Jennings and Trouche are the 2022 Star North American Champion

Skipper Jack Jennings and crew Pedro Trouche have captured the 2022 Star North American Championship, hosted by Annapolis Yacht Club and contested on the Chesapeake Bay. 

Jennings and Touche got the gun in Race 2 and also counted a second place and two thirds in posting a low score of nine points – seven better than the runner-up team of Augie Diaz and Bruno Prada. 

It was the first North American crown for Jennings, a 42-year-old Chicago native who has been competing in the Star class since 2008. His previous best finish at North Americans was a sixth off Marblehead, Massachusetts in 2017. 

Principal race officer Kevin Reeds did not send the fleet out on Wednesday due to lack of wind but was able to complete three races in 15-20 knot southerly winds on Thursday. Jennings and Trouche posted a 2-1-3 score line to take the early lead. 

Friday brought 10-12 knot winds from the south and Reeds completed two more races. Jennings and Trouche placed 10th in Race 4 and that wound up being their throwout. They rebounded to take third in what proved to be the final race of the regatta. 

Forecast for Saturday on the Chesapeake Bay was steady winds of 20-25 knots with gusts up to 30. After meeting with class representatives and the organizing authority, the race committee decided to cancel racing. Considering that six boats sustained rig damage in lighter winds on Thursday, that announcement was well received by most of the fleet. 

Jennings was thrilled to receive the Royal Canadian Yacht Club Trophy as winning skipper at Star North Americans. Trouche was presented with the Mead Batchelor Trophy as winning crew. 

Diaz, a Miami native who is 68 years old, won the third race of the series and also counted results of fourth, fifth and sixth. He was the top finisher in the Grandmasters category (60 to 70 years old). 

Skipper George Szabo and crew Guy Avellon placed third overall with 17 points and were the top Masters (age 50 to 60) entry. Class legend John Dane III, sailing with Tim Ray as crew, finished sixth and took home the trophy as top Exalted Grandmasters (70 to 80) skipper. 

Star North American Results 

1, Pied Piper, Jack Jennings & Pedro Trouche, 2-1-3-(10)-3=9

2, Danilu, Augie Diaz & Bruno Prada (Grandmasters), 6-(9)-1-4-5=16

3, Pop, George Szabo & Guy Avellon (Masters), 1-6-5-5-(21)=17

4, GM, John MacCausland & Dave Caesar (Masters), (9)-3/RDG-6/RDG-2-7=18

5, TBD, Chris Larson & Phil Trinter (Masters), 5-4-(34/DNF)-1-11=21

6, Back from the Dead, John Dane III & Tim Ray (Exulted Grandmasters), 4-(34/DNF)-8-7-2=21