1999 Season Championship Results:
1. Damian Emery, ECLIPSE, #50 2. Jim Sorensen, WET LEOPARD, #175 3. Terry Laughren & Leslie Velde, WINGED VICTORY, #170 4. Dimitrios Spentzos, ODYSSEY, #121
Best Effort Award... Bill Hausner... Capricorn 3
MBYC FALL SERIES 1999
OCTOBER 16, 17, 23, 24 1999
Date: Oct 24, 1999 (c)MANHASSET BAY YACHT CLUB
Time: 9:39pm Yacht Race Scoring Systems
FLEET: J105 CLASS: M
| CLASS TOTALS THRU
| |----- FINISH POSITIONS ----| RACE # 4
| RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE -----------
|SAIL NO YACHT NAME SKIPPER #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 POINTS FIN
-------- --------------- ---------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ------ ---
50 ECLIPSE EMERY 1 1 1 2 -- -- 5 1
50554 ODYSSEY SPENTZOS 2 2 2 1 -- -- 7 2
50846 PEREGRINA BURACK 3 3 3 3 -- -- 12 3
249 FRONTIER MCKENNA 4 RET DNC DNC -- -- 17 4
212 LAST TANGO PETERSON DNC DNC DNC DNC -- -- 18 5
117**ISIS BINGHAM DNC DNC DNC DNC -- -- 18 5
September 25,26 October 2,3 1999
************************** E V E N T S U M M A R Y **************************
| CLASS TOTALS THRU
| |------------- FINISH POSITIONS ----------------| RACE # 7
| RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE -----------
|SAIL NO YACHT NAME SKIPPER #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 POINTS FIN
-------- --------------- ---------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ------ ---
50 ECLIPSE EMERY 3 1 4 1 1 1 1 -- -- -- 8 1
175 WET LEOPARD SORENSEN 1 11 5 3 3 2 2 -- -- -- 16 2
50554 ODYSSEY SPENTZOS 6 5 8 4 4 5 11 -- -- -- 32 3
170 WINGED VICTORY LAUGHREN 8 6 9 6 6 4 3 -- -- -- 33 4
240 PEEKABOO POZEFSKY 7 4 6 10 2 9 8 -- -- -- 36 5
212 Last Tango Peterson,J 12 3 7 8 8 8 6 -- -- -- 40 6
50702 CAPRICORN 3 HAUSNER 4 12 10 13 7 3 5 -- -- -- 41 7
73 TERN COFFEY 5 8 1 9 9 11 12 -- -- -- 43 8
51243 RED COUTU 2 2 3 2 DNS DNS DNS -- -- -- 45 9
51012 WET PAINT PRIESTLY 11 10 2 7 5 12 10 -- -- -- 45 10
117 ISIS BINGHAM 9 7 12 11 11 10 7 -- -- -- 55 11
239JCyan Baldwin, B 13 13 13 12 10 6 4 -- -- -- 58 12
50848 CATAMOUNT GREENHOUSE 10 9 11 5 DNS DNS DNS -- -- -- 71 13
12JAce Collins DNS DNS DNS DNS 12 7 9 -- -- -- 82 14
249 FRONTIER MCKENNA DNS DNS 14 14 13 13 13 -- -- -- 85 15
80 EQUINOX WHITMORE 14 DNS 15 WDR DNS DNS DNS -- -- -- 101 16
51089 AGELESS ROTHAUS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS -- -- -- 108 17 American Yacht Club Fall Series
LARCHMONT YACHT CLUB
1999 LARCHMONT NOOD REGATTA
SEPTEMBER 10, 11, 12, 1999
Date: Sep 12, 1999
Time: 5:54pm J 105 (c)LARCHMONT YACHT CLUB
**************************************************************************************************************
Yacht Race Scoring Systems |R# 1 |R# 2 |R# 3 |R# 4 |R# 5 |R# 6 |R# 7 |R# 8 |R# 9 |R# 10||
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||TOTALS THRU
| Fin | Fin | Fin | Fin | Fin | Fin | Fin | Fin | Fin | Fin || RACE NO. 4
SAIL | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- ||------------
SKIPPER, ETC. NO | Pts | Pts | Pts | Pts | Pts | Pts | Pts | Pts | Pts | Pts || POINTS| POS
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||-------|----
EMERY, DAMIAN | 6 | 7 | 4 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
50 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 18 | 1
| 6 | 7 | 4 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
PIERINI, GEOFFREY | 12 | 6 | 1 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
50479 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 23 | 2
| 12 | 6 | 1 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
COUTU/MCADAMS | 4 | 3 | 6 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
51243 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 24 | 3
| 4 | 3 | 6 | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
ALBRECHT, CRAIG | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
43810 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 26 | 4
| 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
PRIESTLY, DON | 7 | 4 | 8 | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
51012 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 27 | 5
| 7 | 4 | 8 | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
POZEFSKY, MARVIN | 1 | 16 | 7 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
240 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 30 | 6
| 1 | 16 | 7 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
ROTHAUS, KENNETH | OCS | 1 | 5 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
51089 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 33 | 7
| 22 | 1 | 5 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
