(San Diego, CA)– The 99th edition of the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup hosted
eight yacht club teams representing California and Louisiana, competing
in equally matched J/105s for three days (Nov. 1-3) of fleet racing
inside San Diego Harbor and hosted by the San Diego YC. As promised by
the SD Chamber of Commerce, the fleet was treated to classic SoCal
weather conditions; a bit of fog (marine layer) in the morning, clearing
by lunch-time so the amazing armada of SDYC volunteers could layout a
0.7nm race course off the impressive San Diego city waterfront and
permit the visiting teams to sail multiple windward/leeward legs four
times around each day.
Over
the course of the three day event, it was clear the “local talent” led
by SDYC’s Brad Rodi would have their hands full fighting for fleet
honors against defending champions Bob Little from California YC, Scott
Harris from Coronado YC and Dustin Durant from Long Beach YC. After the
first day of sailing, Harris’ CYC team led the pack with 9 pts,
followed by SDYC and LBYC. In fact, the top five were all within three
points of each other!
By
the final day of the regatta, it was clear the defending champion Cal
YC was unable to overcome their first day black flag penalty, falling
short of winning this year’s Lipton Cup by only one point! In fact, the
entire top five was essentially determined by their finish positions in
the eighth and final race— what a cliff-hanger, with just 7 pts
separating five boats! Cal YC’s principal competitors, the local SDYC
gang, nearly blew the regatta in the last race with a 6th place!
Nevertheless, the winning SDYC team that included Brad Rodi (skipper),
Chris Busch, Andrew Campbell, Steve Hunt, Al Pleskus, Molly Pleskus, and
Chuck Sinks could finally breath a sigh of relief afterwards! Taking
third was Harris’ Coronado YC team just one point back with a final race
5th for 30 pts. Fourth was Payson Infelise’s Newport Harbor YC team
with 4th in the last race to finish with 34 pts, just one point in front
of fifth place finisher Durant representing Long Beach YC that won the
last race to complete their results with 35 pts! Some tactician’s
“heads had to be exploding” and skipper’s had to be “sweating bullets”
on the final leg of the last race!
Sailing photo credits- Bronny Daniels/ Joysailing.com For
more J/105 Lipton Cup Challenge sailing results
