2003 US Sunfish Pan Am Trials - April 25-27 - Sarasota Sailing Squadron
Photos by Lainie Pardee - Story by Rufus T. Firefly
Jeff Linton once again worked his magic to win the US Pan Am Trials in a variety of conditions.

Friday morning, 35 sailors, all rigged with Jens', left the beach in wind up to 30 knots.

Hank Saurage (at right) showed his mastery of these conditions by winning the first two races.

Jeff showed his magic in Race 2 when he had to restart and rounded the first windward mark in the back of the pack. Then he skipped the off set mark and headed downwind until a sympathetic sailor informed him of his error. He beat back upwind and rounded the offset beaucoup DFL. Then he proceeded to pass 25 boats to salvage a 10.

(At right) Photographer Lainie thinks Paul Strauley may have done better if he brought his hull.

The wind came down throughout the day and most had shaken out the Jens'. Jeff won the 3rd race and Hank posted a 10. Todd Edwards, who had very consistent finishes the first two races, broke his mast.

After Day One, Hank led with Jeff and Marcus Eagan tied two points back.

Day 2 produced a shifty 6-12 knot south westerly. Two bullets and a 2nd gave Linton a comfortable 10 point lead going into the last day.

Sunday morning the wind was from the southeast and backed 270 degrees as the morning went on. Finally, it settled in enough from the south west to get a race off.

(at right)Marcus Eagan, Hank Saurage, and Jeff Linton model their medals.

With the wind oscillating 20 degrees and varying from 2-8 knots, Dave Olson worked his way out front and led most of the race. On a fitful last downwind leg, Linton caught him at the finish to win the last race by a foot.

The US Olympic Committee sent an observer to report on the event. On the report form, Observer Gary Castro incredulously noted, "This particular racing class is always willing to help each other (athletes) as well as contribute to the development of junior athletes. They were even sharing race strategies before the race began."

The 2003 Pan American Games will take place at Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, August 1-16, 2003.

Results

1Jeff Linton 9
 75316 3 10 1 1 1 2 1
2Marcus Eagan 21
 78495 4 2 8 3 9 1 3
3Hank Saurage 29
 75200 1 1 10 2 7 18 8
4Charles A. Clifton 35
 59116 9 8 4 4 OCS 4 6
5Rod Koch 36
 76035 7 5 7 6 6 8 5
6Tom Whitehurst 46
 8689 14 6 5 7 2 12 DNC
7John Kolius 48
 77001 5 7 9 14 4 16 9
8Clinton Edwards 58
 1 15 9 3 9 8 23 14
9Larry Suter 60
 75451 11 13 16 11 3 9 13
10David Olson 61
 79128 18 17 13 5 19 6 2
11Dick Tillman 61
 3008 13 3 18 10 5 22 12
12Todd Edwards 65
 76453 2 4 DNC 8 11 11 DNF
13Chris Williams 74
 49615 17 14 15 13 10 5 DNC
14Mike Gable 80
 77326 6 15 6 16 30 7 DNC
15James Liebl 80
 76188 16 11 14 12 17 10 17
16Don Bergman 91
 181 24 18 12 18 22 3 18
17Charlie Clifton 101
 59115 19 19 21 28 18 14 10
18Steve Evans 102
 86429 26 23 2 30 12 19 20
19Joe Blouin 105
 1881 8 DNC DNC 19 15 20 7
20Rich Chapman 107
 59541 10 16 20 22 24 15 DNF
21Anne Edwards 115
 77518 25 25 17 27 20 13 15
22Gail Heausler 123
 60858 23 20 28 23 25 28 4
23John Fletcher 125
 78163 22 22 23 26 13 26 19
24Joanne Kolius 129
 76599 DNC DNC 11 15 21 30 16
25Dirk Resler 129
 78331 21 24 19 17 27 27 21
26Paul Strauley 136
 76685 20 21 DNC 24 14 21 DNC
27Ursula Olson 152
 53100 29 29 27 33 16 29 22
28Chris Branning 154
 75324 12 12 22 DNC DNC DNC DNC
29Kyle Wagner 158
 84888 27 27 DNC 32 23 24 25
30Megan Keating 159
 3025 30 28 24 20 26 31 DNS
31Michael Mierswa 162
 78528 31 30 26 29 28 25 24
32Mindy Strauley 164
 84800 DNC DNC 25 21 29 17 DNC
33Chris Gates 164
 49333 28 26 30 25 32 32 23
34Linda Tillman 191
 75358 DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 11
35Charlotte Sims 196
 78970 DNC DNC 29 31 31 33 DNC