The 2004 BBS was a fantastic climax to a great year on Scorpio.  While we won our division in 2003, the vagaries of Americap overshadowed our victory.  IRC proved to be understandable and predictable.

Winning the 16-boat IRC B division in the BBS was a fantastic end to Scorpio’s racing season.  After winning the windy Ano Nuevo Race in March, we won our division in the Spinnaker Cup in May.  We finished a disappointing 6^th in the Pacific Cup, but won the eight-race Waikiki Offshore Championship Regatta in early August.  So, it’s been a great year for the 12-year-old Tom Wylie/Jim Betts collaboration.

We attribute our BBS victory to four factors.  First, the conditions were ideal for Scorpio who requires a stiff breeze to excel.  Had BBS taken place a week later, the results would likely be different.  Second, Scorpio’s crew of Bren Meyer (tactics); GW Grigg (main); Sean McBurney (floater-fireman); Larry Peterson, Nancy Blum and John Buchanan (cockpit trim); Rick Linkemyer (sewer); Marcy Fleming (pit); Toby Cooper (mast); and Malcolm Brown (bow) was exceptional.  Each of them either did last year’s BBS or the Waikiki regatta.  Our eight days of racing in Honolulu was invaluable.  Third, we had confidence and momentum coming off our earlier victories.  Finally, GW did a great job preparing and maintaining the boat.  We had no breakage during the BBS.

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