AIELLO, MICHAEL | 9 | 12 | 10 | 7 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
10 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 38 | 8
| 9 | 12 | 10 | 7 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
SORENSEN, JIM | 14 | 11 | 3 | 12 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
175 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 40 | 9
| 14 | 11 | 3 | 12 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
LAUGHREN, TERRY | 2 | 17 | 14 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
170 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 42 | 10
| 2 | 17 | 14 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
GREENHOUSE, DAVID | 10 | 5 | 15 | 13 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
50848 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 43 | 11
| 10 | 5 | 15 | 13 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
TAYLOR, ROBERT | 11 | 2 | 11 | DNS | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
263 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 46 | 12
| 11 | 2 | 11 | 22 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
SPENTZOS, DIMITRIS | 5 | 10 | DSQ | 10 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
50554 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 47 | 13
| 5 | 10 | 22 | 10 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
PETERSON, JOHN | 16 | 8 | 9 | 14 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
212 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 47 | 14
| 16 | 8 | 9 | 14 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
BERGER, MATT | 8 | 13 | 16 | 17 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
65 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 54 | 15
| 8 | 13 | 16 | 17 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
COFFEY, JOHN | 3 | 15 | 17 | DSQ | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
73 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 57 | 16
| 3 | 15 | 17 | 22 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
BALDWIN, BILL | DNS | 19 | 13 | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
239 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 65 | 17
| 22 | 19 | 13 | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
MCKENNA, CRAIG | 17 | 18 | 12 | 18 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
249 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 65 | 18
| 17 | 18 | 12 | 18 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
WHITMORE, ED | 15 | 14 | 20 | 16 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
80 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 65 | 19
| 15 | 14 | 20 | 16 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
HAUSNER, WILLIAM | 18 | 20 | 18 | 19 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
50702 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 75 | 20
| 18 | 20 | 18 | 19 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
BINGHAM, H.A. | DNS | 21 | 19 | 15 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
117 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 77 | 21
| 22 | 21 | 19 | 15 | - | - | - | - | - | - || |
-------------------- ------- |-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----||------------
LARCHMONT YACHT CLUB
RACE WEEK, CRUISING DIVISION
JULY 17, 18, 24, 25, 1999 July 17-25 1999
************************** E V E N T S U M M A R Y **************************
FLEET: J105 CLASS: 3
| CLASS TOTALS THRU
| |------------- FINISH POSITIONS ----------------| RACE # 6
| RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE -----------
|SAIL NO YACHT NAME SKIPPER #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 POINTS FIN
-------- --------------- ---------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ------ ---
50 ECLIPSE EMERY 1 1 1 1 1 4 -- -- -- -- 5 1
51089 AGELESS ROTHAUS 2 2 4 DSQ 3 1 -- -- -- -- 12 2
170 WINGED VICTORY LAUGHREN 3 3 3 6 5 5 -- -- -- -- 19 3
73 TERN COFFEY 5 4 2 3 7 6 -- -- -- -- 20 4
65 RAG DOLL BERGER 7 8 5 5 4 2 -- -- -- -- 23 5
240 PEEKABOO POZEFSKY 6 6 7 2 6 7 -- -- -- -- 27 6
50554 ODYSSEY SPENTZOS# DNS DNS DNS 4 2 3 -- -- -- -- 35 7
212 LAST TANGO PETERSON 8 5 6 7 9 9 -- -- -- -- 35 8
50702 CAPRICORN 3 HAUSNER 9 7 10 8 8 8 -- -- -- -- 40 9
249 FRONTIER MCKENNA 10 10 9 9 10 11 -- -- -- -- 48 10
117 ISIS BINGHAM 11 11 8 10 11 10 -- -- -- -- 50 11
50846 PEREGRINA## BURACK 4 *9 11 DNS DNS DNS -- -- -- -- 54 12 Larchmont Race Week Regatta
Damian Emery continued his domination of Fleet #6 with five firsts. He also
won the award for the best performance in any class. Check the photos:
- Damian Emery accepts the Charles H. Vanderlaan Trophy for Best Performer in Any Class.
