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Alan
McMillan, third time 40.7 North America Champion, reflects on the
2006 40.7 North Americans
This
years’ Verve was especially satisfying in that it’s the first
time there were five McMillan’s racing on the same boat
together. As a kid, growing up in Florida, in a big extended family, there were numerous Pensacola Yacht
Club races where as many as six McMillan’s were on the same race
course at the same time, but never on the same boat together.
So this year was very special! My brother Neil is an
outstanding driver, and my nephews, Neil Jr., Andrew and Stuart
are natural racers. With my terrific Chicago
crew in place, I felt we were as prepared as we could be.
As for strategy, we looked back at the NOOD, where we finished
third after leading the regatta on the first day. We had six
good races and ended with two terrible ones! I felt the boat
was very well prepared, our base Chicago and family crew ready, we
just needed to sail clean, consistent races. All of us in
the Beneteau 40.7 fleet should know by now that the majority of
our fleet can win any regatta. The difference between the
top and bottom of our fleet is very small and getting smaller
every year. I felt strongly that consistency would be the
key, finish in the top three to five boats across the board and
come Sunday afternoon, and you would probably be at or very near
the top!
Saturday’s
third and fourth place finishes had us in a tie for third overall,
with only two points separating the first five boats.
The
distance race on Saturday was a real crap shoot when, after the
third mark, the wind died. Throughout the race we were never
worst than third and several times we were in first, once with
what seemed an insurmountable lead. Then we sailed into a
huge hole and watched as Collaboration and CanCan
both sailed right past. Boy were we glad to see the RC
shorten the 40.7 course and finish third. Though we had lost
two points to Bob Vickery, we were now in a tie with Clem Boltz
and the CanCan crew for second.
In
Sunday’s first race, which we won, I’d like to claim that it
was all skill and strategy, but I’d be lying. We rounded
the second windward mark and initially wanted to go left like
several in the fleet did, but instead, we got pinned by the J
105’s below us, could not jibe and got pushed out to the right.
As it turned out, they pushed us into the favored shift and when
we jibed for the finish line we found ourselves in the lead.
As my Dad often said, “…sometimes it’s better to be lucky
than good!”
Our
quick calculation showed us to be in first overall, with a one
point lead over Collaboration. Bob and his crew are
terrific and I felt our only option was to try and get the lead at
the start and then cover him. We were lucky, Collaboration
got pinned at the start and we covered them throughout the first
leg. They had more problems at the windward mark and then we
felt we were safe to race the rest of the fleet. Das Boot
ran away with the race win, but our second place secured our
third North American Championship.
To
be a national champion in your fleet is a lifetime dream for most
sailors and it certainly is for me. To be in a fleet, with
competitors who are friends as well as terrific sailors means even
more.
Alan
McMillan, Finesse
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