wooden ships & iron men [Updated October 2004]  

2004 WBC Report     

 2005 Status: pending December Membership Century Vote

Arthur Davis, MI

2004 Champion

2nd: Tim Hitchings, DE

3rd: Benoit Groulx, QUE

4th: Kevin Boles, AL

5th: Keith Hunsinger, OH

6th: Jim Jordan, MD

Event History
1991    Jim Truit      23
1992    John Boisvert      29
1993    John Boisvert      36
1994    William Rohrbeck      28
1995    Larry York      21
1996    David Cross      16
1997    David Metzger      20
1998    Michael Brannaman      20
1999    Paul Risner       8
2000    David Cross     16
2001    Curtis Dietrich     26
2002    William Rohrbeck     23
2003    William Rohrbeck     27
2004     Arthur Davis     22


Offsite links:

AREA Ratings

boardgamegeek

 Laurels
Rank Name

From

Last
Total
 1. William Rohrbeck

NH

03
66
 2. Tim Hitchings

DE

04
48
 3. Arthur Davis

MI

04
41
 4. Larry York

CA

02
20
 5. Curtis Dietrich

FL

01
20
 6. Keith Hunsinger

OH

04
20
 7. David Cross

NJ

00
14
 8. Wade Fowble

MD

03
12
 9. Paul Risner

FL

99
10
10. Mark McCandless

LA

03
  9
11. Stephen Field

IL

02
  9
12. Benoit Groulx

QUE

04
  6
13. Kevin Boles

AL

04
  9
14. Ed Majeski

IL

02
  6
15. Ron Glass

FL

00
  6
16. Michael Bergt

FL

03
  3
17. Joseph Abrams

CT

00
  3
18. Stuart Smart

NY

99
  3
19. Frank Czawlytko

MD

01
  2
20. Jim Jordan

MD

04
  2

Past Winners

1991: Jim Truit - MA
1992-1993: John Boisvert, NJ

William Rohrbeck - NH
1994, 2002-03

Larry York - CA
1995

David Cross - VA
1996, 2000

David Metzger - VA
1997

Michael Brannaman - SC
1998

Paul Risner - FL
1999

Curtis Dietrich - FL
2001
 

sailing, sailing ...

Tuesday night saw several opening actions, notably the reenactment of the Battle of Lake Erie. Arthur Davis tried to match Commodore Perry's victory and Keith Hunsinger sought to preserve British honor.

Keith split the American line and sank the Niagara. Arthur countered by savaging the Lady Prevost and Detroit. After a maneuvering duel, the Lawrence and Queen Charlote sank each other with simultaneous broadsides. Five ships sailed; five ships sank!

Friday saw John Setear earn the "Captain Butcher" certificate for losing 50% of his crew in a single ship match without even fighting a melee.

On Saturday, Arthur Davis received the "Admiral Suffren" certificate, as best squadron commander. (Suffren was a skilled French Admiral who outsailed the British in the 1780's.)

Keith Hunsinger was awarded the "John Paul Jones" certificate as best single ship captain. Keith was undefeated when he had to depart for a family emergency.

Saturday's Fleet Action saw a War of 1812 raid by American frigates and small craft on Halifax to destroy or capture British transports carrying infantry bound for North American service.

The harbor was defended by British frigates and shore batteries, ably commanded by Michael McKibbin.

American admiral Arthur Davis sent the Yankee frigates dashing for the anchored transports. Taking more than one for the team, Arthur closed with the batteries and silenced one on his first pass.

British captain Ben Groulx sailed his ships into the teeth of fast approaching Americans in defense of a transport. He soon found himself overwhelmed in a "target rich environment." Doug Porterfield and Scott Cornett did their duty by dispatching Ben's ships and capturing the transport.

A second transport was shot to pieces by combined American broadsides.

Ed Majeski's schooner took on British Tim Hitchings' 40 gun frigate. After capturing the schooner with ease, rather than waste crew on such a small prize, Tim sent them back to the frigate. Ed's ship then received the not-so-kind attention of gunnery from Tim and John Setear.

Despite British treachery, the day belonged to the Americans.

The final duel saw Yank Joe Pabis finish off John's frigate, only to have it explode. The blast tore into Joe's sails and set his ship afire. Joe's crew doused the fire and hacked a hanging mast free.

Tim and Arthur advanced to the final, squaring off with squadrons of ships of the line. Adept sailing and gunnery gave Arthur his first wood and the Lord Nelson certificate.

 GM      Tim Hitchings  [3rd Year]   NA 
    hitchings@juno.com   NA

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