Attendance at this year's tournament was equal to last year's with 42 admirals in seven games of six players going for wood (three plaques) even with the switch back to Sunday. Fred Gosnell, two-time champion (1993 and 1996) was eliminated in the first round. Defending champion Gordon Rodgers placed first in his preliminary to move into the final round and set up a possible repeat. Carolyn DeMarco was the only player to represent the ladies this year. Unfortunately, she failed to advance, falling victim to Gordon Rodgers silver-tongued game play in the first. He was able to do this by convincing everyone in his game that he had very little chance of winning given his meager scoring opportunities and reputation as the defending champion. I'm convinced Gordon was a North Pole refrigerator salesman in another life.

Only Larry York came from way behind to win his first round game. The other six 1st round winners never relinquished the lead from the first round of their respective games. The longest first-round game took three hours and four decks to complete. Game 7 failed to turn in the score sheet, therefore I am unable to give you the winner's score.

The seven winners, including last years champion, advanced to the final round. Forrest started the first round with the healthiest fleet (two 1st's, two 2nd's) and immediately attacked Larry for fire protection. Each player followed Forrest's example and Gordon was the first to get a fire. Both Weather Gauges came out in the first seven cards played, indicating rough seas ahead. Robert drew first blood by sinking the Temeraire and also lost some blood on a failed Boarding Party vs Forrest's Bucentaure. Pat sank Robert's damaged Dreadnought with a 4-strength Broadside. Forrest took the first prize (Bucentaure) for 28 VP's making him an early likely target. Larry fire-shipped Forrest's port but failed to bring any matches to the party. Forrest, Pat, and Todd each tried a Boarding Party vs. Tom's Mars. Out of cards, the Mars finally succumbed to Todd's dr of 6 +2. Pat eventually attacked Mars and stole it away from Tom. He then successfully returned to port for 26 VP's, eventually making him the high scorer for the round. Gordon played a Break the Line vs. Todd, attempted a Boarding Party but failed. A few turns later, Gordon lost his last line breaking ship when an Admiralty Orders requested it to return to homeport. Robert's heavily damaged fleet lost two ships to a Strike card. Todd then helped himself to the striking Europe and three plays later takes the San Leandro. Pat sank the damaged Thunderer with a 1st rate Broadside. Gordon ended the round by sinking the San Leandro.

The second round began with Larry getting a Fire started thanks to Forrest's damage. As leader, Pat became a shot magnet and received the first Break The Line courtesy of Forrest. Robert dismasted Pat's crippled Bonhomme Richard and lost the Serapis in a boarding attempt by rolling a 1 with a ­2 modifier. Todd sank the Bonhomme Richard . Pat returns the favor by playing a Break the Line on Forrest. Gordon sank Forrest's Shannon . Larry successfully boarded the dismasted Fougueux using the burning Bahama and declared it to be a prize. Todd then sank the burning Bahama. Without shot or shell, Robert loses a Second Rate to a Run Aground. Gordon boards the Mars and declares his prize. Robert eventually dismasts the Baionnaise and declares a prize of his own. Gordon uses a Refuse Battle and gets 26 VP for Mars. Pat steals the Randolph by rolling a 6 with a ­1 modifier. Larry plays a Refuse Battle and gains 52 VPs for his prizes. Gordon sinks the Fougueux with a Fire Ship in Larry's port. Todd sank Pat's prize, the Randolph, while at sea. Gordon sank Pat's last ship, the Neptuno , in his line earning him a ­15 VP penalty and dropping Pat from first to fourth place. After counting all the sunk ships, Larry leaped into first place with 80 VPs.

The third round began with Robert plinking Forrest for one point of damage. Forrest gets the first Fire. Gordon plays a Break the Line vs. Larry (obvious choice). Robert dismasts the Fougueux but loses to Larry who takes the ship and prizes it. Can you say, "Shoot me please"? Pat steals the Fougueux. Tom sinks the Java with a 4-strength Broadside. Todd "has a go" at the San Juan De Nepomunceno and fails. Gordon sinks the Phoebe. Robert then tries his hand at San Juan De Nepomunceno and wins. Pat runs the prize Fougueux back to port for 22 VPs. Forrest has a Fire started on the Guilluame Tell. One turn later, he gets another Fire. Forrest attempts a Boarding Party vs. the Elephant but fails. Robert then sinks the burning Guilluame Tell . Pat then boards the Elephant and adds it to his line. Todd sinks the burning Europe. Gordon draws an Admiralty Orders and this lifts the Break the Line from Larry's now diminished fleet. Tom Blockades Pat and Pat reciprocates with a Break the Line. Gordon pulls the Weather Gauge and clears away the Blockades and Break the Line's. Larry plays another Blockade vs. Pat. Pat then loses two ships to a Strike and Gordon moves in to relieve Pat of the Montanez and declares it a prize. Larry's Boarding Party fails against Pat's Elephant . Robert uses his last Boarding Party to take the struck Baionnaise from Pat. Gordon takes the Montanez back to port to bring his VP total to 99. Forrest gets the last card of the round and sinks the Baionnaise. Larry was chief victim of Gordon's intensive propaganda campaign and scored 0 VPs, but still managed to hold on to third place. Pat recovered from his drubbing in the second round to capture 2nd place. However, Gordon scored an additional 28 points for the sunken ships to capture first place, the plaque, T-shirt and my hearty congratulations. Gordon is also the first champion to repeat in ten years.