(Seattle, Washington)- It was worth the wait on Friday for Keith
Whittemore’s TUNDRA ROSE at the J/24 USA National Championship, hosted
by Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle. After a long day of anticipating
breeze, thirty-two teams finally got to compete around 4:00 p.m. PDT in
winds at 4-6 knots. Two races went in the books with local Seattle
hotshot Whittemore leading the pack with 7 points. The Japanese team
SIESTA, led by Nobuyuki Imai, was a mere one point back. Will Welles and
Matt Pistay were tied on points at 13 for third and fourth place,
respectively.Whittemore’s TUNDRA ROSE may not have started day two on a high note, but he sure ended on one…or two. The Seattle-based skipper went into Saturday with a one-point advantage, but notched a 19 in the opening race. He then promptly added two bullets to hold a two-point lead going into the last day. Scott Milne’s TREMENDOUS SLOUCH moved into second place overall with 30 points, just one ahead of Michael Johnson’s PEARL and Nobuyuki Imai’s SIESTA (both with 31 points).
The locals took charge of Saturday’s first race in winds at 6-8 knots: Johnson’s PEARL, Mark Laura’s BABA LOUIE and Steve Travis’ SPARK. The breeze increased a couple knots in the next contest, when Whittemore defeated Bob Kinsman’s ATOM ANT and John Mason’s R.Y.L.A.H. at the finish line. The top three of the final battle mirrored the top three overall: Whittemore, Milne and Johnson.
On the final day, of the nine races completed Whittemore’s TUNDRA ROSE won five of them. Four races were completed on Sunday, but after tallying a 1-2-1 in the first three, Whittemore and crew of Shelby Milne, Brian Thomas, Kevin Downey and Mark Rodgers could head for shore as Champions at their local Corinthian YC of Seattle. Reigning US National Champion Will Welles flew up the standings with two bullets on the day to claim second place on a tie-breaker over Nobuyuki Imai’s Japanese crew on SIESTA (both with 39 points to Whittemore’s 31). Rounding out the top five were Johnson’s PEARL and Milne’s TREMENDOUS SLOUCH, in 4th & 5th, respectively. For more J/24 USA Nationals sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.
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