(Rye, NY)- This past weekend, the American Yacht Club Spring Series was
sailed on western Long Island Sound with virtually all fleets getting in
a total of six 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 to how to play the current and wind bends
flowing off the shore. The fifteen-boat J/70 saw a battle break out for the top two spots between Scot & Alex Furnary’s ANY COLOUR and Daan Goedkoop’s LOCOMOTION. Peeling off straight bullets on Saturday, the LOCOMOTION team sure had their “mojo” going to lead the fleet by a considerable margin. However, on Sunday the tables turned, with ANY COLOUR posting a 1-1-2 to lead the fleet with 8 pts. One point back are the LOCO boys. The rest of the top five are locked in a battle of their own with just four points separating them. Sitting in third on a tie-breaker at 23 pts each is Carrie & Ed Austin’s CHINOOK with Andrew & Melissa Fisher’s BUTTON FLY in fourth. Then, sitting in fifth is Ernest Bourassa’s ALTHEA with 27 pts.
The two J/88 teams that sailed Key West, St Petersburg, and Charleston during the winter months are showing their edge over the seven-boat J/88 class. Currently leading is Iris Vogel’s DEVIATION with Mike Bruno’s WINGS in second just two points back. Sitting in third is Ken & Drew Hall’s NEVERMORE with 14 pts.
Leading the eight-boat J/105 class is Paul Beaudin’s LOULOU with a fleet-eviscerating three bullets and three deuces for 7 pts net (nice to throw out a 2nd, eh??). Behind them is a three-way battle for the balance of the podium spots. Leading that charge by just one point is Thom Hering’s TRIFECTA; behind them is the YOUNG AMERICA JR Big Boat Team; and just two points back from them is George & Alex Wilbanks’ REVELATION.
Starting out strong on the first day of racing in the J/109 class of nine boats was David Rosow’s LOKI, with a steady 2-1-2 for 5 pts. There were not to be denied on Sunday either, throwing down the gauntlet with the same scoreline- 2-2-1 for a total of 8 pts net. Wow, that is some performance in the closely-knit J/109 class! Tight lines as they say in the fishing world! Second is Bill Rogers’ BIG BOAT with 13 pts, third is Jon Rechtschaffer’s EMOTICON, fourth Carl Olsson’s MORNING GLORY, and 5th Ray Pepi’s CLEO.
As usual, the J/44s are enjoying some close racing. In fact, the lead is determined by a tie-breaker and so is third, for that matter. At the top of the leaderboard is Jeff Willis’ CHALLENGE IV, followed by Len Sitar’s VAMP. Third sees Bill Ketcham’s MAXINE just one point in front of Don & Dick Rave’s RESOLUTE.
Finally, in PHRF 2, Jason Viseltear’s J/80 UPSETTER is sitting in 4th place and in PHRF 1, Paul Strauch’s J/111 ANDIAMO sits in 5th place. For more American YC Spring Series sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.
|