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(Valle de Bravo, Mexico)- Twenty teams sailed in the J/70 Mexico
National Championship, held November 11-13 in Valle de Bravo, Mexico.
After ten races, American Gannon Troutman’s PIED PIPER took the title,
edging out Julian Fernandez (MEX) by four points. Fernandez was the top
Mexican team. Meanwhile, winning the Corinthian title on a tie-breaker
was Ignacio Perez (MEX) over the top Women skipper- the American Mandi
Hardesty!
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The
fleet enjoyed three days of racing on the lake. It was light at times,
but good breezes always seemed to materialize, permitting the Club
Campestre’s PRO to run ten races for the enthusiastic sailors! After
five races, it appeared, again, that Julian Fernandez’s FLOJITO Y
COOPERANDO was going to run the table, posting a 2-3-1-1-2. Not far off
the pace was the young American skipper, Gannon Troutman, sailing PIED
PIPER to a scoreline of 1-5-2-2-1. Hanging in there was famous Mexican
offshore yachtsman, Lorenzo Berho, sailing PELIGROSO “mini-me” to a
strong 4-1-3-6-7 tally for third position. Meanwhile, Danel
Belausteguigoitia’s PURA VIDA, with a 5-4-7-3-3 tally, was only one
point back in fourth place after five races.
However, the remaining five races produced hangovers for just about
everyone! What goes up, must come down. And, vice versa. Talk about a
wild game of “snakes & ladders”, everyone in the top five just
about swapped positions! In the end, Troutman’s crew on PIED PIPER
sailed the most consistently to win the regatta. Fernandez’s FLOJITO Y
COOPERANDO was second. Third was Von Belausteguigoitia’s BULLET.
Fourth was PURA VIDA. And, fifth was Berho’s PELIGROSO. The Top Women
skipper and tied for 1st in Corinthian fleet was Mandi Hardesty’s OHANA
with her amazing crew of Jon Pinckney, Justin Law, and Joe Markee! For
more Mexican J/70 Nationals sailing information