Photos by Art and Tina Petrosemolo
 
METEDECONK'S MITCH HNATT WINS 47th MBC LONG JOHN REGATTA
Mitch Hnatt of the Metedeconk River Yacht Club, Brick, won his second Monmouth Boat Club Lightning Long John Regatta Sunday (April 27) edging MRYC's Brian Taboda, a three time winner of the event. 

Hnatt, sailing with Matt Ward and Tara Schon as crew, edged Taboda by four points in the two days of sailing competition which included six races sailed in chilly weather on the Navesink River at the Monmouth Boat Club, Red Bank. 

"We had two days of tight racing, Hnatt said, and we were involved in a couple of collisions at the marks. As always, the event brings out the best competition," Hnatt continued, "and we were fortunate to win as we did in 2001." 

Cloudy skies greeted skippers and crews of 24 boats who took part in the 47th edition of the early season Lightning classic sailed for the Mary Huntsman Trophy. 

Hnatt had a third, first, second and ninth place finishes on Saturday (April 26) in races sailed on a windward/leeward course (one race with a downwind finish). The shifting winds, typical of the Navesink in the spring, gusted to 20 mph, and with rain showers gave the fleet all they could handle with two boats upended and dumping the crew into the chilly Navesink. 

Brian Taboda, who with his brother Keith, had combined for four Long John Wins, trailed Hnatt by six points going into Sunday's final two races. 

The Sunday races were sailed in light but steady breezes of 5-10 mph from the Southeast. Hnatt recorded a second and a 10th while Taboda had third and seventh place finish for the runner up position. 

Third place went to Mallets Bay, Vermont's Bill Fastiggi, winner of the event in 2000, who was 13 points back, one ahead of Keth Taboda. 

The only boat to record more than one win in the regatta was skippered by MBC's Jon Schwartz of Lincroft. Jon, also a regatta winner, won the first race Saturday and the last race Sunday. 

MBC's top finishers included multiple regatta winner Jack Huntsman in sixth, Schwartz in ninth, Dave Watts in 10th, George Harrington in 11th and Ted Duffy in 13th. Denis Farley served as Principal Race Officer for the event. 

by Art Petrosemolo

For complete results go to: International Lightning Class Association Long John Results

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Directions to Monmouth Boat Club:

31 Union St
Red Bank, NJ 07701  

(732) 741-9858


 From Garden State Parkway Exit 109: Take Newman Springs Road East; Make Left on to Broad Street, Red Bank; Make Right on to Front Street; Make Left on to Wharf Ave; Make Left on to Union St.

Mailing Address:

PO Box 777

Red Bank, NJ  07701-0777