Race Results

John MacNeill defends Nationals Title in MYC Spring Regatta - April 22-23, 2006

In a weather-shortened regatta, John MacNeill of Indialantic, FL again came out victorious in the Raider fleet. 

Racing on Sunday of the 2-day regatta was cancelled due to lack of wind.  John took two firsts in Saturday's racing (shortened because of TOO MUCH wind!).

John Drawe, of Sebastian, FL took second place, with Bruce Sobut and Stephen Rose taking 3rd and 4th place, respectively.

 

John MacNeill wins the 2005 Raider Nationals - Nov 19-20, 2005

53 year-old John B. MacNeill of Indialantic, FL was the overall winner of the Raider 16 One-Design National Regatta.

Melbourne (Florida) Yacht Club was the host site for the fourth Raider National Regatta. The event, originally planned one month earlier, was postponed due to hurricane Wilma making an appearance over the originally-scheduled weekend.

The seven skippers were challenged by winds gusting to 25mph both days, plus squalls dumping as much as 2” of rain on Sunday. Not tropical storm conditions but, still challenging for the sailors of the 16-foot single-handed Raider sailboats with 120 sq ft of sail on a 20-foot carbon-fiber mast.

After three races on Saturday, MacNeill was one point behind the leader.  MacNeill sailed conservatively on Sunday with two second place finishes behind Carl Saylor of Macon, Ga.

MacNeill is a native of Melbourne and may have had an advantage with his local knowledge of the wind conditions on the Indian River Lagoon.  He has enjoyed a long dinghy sailing career in 505s, 470s, Force 5s, O’day Flying Saucers, Alcort Sailfish and a multitude of other One-design dinghies.

He is currently the youth sailing instructor at the Melbourne Yacht Club and offers the use of a Raider 16 in his sailing classes.  He says that the students argue over who get to sail it each class day.