(Key West, FL)- January 18th, 2011- Hard to imagine the Keys would offer up a duplicate day for the second day of racing. But that's exactly what happened. Forecast breeze of 180 to 195 TWA. Perhaps 6 to 12 knots if the forecasters were correct. The best part is that a serving of 100% SUN, no clouds, and a challenging conditions for winds would keep everyone on there toes. Go left? Maybe. Go right? No guarantees. Go to either corner at your peril and watch the world pass you by. That was the story across all three courses today.
On the Division 1 course, IRC 1 Class has the J/44 WHITE GOLD and the J/122 POWER PLAY dueling for class leadership against a very strong eight boat fleet. Currently, Jim Bishop's WHITE GOLD is in second with a very consistent 3-2-2-2 score and are vying for the lead in class. Peter Cunningham from Cayman Islands Sailing Club is sailing the J/122 GAMBLER/ POWERPLAY and is currently in 4th just 4 points back from third. As Pete said before, "we're having fun and anything goes in the top three is good for us.!"
The
J/105s continue to provide extraordinary competition amongst one
another. Leading the pack is Tom Coates's MASQUERADE with a 2-1-2-10
with 15 points. However, just off the pace are Brian Keane's SAVASANA
with a 1-6-8-1 for sixteen points in second; Damian Emery's ECLIPSE with
a 4-8-1-4 for seventeen points in third; Adam Rosen and Jeff Marks'
WASABI in fourth with a very consistent 3-3-9-3; and Travis Wiesleder's
LUCKY DOG just off the pace with an 8-2-6-6 for 2 points. Perhaps the
strongest move of the day came from Carter William's CREATIVE
DESTRUCTION with a 3-8 ; Bill Zartler's SOLARIS with a 4-7; and John
Gottwald's EAGLES WINGS 5-5. All three rocketed up the standings based
on these strong races.The J/80s continue to be a lesson in not hitting corners, sailing conservative and sailing smart. Glenn Darden and crew aboard LE TIGRE continue to be the poster children on how to do it best. LE TIGRE's 1-1-2-1 is dominating the the fleet for a 5 point total. Chris Bulger's crew on GOOSE is lying second with a 2-2-10-4 tally and the team of Ron Buzil and Nigel Brownett on VAYU 2 are third with a 5-6-1-8. Fourth is Jeff Brown with a 6-3-5-6 on J/World San Diego and fifth is Steve Wyman on NUHUNU with a 3-11-4-3, coming on strong today to leap into the top five.
The
duel between the J/111 and the J/109 sister 35 footers continues to be a
dead heat. Jim Sminchak's crew on the new J/111 KONTIKI V continue to
hang in with the best teams that Key West has to offer, with a 2-2-3-2
score to be only one point behind the J/109 champion team led by Bill
Sweetser on the J/109 RUSH with a 1-1-2-4 tally.The J/95s sailing in PHRF 2 are having a lot of fun. As a veteran Key West sailor, Ed Palm continues to lead the 95 crew. A 4-3-5-4 score puts them in first amongst the 95s. After today's racing, Terry is now second with a 7-8-4-3 to strongly finish amongst the 95s and earn second. Third is now Trudie Ficks with a 6-4-7-5.
Amongst the J/24s, BLAH BLAH BLAH sailed by Mark Milnes continues to be the top J/24. Screaming up the ladder is Evanlena Worthington with a 6-4-4-4 to ace out fellow 24 sailor Matt Mullan on FLYING WASP with a 4-5-6-6.
Photo credits- Tim Wilkes- www.timwilkes.com
For more Key West Race Week sailing results:
http://www.premiere-racing.com