J/111 ANDIAMO Winning PHRF 1(Rye, NY)- The annual spring rite of passage for the start of the Long Island Sound offshore sailing season took place this past weekend. Hosted by the American Yacht Club in Rye, NY, the excellent turnout was helped by gorgeous, cool, spring weather conditions with sunny days prevailing for both days of sailing.
In IRC I Class, the J/133 ANTIDOTE sailed by Ron Richman is hanging tough after six races sailed over two days. They're lying second in class in a very tough fleet of experienced offshore racers and new-fangled boats like a Farr 400, Ker 40, Ker 11.3, X-41, King 40, Farr 40, Swan 42 and a Tripp 41-- talk about bringing a cruiser-racer to a gun-fight! Great to see a family-sailed boat fairing well against some all-star professionally sailed boats!
In IRC 2 Class, the J/122 WINGS sailed by Mike Bruno, Tom Boyle and Jim Callahan is leading their fleet against fellow J/122s and Farr 395s. Third is Steve Furnary's J/122 PATRIOT and just off the pace is George Marks' J/122 GEORGETOWN III.
The
J/44s are having a wonderful time, as always, sailing in what may be
the "most one-design" of large offshore one-design sailboats. With the
vision of Jim Bishop, the J/44s have endured the test of time and J/44
teams continue to have a long-time love-affair with their beautiful
sailboats. With such evenly matched boats, it's always hard to tell how
well each team will perform over the course of a series At the moment,
Don and Rick Rave on RESOLUTE are enjoying a slim lead over second
place Bill Ketcham on MAXINE. Tied with Bill but losing on a tie-break
is Jeff Willis on CHALLENGE IV. Fourth is the ubiquitous Jim Bishop on
GOLD DIGGER just one point back and fifth is Phil Gutin on BEAGLE. More
to come next weekend from this fun-loving, competitive group.The J/105 one-designs are having yet another epic battle for "top dog" on Long Island Sound. Having found a 5th gear, Sean Doyle's team on KESTREL have been fast out-of-the-blocks like a top-fueled dragster, starting off the first weekend in 1st with 11 pts. But, chasing them hard as a group are the balance of the top five. In that group are some formidable champions in the J/105 class, including Paul Beaudin on LOULOU in second tied with Joerg Esdorn and Duncan Hennes in third on KINCSEM followed in fourth by another familiar name, Kevin Grainger on GUMPTION 3. Fifth are George and Alex Wilbanks on REVELATION.
In PHRF 1 Class, the J/111 ANDIAMO sailed by Paul Strauch managed to pull off four 1sts to lead their fleet. Third and fourth are two J/109s, John Pearson's BLUE SKY and Bob Schwartz's NORDLYS, respectively.
Finally, in PHRF 4, the "money guys", the Esposito gang on the J/29 HUSTLER are at it again. Three 1sts and three 2nds are sufficient to keep them in the lead in their class. Matheus Hovers' J/29 KATOENDRA is hanging in there for 5th overall and hoping that some good J/29 "karma" rubs off on them from the Espo team! For more AYC Spring Series sailing information
