2007 for Pied Piper Racing will be a full year of sailing at the Grand Prix level. I will be joining “Decision” Transpac 52 for the feeder race to Key West from Ft Lauderdale on January 10th. This is my first time making the feeder race and currently there are two other TP 52s entered which should make for some exciting sailing in this sprint to Key West.

Key West Race week will feature a tough Melges 24 class of consisting of 48 boats. We are looking to build on our success of last year (15th out of 60 boats) by breaking into the top ten in the overall standings. I spent a portion of last week finalizing some logistics for the event in Key West. This event has been on my mind since November and I am looking forward to seeing what our team is capable of this year. Four of our five crew members from the 2006 team will be returning this year. While this will only be the second event for USA 659 we have a great opportunity to improve from last year.

I am also excited to make my third Ft Lauderdale to Jamaica Race which is truly a great ocean race. Two years ago onboard “Equation” we maintained a record setting pace in one of the best downwind rides I have ever experienced. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a repeat.

We are also looking ahead to competing in the all the GL 70 events during the summer of 2007. In 2006 we built a strong young team that had immediate success, handily winning the 2006 Chicago NOOD. This year we will focus on the details required to sail consistently in all venues not just the buoy racing. Our goal will be to win the season championship anything less with Pied Piper GL 70’s pristine record will be a disappointment to our team.

 

Over the holiday I had the opportunity to watch a video produced about Pied Piper’s GL 70 record setting run in the Chicago to Mackinac Island Race of 1985. While the majority of the faces onboard have changed the attitude and passion too compete and succeed have not.

 

It was amazing to see the press coverage that Pied Piper received that year. Every Chicago area television news station featured a segment on the Pied Piper and the race to Mackinac Island. Prior to the event a local news personality came onboard the boat and did a segment relating to the preparation of the boat and the prospect of breaking the course record. At the conclusion of the race members of the media interviewed the successful crew of Pied Piper. Crew members Brian Brophy and Paul Snow even had an in studio appearance on the channel 2 news and were interviewed about the feeling of setting a new course record. It is one of our goals in 2007 to continue to bring sailing to new people through various forms of media and help reignite interest in the sport.

We have many specific goals relating to winning or placing well in the events on our 2007 calendar, but they are not the measure by which we judge success or failure. The measurement of success for us is much more subtle, doing the little things required to achieve the end results, everyday we are lucky enough to be sailing. This means Pied Piper will continue to be the first boat on the race course; will practice smarter then its competitors, preserver when the boat is not in the best position on the race course and continue improving, learning and enjoying sailing and working as a team every time we step onboard the boat. If we are able to maintain these subtle good habits the results stop being an end goal and start being a part of the routine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006 was a great start for Pied Piper Racing. I would like to thank the entire team for your time and effort in 2006. I am very much looking forward to sailing with you all again in 2007.

Sincerely,
Jack Jennings
Pied Piper Racing