta won his first Micro Magic National Championship, finishing 5 points ahead of Don Ouimette (sailing his first Micro Magic regatta!). Mike Eades, a multiple National Champion was third- just one point behind Don. It was very close- after 33 races, the top 3 were within 6 points. And- 4 th Place Jack Ward, another multiple Past National Champion, would have been in the mix if it were not for a failed rudder servo, and a trip to the local hobby shop in place of Races 2 -3 -4 &5.
Comment: In the post-Covid era, regattas may take awhile to return to normal entry levels; a double regatta is a great way to increase attendance it leads to more sailors since they can sail two regattas in one trip. A double regatta also spreads the cost and work of holding a regatta among more host volunteers and participants. If Classes are paired whose owners own both boats, it's also very good for the smaller Class (in this case the Micro Magic) to expose their boat to a wider audience who may not be familiar with them.
The Geneva events were great. Good sailing, good courses, great food (every day and every night) and a lot of off-water activities make for a great regatta. When the last-place sailor has a great time (and he did- I asked) that is a great regatta.

Summary of the 2022 Micro Magic NCR, Gold Chevrons
Date: September 22-23, 2022
Location: SPIRE Institute, Geneva, OH.
Host Club: Western Reserve Model YC
Entries: 13.
Winds 5-27 mph
Fleet Racing with one Start.
Races completed- 33 over two days.
Scoring: Scoring: Low point with a 1/6 discard, maximum of four.
Race Committee and valuable assistants: Bob Green, RD; Dan Jarold, ARD; Linda and Bob
Kalman, Scoring; John Riley, Dave Steger and Doug Rieger, platooning on the Mark/Crash Boat;
Mike Wyatt, Regatta Manager