(Dallas, Texas)- The 3rd Circuit Stop of the Texas Circuit took place
May 2-3rd and was hosted by Dallas Corinthian Yacht Club and J/24 Fleet
163. This regatta is not only the annual fundraising regatta for DCYC,
but it is also the J/24 Fleet 163 Corinthian Cup Regatta.The perpetual Corinthian Cup trophy began in 2005 by Fleet 163 founders Kelly Holmes-Moon, Pete Pitzer and Brian Carter to recognize the growing fleet in North Texas.
Because of the low water in North Texas and the 2nd Circuit Stop being held at DCYC on behalf of Fort Worth Boat Club, J/24 competitors arrived with their 17 boats already set up and ready to go in the water. In the two weeks between regattas, North Texas got several inches of rain and competitors had to wade in some ankle deep water to get their boats to the crane.
On Saturday, after a one hour postponement to the first gun due to roads being shut down for an event near the yacht club that prevented several competitors from arriving on time, boats began their jaunt out to the racecourse in temperatures of about 75 degrees and winds around 7.5 knots out of the SSE. The weather prediction for the day was supposed to be light to medium.
As boats sailed around the predicted racecourse, the race committee began to set the marks and start line. Races were a go and the boats started racing to the first weather leg of the day. The winds fluctuated throughout the day from SSE to South and back and varied from 8 to 11 knots. There was a fair amount of land effect to consider so many of the top boats played the corners of both courses. It appeared that regardless of the side that was played, boats made out. The key was how much of a commitment to make on that side. It was a very competitive day of racing on Saturday and several newcomers took some top wins. The top 4 finishers of races on Saturday were:
Race 1: 1st James Freedman/Team Miss Conduct; 2nd Amanda Casey/Team Momentus; 3rd Natalie Penner/Team GIGGLES; 4th Tonja Holmes-Moon/Team Siren
Race 2: 1st Kelly Holmes-Moon/Team BadMoon; 2nd Brandon Furey/Team Jolly Bevo I; 3rd Juan Mauri/Team sr. happy; 4th Natalie Penner/Team GIGGLES
Race 3: 1st Natalie Penner/Team GIGGLES; 2nd Brandon Furey/Team Jolly Bevo I; 3rd Kelly Holmes-Moon/Team BadMoon; 4th Tonja Holmes-Moon/Team Siren
Race 4: 1st Juan Mauri/Team sr. happy; 2nd Kelly Holmes-Moon/Team BadMoon; 3rd James Freedman/Team Miss Conduct; 4th David Broadway/Team Superman
The weather on Sunday was predicted to be much windier and teams were eager to hit the racecourse early. While still somewhat out of the South, the 8-knot winds were shifty and puffy once again. Winds ranged again from 8 knots to 12 knots with a few bigger puffs later in the morning, and shifted from South to SSW and back, but not quite long enough for a course change. The top 8 boats were very tight in their numbers and there was no clear winner going into Race 5. Top 4 finishers for Race 5 were: 1st James Freedman/Team Misconduct; 2nd Kelly Holmes-Moon/Team BadMoon; 3rd Juan Mauri/Team sr. happy; 4th Tim Johnson/Team Gray Wolf.
Sitting in first place by one point after racing on Saturday and still holding onto it in Race 5, there was still some strategizing to do for Team BadMoon in order to win the regatta. They sailed a good clean race on Race 6 and took home the win. Top 4 finishers of Race 6 were: 1st Kelly Holmes-Moon/Team BadMoon; 2nd James Freedman/Team Miss Conduct; 3rd David Broadway/Team Superman; 4th Juan Mauri/Team sr. happy.
Congratulations to Team Bad Moon’s Kelly Holmes-Moon, David Haslip, Chris Pittman, Drake Ditmer, and Chris Lombardo for winning the Corinthian Cup and 3rd Circuit Stop of the Texas Circuit, and the additional top 5 winners! It was a tight and competitive weekend of racing!
First Place with 17 points – Kelly Holmes-Moon/Team BadMoon
Second Place with 23 points – Juan Mauri/Team sr. happy
Third Place with 24 points – James Freedman/Team Miss Conduct
Fourth Place with 26 points – Natalie Penner/Team GIGGLES
Fifth Place with 43 points (and beating the tie-breaker) – Brandon Furey/Team Jolly Bevo I
For more Texas J/24 Circuit sailing information
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