Alter Cup 2010: Crown to Pete Melvin and Nat Shaver

Photo: Houston Yacht Club / Beth Gibson – Pete Melvin and Nat Shaver
Pete Melvin and Nat Shaver won the 2010 Alter Cup, trophy stablished honoring Hobart ‘Hobie’ Alter as the adults US Sailing Multihull Championships. Every year selective events are held through the US to define the 20 crews that will be participating, spots are assigned to represent regions and fleets across the country. Boats are provided by a selected manufacturer, AHPC is now providing the boats for the 3rd time in a row (08 Caps, 09 Vipers and 2010 C2s) before that it was held in Blades F16, Infusions and other boats.

Pete is a former A-Class World Champ among other several sailing titles and Partner of Morrelli&Melvin (88 AC Cat, Nacra Infusion, Hobie Wave, Playstation, also involved in BOR 90 modifications and current drafts for next AC)
Altough one of the best cat sailors in the World he is not a regular presence in F18 Worlds, I will ask him why , but I think many Pros are glad he is not going to Erquy…
He already won a A World title in his design, but maybe winning the F18 Worlds on his Infusion design would be like gathering too much talent in the same guy? he should try though…
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Onsite Report by Marlies Wilson
– Final Race 9 ‘A’ Fleet 05/27/10
“This is the race to decide the final positions! With Melvin 5 points clear of Thomas, it seems that we may already know our champion. But there are only 2pts between Shafer currently in 3rd and Easton in 4th! Melvin, Thomas and Shafer have throw outs of 7 – they each managed to stay out of B fleet by 1 place.

-Start Time: 13:50 Conditions – 5 Knots, fairly smooth.
-Windward Mark: Thomas, Jason, Melvin, Glaser, Easton, Shafer – big gap between the front and this second group – Tartaglino, Casey, Newberry, Palmer. They went to the other side of the course. Big lefty (130̊ to 110̊) after they rounded the windward mark, that is of advantage to those rounding the mark at the back.
-Roundings at the bottom: The race committee were busy resetting the course and didn’t manage to record the roundings – we are all in suspense on the beach! There are massive gaps between 3 groups. Easton decided to go upwind with the spin up, but took it down halfway through the leg. -Windward Mark: Thomas, Easton, Jason, Melvin, Shafer, Glaser – still a big gap – Tartaglino – another real big gap – Casey, Newberry, Palmer Finish time: Approx 14:40

Finishing order:
Position: 1 Thomas, 2 Easton, 3 Jason, 4 Melvin, 5 Glaser, 6 Shafer, 7 Tartaglino, 8 Casey, 9 Palmer, 10 Newberry
Protests – None

Other:
Thomas finished at about the same time as the back of the field reached the weather mark! Easton team finishes 4 places above Shafer – that puts them in overall 3rd position!
Podium places: 1 Melvin 2 Thomas 3 Easton”

Full Results and official website: championships.ussailing.org/Adult/USMHChampionship.htm