Prodigy Class Association
2005 North American Championship
The Suncoast Classic in St Petersburg, Florida hosted the 4th annual Prodigy Class North American Championship, November 12-13. The Saturday wind was just barely adequate for Formula class to race, but it's doubtful that Prodigys were ever planing during the races. Sunday it lightened up a bit more and the Formula boards stayed ashore, while the Prodigy sailors developed blisters. In all we had 10 races--probably the most yet in a single regatta. Prodigys were joined by a few RS:X boards, and an Exocet Pacer, and it was very interesting to go head to head with them. A preliminary judgement is that there can be pretty competitive racing between the classes. In those particular conditions--light, turbulent wind, and confused small chop--it seemed that the hull shape of the Prodigy was a little faster, but the sail size advantage of the RS:Xs evened that out.
Last year's champion Randy Rhodes was in good form, but it was a Fort Walton boy, Lee Huels, who dominated this year. They have a good local fleet in the Florida Panhandle, and lots of practice. Randy took 2nd, and not far behind was Al Simmons with 3rd overall, which earned him his usual 1st in the Seniors division. Click here for complete results.
A crowded rounding at the downwind mark. In the light wind conditions we often approached nearly dead downwind, which made the roundings a challenge.