HOT TODDY Wins Tie-breaker in Last Race!(Tampa Bay, FL)- The setting was as dramatic as it was in the 2010 J/80 Worlds. Just about anyone in the top seven could've won the regatta depending on where the chips fell in the last few go arounds. In this case, the last three races saw a dramatic shift in the standings with past J/22 World and North American Champions playing "Chutes & Ladders", some screaming up the ladder to be amongst the leaders, then in a flash dropping just as fast down the chutes into moments of despair.
Not
to be undaunted by global situations that couldn't be solved by a bunch
of smart, fun-loving J/22 sailors, Benz Faget sailing TEAM FATS from
Metairie, LA dominated the first day of the Layline J/22 Midwinter
Championship at Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, FL. With scores of
2-1, Faget’s TEAM FATS ended the day seven points ahead of Scott Young
and Chris Doyle on SOLID LAYER who were tied with 10 points. TEAM FATS
were cruising for a bruising, enjoying the good times when good times
were to be had.
Jeff
Todd on HOT TODDY shot to the front of the 25-boat fleet on Day 2 of
the J/22 Midwinter Championship as 4 races were held. Todd scored
11-1-3-2 for a regatta total of 21 points. Following Todd were Scott
Young (22) and Chris Doyle (25), followed by a 3-way tie of Tim Healy on
TEAM SAILORS FOR THE SEA, Terry Flynn on MARGO and Travis Odenbach on
INSTIGATOR (27). Good Lord, could you be in any tighter company than to
have a squeeze play of a few dozen college All-Americans breathing down
your neck?? Winds started at 8-10 knots and built to the high teens. A
throw-out race took effect after race 5.
At
the end of the fight for global J/22 midwinter domination, it was Jeff
Todd on HOT TODDY who narrowly won the J/22 Midwinter Championship in a
tie-breaker over Chris Doyle's SOLID LAYER. Only 8 points separated the
top 7 finishers! Todd won the tie-breaker with his bullet in race 4. In
third, Tim Healy on SAILORS FOR THE SEA squeaked past Scott Young (tied
at 47). Travis Odenbach on INSTIGATOR trailed them by one point
finishing fifth, then Benz Faget on TEAM FATS sixth and Allan Terhune on
SEA BISCUIT seventh (tied at 49). Bringing up the rear of this tight
pack was past World Champion Terry Flynn in eighth on MARGO. The final
day of racing featured 3 more races for a total of 9. Don't know what
was the cure, but a combo of Pepto Bismol, Advil and a "chill pills"
(Bud or PBR?) may have been the prescription to keep these crew's
anxiety under control and focused on the game at a hand.Finally, as if the the top 7 wasn't tight enough, Sally Barkow did the Rolex Women's Seminar/ briefing to help the women get amped, focused and organized for the Rolex Women's Worlds in Rochester, NY later this year-- watch out! BTW, they can all use a lot of volunteers to help get them all up to speed. Sailing Photos by Chris Abate- Pixilico. For more J/22 Midwinters sailing information.