H.L. DeVore and Mermaid Win 2009 Shields National Championship
September 16-19, 2009
Chicago, IL H.L.
DeVore and his team aboard Shields 231, Mermaid, won the 2009 Shields National Championship at Chicago YC. DeVore scored five top 3 finishes in the seven race series to take the title by one point over Kevin Teborek from the host club. Com Crocker and Dual Macintyre also represented Fleet 1 well, finishing sixth overall aboard Shields 23, Rascal, in the 18-boat fleet.
Mermaid (231) leads Rascal (23) down the run into the Chicago
skyline. Photo by Karen Martin, K2SAILS.COM
Merely getting to the Shields Nationals was an accomplishment for Mermaid. The boat, which DeVore famously rescued from the bottom of Long Island Sound three years after it sank in 1999, was left on the side of the road after DeVore’s tow vehicle broke down during the drive to Chicago. Once the team arrived, the waves continued to funnel down Lake Michigan to create Chicago’s notorious chop, but the wind did not, and the regatta was sailed in light to moderate breezes. Mermaid led after Day 1’s light airs with a 2,3,1 scoreline, with Crocker and Macintyre in third overall after finishes of 9,4,2.
Mermaid leads Race 3 with Rascal approaching the windward mark.
Photo by Karen Martin, K2SAILS.COM
Day 2 saw more moderate breezes, with Mermaid holding onto first overall by two points. DeVore and team locked up the regatta by finishing third in Race 6 on the final day, winning the Nationals with one race to spare.
Mermaid and Rascal extend on the run over 2008 national champion
Bill Berry in Shields 238. Photo by Karen Martin, K2SAILS.COM
Mermaid’s crew included LYC members Steve Csenge, Marcia Konrad, John Mawe and Jeff Meighan. Crocker and Macintyre sailed with LYC sailors Ryan Zupon and Scott Tompkins along with LJYC instructor Chris Simon. DeVore is the first LYC skipper to win the Shields nationals since Joe Schulz-Heik and Thierry de La Villehuchet in 2000 and is the seventh LYC skipper to win the event in the class’s 45-year history. Results.
The 2009 Shields national champions.
Photo by Marc Anderson