- Damian accepts First Place Trophy for ECLIPSE in J/105 Class.
- Ken Rothaus and crew of AGELESS pick up the Third Place trophy.
- WINGED VICTORY hoists for third.
Harbor Cup Regatta
June 5-6 1999
************************** E V E N T S U M M A R Y **************************
FLEET: J/105 CLASS
| CLASS TOTALS THRU
| |------------- FINISH POSITIONS ----------------| RACE # 4
| RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE -----------
|SAIL NO YACHT NAME SKIPPER #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 POINTS FIN
-------- --------------- ---------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ------ ---
50 ECLIPSE EMERY 1 4 5 1 -- -- -- -- 11 1
170 WINGED VICTORY LAUGHREN 4 1 2 5 -- -- -- -- 12 2
50554 ODYSSEY SPENTZOS 3 3 4 2 -- -- -- -- 12 3
240 PEEKABOO POZEFSKY 6 2 1 4 -- -- -- -- 13 4
175 WET LEOPARD SORENSEN 2 5 3 7 -- -- -- -- 17 5
65 RAG DOLL BERGER 5 6 7 3 -- -- -- -- 21 6
50702 CAPRICORN 3 HAUSNER 7 7 8 6 -- -- -- -- 28 7
249 FRONTIER MCKENNA 9 8 6 DNS -- -- -- -- 35 8
50821 STIGANDI LILLEBY 8 DSQ ? 8 -- -- -- -- 40 9
73 TERN COFFEY DNC DNC DNC DNC -- -- -- -- 48 10
212 LAST TANGO PETERSON DNC DNC DNC DNC -- -- -- -- 48 10
NOTE: Results pending measurement protest against Odyssey.
Greenwich Cup Regatta
May 15-16 1999
************************** E V E N T S U M M A R Y **************************
| = CLASS TOTALS THRU
| |----- =FINISH POSITIONS ----| RACE # 3=20
| RACE =RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE -----------
|SAIL NO YACHT NAME YACHT TYPE SKIPPER CLUB AFFIL RATING #1 =#2 #3 #4 #5 #6 POINTS FIN
-------- --------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------ ---- =---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ------ ---
51012 WET PAINT J-105 PRIESTLY USS -- 4 =1 2 -- -- -- 7 1
175 WET LEOPARD J-105 SORENSEN USS -- 1 =5 4 -- -- -- 10 2
170 WINGED VICTORY J-105 LAUGHREN NORWALK YC -- 2 =2 6 -- -- -- 10 3
50 ECLIPSE J-105 EMERY MSSA -- 3 =4 5 -- -- -- 12 4
240 PEEKABOO J-105 POZEFSKY FYC -- 7 =3 3 -- -- -- 13 5
50554 ODYSSEY J-105 SPENTZOS YRALIS -- 6 =7 1 -- -- -- 14 6
50702 CAPRICORN 3 J-105 HAUSNER SETAUCKET -- 5 =6 8 -- -- -- 19 7
80 EQUINOX J-105 WHITMORE AYC -- 8 =8 9 -- -- -- 25 8
212 LAST TANGO J-105 PETERSON CIYC -- 9 =9 10 -- -- -- 28 9
73 TERN J 105 COFFEY WINDJAMMER -- 12 =10 7 -- -- -- 29 10
65 RAG DOLL J-105 BERGER MCYC -- 10 =11 DNC -- -- -- 34 11
249 FRONTIER J-105 MCKENNA YRALIS -- 11 =*WDR 11 -- -- -- 35 12
Commentary by NA Champion Bob Taylor
The weather gods were once again blessing the LIS J/105s with two ideal days of racing conditions for their third consecutive weekend regatta. The Greenwich Cup being the third regatta counting for the NA qualifying scores. Don Priestley and his crew aboard WET PAINT showed great consistency with finishes of 4,1,2 to beat a field of ever intensifying competitors. Three races, with a 8-12kt. easterly breezes, made for close racing and three different victors for each race. In the nine races held so far, from the past three weekends of racing, there have been 7 different race winners. The well balanced LIS fleet is showing one design racing where on any given day, each boat on the line, has a chance to finish in the money.Saturday's first race started in 6-8kts of easterly breeze, flat seas and a 1.5 mile weather leg. The race quickly became a duel between Jim Sorensen's WET LEOPARD and Terry Laughren's WINGED VICTORY. The two boats matched raced around the five legs, never separating by more than a few boatlengths. It was like watching synchronized sailing as each boat matched gybes and tacks throughout. Sorensen and crew prevailed by about a boatlength at best by the finish to take the gun.
