(Key West, FL)- January 20th- As usual, Key West is a study in contrasts. One day, epic wind and waves. Next day postcard perfect. Next day flat calm. Next day fog?? If the past few days were an exercise in patience and enjoying gorgeous days, Thursday was nowhere near anyone's expectations for weather. An inversion in the atmosphere put the Keys in fog! Not a typ0. Fog. Racing was wisely postponed by an hour by the PRO's on all three courses to let Maine/English-style fog burn off from the early morning hours-- a very surreal and unusual situation to be in or the Florida Keys!! The voyage out to the race course for many crews was amusing, some boats ending up in places they hadn't planned to (GPS anyone?). Nevertheless, everything got squared away and by noon all three race courses got off their first starts of the day. The fog postponement was a wise decision and the fleet was treated to a gentle ESE breeze that gradually built during the day.
To get a better flavor of what has been happening on the race course for the past three days, please take a look at Doug Moy's AV productions done in conjunciton with Josh Adams and Adam Cort at SAIL Magazine:
Monday Jan 17
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XLFvhjCtqc
Tuesday Jan 18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew-auSbTlvE
Wednesday Jan 19
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3BCGkjr4yU
For
Division 1 course, IRC 1 Class saw the fleet start to consolidate their
positions in the fickle breezes. Jim Bishop's WHITE GOLD is now in
third with a consistent 3-2-2-2-8-6-3 score and is hoping to stay in the
top three for the class. Peter Cunningham from Cayman Islands Sailing
Club sailing the J/122 GAMBLER/ POWERPLAY had a slow day and is still in
sixth overall due to a 5-8 finish today.Similarly, the J/105s are also seeing the leaders begin to consolidate their positions. Brian Keane on SAVASANA is leading with a 1-6-8-1-1-2-4 with 23 points. Behind him with nearly as consistent a day is Damian Emery on ECLIPSE in second overall with a 4-8-1-4-5-1-7 record for 30 points. Hanging touch is Gerrit Schulze in third place on MAX POWER with a 10-4-7-2-4-7-1 score, coming on strong in the last race with first. Adam Rosen and Jeff Markes on WASABI have dropped to 4th based on their 9-10 scores today. Tom Coates on MASQUERADE started slowly with a 13th and had a comeback 2nd to stay in fourth. Carter Williams on CREATIVE DESTRUCTION has climbed into the top five hunt with a 10-5.
Continuing
their domination of the J/80 class on Course 3 is Texan Glenn Darden.
With a 1-1-2-1-2-2-1 record for 10 points, Glenn's EL TIGRE continues to
go in the right direction most times to beat the fleet. Behind Glenn
is a tight fleet, but Jeff Brown sailing J/WORLD SAN DIEGO is now lying
second after a consistent 3-3 today with 29 points. Just behind them
with a 5-4 is Ron Buzil/ Nigel Brownett on VAYU 2. In fourth is Mike
Sudofsky with 36 points on BOB DYLAN and fifth is Steve Wyman on NUHUNU.
The
PHRF A Class continues to be a donnybrook amongst the top six teams.
Still leading after a 2-4 is Jim Sminchak's Cleveland team on the J/111
KONTIKI V. It was not an easy day for the SAIL BAB team. But, the
light air and flat water were a good recipe to have the 111 stay in
contention for the lead in their class. In both races, the J/109 RUSH
sailed by Bill Sweetser sailed well but were just out of touch with the
leaders in both races. The 111 KONTIKI V is leading with 17 points
followed by Bill's 109 RUSH with 19 points.The J/95s in PHRF 2 continue to have a competitive series. Nevertheless, experience counts and veteran Key West sailor Ed Palm is leading on STILL CRAZY with a 4-3-5-4-4-5-5 score. Terry McKenna on FINN is second with a 7-8-4-3-5-4-4 just five points back. Third is Trudie Ficks on SEVENTH HEAVEN with a 6-4-7-5-6-7-6.
The J/24s have seen no change. BLAH BLAH BLAH sailed by Mark Milnes continues to be the top J/24 with a string of six thirds and 2nd in class! Hanging in there is Evalena Worthington on FREYA and third is Matt Mullan on FLYING WASP.
Photo credits- Tim Wilkes- www.timwilkes.com
For more Key West Race Week sailing results:
http://www.premiere-racing.com