Governor's Cup: Viper Report

To make the story short, a couple of days prior to the regatta I drove 59 hours from Dallas to Long Island (back and forward, a touch and go trip) to pick up hull #107. This was the only way we will make it to the regatta. At the beginning the idea sounded crazy but now a couple of days later I look back and all the effort was so worthy.


"It has been a long time since I had so much fun at racing sailboats!"

On the first day, races where postponed and rather that just sit and wait, the Texas Viper group (which is really crazy) pop up the blender and start having drinks like it was the end of the planet. From there, it was pure FUN! 4 races in shifty 8 to 12 knots, lots of lead changes, 4 winners in four races... What else can you ask for? Ok, maybe a couple of big swells for downwind surfing but it cannot always be perfect, right?

Sailing with Giacomo, my 13 year old son and Rod Favela (145 lbs) meant that we will need to hike extra hard and since it was over 11 years since the last time I had to hike it, it had been painful at times but we always end up with a smile. How did we manage to win the regatta?.. I don't know and I will leave it for later, in the meantime, I am looking forward to the next Viper event: Wurfest Regatta (San Antonio, TX).

Drinking Final Tally from the Pisco Sour Bar prior to the first gun (as reported by our Fleet Captain):

- 4 bottles of Pisco,
- 2 pounds of sugar,
- 40 limes,
- 16 pounds of ice,
- yielding about 20 batches of Pisco Sours.

Don't let your Viper sit at your garage, see you at the next event!!!

Juan Mauri

Sailing with the Mauri Pro Sailing Team

By Kerry Pelton (Texas A&M Sailing Team)

I joined the Texas A&M Sailing Team in the fall of 2009, racing 420s in the Southeast Intercollegiate Sailing Conference. This is the beginning of my competitive sailing career. This past march, I was lucky to be invited to sail with the Mauri Pro Sailing team on their Farr 39 at Lake Texoma during Lakefest and several other regattas as part of their support program to local College Sailing Teams.

My experiences with Juan and his crew have taught me more about sailing in a few short weekends than I ever have understood before. By racing on bigger boats, I have begun to understand the uses and purpose of the fine-tuning adjustments.


My favorite aspect of racing with Mauri Pro Sailing is their sense of focus and determination to dominate on the race course. From the preparatory flag to the finishing gun, they mean business. I have learned that each race is a new start and you have to race yourself, push the limits and never take it easy. Even if you are in the lead, no place is guaranteed.

I love assisting on the bow. Each mark rounding with spinnaker hoists and peels leaves me with a huge adrenaline rush. I certainly get nervous every regatta when the gun goes off, but I am glad to be in such a wonderful learning environment.


I love Juan Mauri and his team welcoming personalities and immediately felt like part of their family, more than just a teammate. The international aspect of their crew really intrigues me because I have a Spanish background and plan to minor in Spanish. I am very thankful that I was introduced to the Mauri Pro Sailing crew and cannot wait for future regattas on board their boats, improving my sailing skills while developing lasting friendships.

Kerry Pelton
Texas A&M Class of 2013

Jerry Richards: The Mini Fastnet

We started late Friday afternoon beat 10 miles to Edistone light house in about 18 - 20 knots one reef in the main then spinnaker reached for 150 miles in 20 - 28 knots of wind all night maxing out at 17.5 knots and several broaches along the way. We rounded Needles Fairway obout 7 am having not seen another boat since it went dark. There was some concern. Sailing back west towards Plymouth we hadn`t seen another boat, perhaps we had missed a tide gate as we were the only boat that went out to sea in the early stage ofthe race. `O´ yes did I mention it had been blowing 25+ all night and now we would be beating in 28-40 knots mountains seas for the next 5 days. Crampons and an Ice pick would have been helpful!

After rounding the mark, sailing up wind for about 35 mins we came across a group of 5 boats reaching in the opposite direction so Conrad had made a great call going out to sea and we were in a good position. By late afternoon we were down to 3 reefs and the storm jib with huge seas I mean huge in a 21 foot boat. From time to time the seas would break over the boat as we climbed to the top of them. t was exhilarating and great to be back at sea after 16 years away.

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