The hosting Indian Harbor YC Race Committee needs to be given a hearty round of applause for their race management. No sooner had the 105s returned to the starting area, after finishing upwind from race#1, than the starting sequence began for race #2. No waiting an hour or so for the next race, the breeze had built to 12kts+ , and the race was on. The increase in velocity was just what Don Priestley thrives on, and he had an excellent start, heading up the left side on the first weather leg of 1.5miles. First race winner Sorensen was over early and rounded the pin end to restart and looked to dig his way back through the fleet. Showing consistent speed and point this first day was Laughren's WINGED VICTORY. Having nearly won the first race, they were dialed in again, to challenge Priestley around the course for race#2. Other contenders in the fleet, Eclipse, Peekaboo, Odyssey, Wet Leopard, all kept the heat on the leaders throughout, but no major windshifts were to be had this afternoon. WET PAINT claimed the victory and WINGED VICTORY got a well deserved deuce, to lead after the first day. Sorensen had managed to claw back to a fifth and lay in third, only one point separating the first three boats.
Sunday again was sunny and a fresh 12kt easterly was blowing in with the tide, making for another ideal day of racing. The RC again had things set up and ready to go on time, only one race scheduled so they gave the fleet a big one. Seven legs, 2 miles to the weather mark, go find the shifts! A clean start by all, with Saturday's leaders off up the left side of the course. Heading right early were Odyssey and Equinox, with Odyssey extending furthest towards the corner. As the fleet converged up the course it was clear the right side had benefited, with Odyssey cleanly leading the fleet around the weather mark, followed by WET PAINT, WET LEOPARD, and EQUINOX. There was a lot of distance to go and plenty of time for the fleet to reshuffle. However, Odyssey was not to be denied and did a great job throughout, holding off all challengers. Unusual for typical LIS conditions, no fluky shifts or shoreline advantages, the easterly breeze remained solid, lightening only slightly throughout the race. Working their way consistently up the fleet, the crew on PEEKABOO, showed good boatspeed and sailhandling to capture third place behind WET PAINT.
With three different winners for each race, the final tally saw Don Priestley emerge victorious with WET PAINT. The point total for second was a tie between WET LEOPARD and WINGED VICTORY, with the tiebreaker going in LEOPARD's favor. So it was great conditions, great one design racing, and finally a weekend off to look forward to. The action resumes again in Port Jefferson on June 5-6 for the Harbor Cup and last of the NA qualifying regattas.
AYC Spring Regatta
May 1,2,8,9, 1999
************************** E V E N T S U M M A R Y **************************
FLEET: J/105 CLASS: South Course - Div 3 - Group A
| CLASS TOTALS THRU
| |------------- FINISH POSITIONS ----------------| RACE # 7
| RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE -----------
|SAIL NO YACHT NAME SKIPPER #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 POINTS FIN
-------- --------------- ---------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ------ ---
51243 RED COUTU 4 3 3 2 1 2 -- -- -- -- 11 1
50 ECLIPSE EMERY 6 2 8 5 2 1 -- -- -- -- 16 2
175 WET LEOPARD SORENSEN 3 7 2 6 3 3 -- -- -- -- 17 3
51012 WET PAINT PRIESTLY 7 4 6 1 8 5 -- -- -- -- 23 4
50554 ODYSSEY SPENTZOS 11 5 7 3 5 4 -- -- -- -- 24 5
240 PEEKABOO POZEFSKY 8 6 5 4 4 6 -- -- -- -- 25 6
170 WINGED VICTORY LAUGHREN 2 8 4 7 6 7 -- -- -- -- 26 7
51089 AGELESS ROTHAUS 5 1 1 DNC DNC DNC -- -- -- -- 39 8
80 EQUINOX WHITMORE 1 9 10 11 10 DNC -- -- -- -- 41 9
249 FRONTIER MCKENNA 9 11 12 9 9 9 -- -- -- -- 47 10
50702 CAPRICORN 3 HAUSNER DNC DNC DNC 8 7 8 -- -- -- -- 55 11
73 TERN COFFEY 10 10 9 DNC DNC DNC -- -- -- -- 61 12
50846 PEREGRINA BURACK 12 12 11 10 DNC DNC -- -- -- -- 61 13
50848 CATAMOUNT GREENHOUSE DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC -- -- -- -- 80 14
117 ISIS BINGHAM DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC -- -- -- -- 80 14
Commentary by NA Champion Bob Taylor
