(Rye, NY)- Seventy boats ranging from 50 footers in the IRC class to the
ever popular J/70 class competed over the course of two weekends in the
38th Annual American YC Spring Series Regatta. This year was no
disappointment as the final weekend brought breezes and sunny skies to
challenge racers as they prepare their boats and crew for another summer
sailing season in the Northeast.Virtually all fleets managed to sail 10 or 11 races. The one-design fleets of J/70s, J/88s, J/105s, J/109s, and J/44s were spread across two racing circles, each bringing with it unique challenges regarding how to play the current and wind bends flowing off the shore.
In the J/44 class, CHALLENGE IV, owned by Jeffrey W. Willis, sailed consistently to take class honors, while Len Sitar’s VAMP and Bill Ketcham’s MAXINE followed for second and third respectively.
Over
on the South course, David Rosow of Southport, CT and his LOKI won the
J/109 class. Jonathan Rechtschaffer’s EMOTICON and Bill Rogers’ BIG BOAT
took second and third, respectively.Paul Beaudin's LOU LOU walked away with the J/105 class victory at 14 points keeping Thom Hering and his TRIFECTA at a safe distance in second. Third place was hotly contested as three boats posted 38 points each. The Junior Sailors of American Yacht Club, however, topped the group by winning two races during the series. The junior team, made up of high school age 420 sailors, began their keelboat racing experience led by US Sailing's "Volunteer Coach of the Year," Peter Becker.
The largest fleet of the AYC Spring Series was the J/70 class with 16 boats. In preparation for the J/70 North American Championship, which will be held at American Yacht Club October 9th to 15th of this year, Scott and Alex Furnary on ANY COLOUR won not only the fleet but also the “Reggie Imamura Family Sailing Trophy.” The trophy is awarded annually by J/70 Fleet 15 to a family of 2 or more sailing together on Long Island Sound. LOCOMOTION skippered by Dan Goedkoop took a close second only two points behind. Third place went to Carrie and Ed Austin on CHINOOK. The balance of the top five included Dan Goldberg’s BAZINGA in 4th and Trevor Roach’s SEMI-CHARMED in 5th place.
In an equally competitive J/88 fleet, Iris Vogel’s DEVIATION crew won the event with 23 points while only 1 point separated second place NEVERMORE (Ken & Drew Hall), third place WINGS (Mike Bruno), and fourth place ESCAPE (Elizabeth Barry). Rounding out the top five was Doug McKeige’s JAZZ.
Finally, the well-attended eight boat PHRF 1 class saw good competition. After starting out with a DNC, it was Paul Strauch’s crew from Manhasset Bay YC that sailed their J/111 ANDIAMO onto the podium, taking the bronze for the two-weekend series. Sailing photo credits- Tim Wilkes.com. For more American YC Spring Series sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.
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