The LIS J/105 fleet opened it's season with two beautiful days on the waters of western Long Island Sound at the American Yacht Club Spring Series. This weekend's racing was the first of four consecutive regattas which will determine the fleet qualifiers for the North American Championships to be held in August in San Francisco. Skies were crystal clear and easterly breezes were predicted for both days, and the fleet of 15 entries was eager to shake out the cobwebs from the past winter.The first race on Saturday started in a light easterly breeze under 6kts. with generous 2 mile weather legs to test everyone's strategic thinking. The incoming current and fluky wind tested all competitors. Halfway up the first weather beat, Jim Sorensen's, Wet Leopard was showing great boatspeed and led the fleet comfortably up and around the first weather mark. Hot in pursuit was local fleet captain, Terry Laughren,with his Winged Victory and crew., followed by Don Priestley's Wet Paint and newcomers Roger Coutu and Tim McAdam's in RED. Wet Leopard extended her lead at the leeward gate where the RC had made a 15 degree course change as the wind was showing a back to the North. Up the second weather leg Sorensen and crew extended to the right corner of the course pursued by most of the fleet. Further back, halfway up the leg from the left side, a familiar black hulled 105 crossed to the middle of the course and just out pointed and lifted up to meet the leaders coming back on starboard from the right corner. The ex-Tar Baby, now Equinox, belonging to newcomer Ed Whitmore, rounded in front of Wet Leopard and Winged Victory and led to the downwind finish. A bullet for the fleet rookie!!!! Equinox was followed closely by Winged Victory, Wet Leopard, RED, and Ageless. The lead changing and the close racing was just a preview of a great day on the water.
The second race saw the weather mark set 2 miles away to the northeast and the start of an outgoing tide in the Sound with breeze lightening further. Strategic choices were all over the board, should one go left to the Connecticut shore or right to look for the usual lift from the north shore of Long Island, or play the middle to take advantage of the maximum current towards the mark? Another clean start and the fleet was off up the course. The left side saw a drag race between Wet Paint, Ageless, Wet Leopard and RED trying to make it to the Conn. shore and a lift. The right side had ex-fleet captain Dimitrios Spentzos on Odyssey and fleet newcomer Damian Emery with Eclipse. At the weather mark, great sailing by Priestley's Wet Paint team prevailed from the left and rounded just in front of Wet Leopard , followed simultaneously by Eclipse and Ageless, with RED right on their transoms. Wet Paint, Wet Leopard and Ageless set and extended down the Conn. shore side while Eclipse and RED elected to jibe and go down the middle of the Sound. While several jibes were needed from the right to get back to the middle of the course in the puffs, RED just sailed straight down the middle of the Sound and led the fleet to the leeward gates. Popular belief had more adverse current in their area, but the results speak for themselves.
The scenario looking down the course had RED, Wet Paint, Wet Leopard, Eclipse going to round the left end and Ageless rounding the right gate end. Unfortunately for RED, they did foul a PHRF boat in their rounding and did their 720. Ageless, owned by Dr.Ken Rothaus, came upwind 100 yards and tacked back through a window in the spinnaker parade and was able to cover the previous leaders to the finish, holding off Wet Paint and company. Excellent racing and no one went to the Protest Room at the end of the day.
Ageless prevailed for the day with a 5-1, followed one point back by RED and a tight group only points back. American YC was the location for the perfect post race drink and wind down.
Sunday's promise off bigger breeze and sea state gave the fleet reason to say thanks for Saturday's ideal tune up conditions. Fifteen knots of breeze, two mile weather legs, and an Olympic course with reaching legs was just what the doctor ordered. The first start had a general recall issued for the 105s. After a little confusion and reset by the RC, the fleet was off in a blast. Ageless, RED, Wet Paint took off for the left side of the course, testing boatspeed and driving through waves. At the first weather mark RED was ahead followed closely by Ageless and the rest of the fleet. At the jibe mark, RED was around first with Ageless on their transom. After the jibe mark, Ageless held a little higher over a PHRF interloper and RED saw a twist develop in their kite during the rounding. The rest of the fleet was tightly bunched with Eclipse, Wet Paint, Wet Leopard and Winged Victory all duelling for position on the tight reach to the leeward mark. The second time around the weather mark saw Ageless showing the way with Wet Leopard and RED still in touch. Clean roundings and good crew work saw the three front boats extend up the right side of the course to the finish with Wet Leopard and RED engaging in a tacking duel while being loosely covered ahead by Ageless. But from the left side in clear air, Winged Victory and Wet Paint were making a run for the flag of their own. The finish had Ageless winning comfortably, but a close second for Wet Leopard, followed by Winged Victory, then RED, was very well deserved.
Exciting, close, one-design racing it was. Veterans and newcomers all in contention, three more weekends of this to start the season, YAHOO!!!!!!
