FRESH BREEZE BRINGS UNEXPECTED RESULTS IN THE FINAL DAY OF U.S. INDEPENDENCE CUP/NORTH AMERICAN CHALLENGE CUP

CHICAGO, Monday, August 5 - After two days of light air sailing, a Northerly breeze finally arrived for the third and final day of the 2002 U.S. Independence Cup/North American Challenge Cup, bringing with it some unexpected results.

It was literally down to the wire for the 2.4 meter Gold Fleet sailors, with four boats in close competition for the top three spots. Coming into the final day, Canadian John McRoberts led the fleet with an impressive record of first and third place finishes. Ken Kelly and Tom Franklin were ranked Second and Third, with U.S. Paralympian Roger Cleworth a not so distant Fourth. Day Three's breeze made all the difference for Cleworth as he turned in two First place finishes, pushing him to the top of the pack, and allowing him to win a tie breaker with McRoberts.

In the Silver Fleet, 2.4m sailor Lawrence Mazur of Winnipeg, Manitoba, took advantage of Day Three's better breeze to collect two First place finishes. Those results took him from last place Overall to Second Place, Silver Fleet. Mazur is Commodore of 'Disabled Sail Manitoba', where he encourages other disabled sailors to challenge their limits. "What I learn here, I take home with me," Mazur said.

After dominating the first two days of the Regatta in the Freedom 20 class, John Kostenecki and Jim Leatherman found themselves struggling to stay on top. Halfway up the first windward leg, they made contact with another boat, driven by Karen Mitchell of Miami. After performing an obligatory 360 degree penalty turn, they plowed forward hoping to regain some lost ground. But in the building breeze, their efforts weren't enough to keep them from making contact with yet another object. This time, it was the windward mark. This meant another penalty turn, and, at that point Kostenecki says, he thought their mistakes would cost them the race and the regatta.

He was wrong. Kostenecki and Leatherman came back in Races 8 and 9 to post First and Second place finishes. Those marks allowed them to hold onto their overall lead, making John Kostenecki and Jim Leatherman the Champions of the 2002 U.S. Independence Cup/North American Challenge Cup.

Even before receiving the good news about their overall victory, Jim Leatherman had this to say; "Thank you to Chicago Yacht Club and all the affiliated sponsors. You have once again put on a First Class…no, World Class regatta, that just happens to be suited for sailors with disabilities."

Final Standings:
Freedom Independence 20 Class

Gold Fleet (top Freedom 20 finishers overall)
1st: Kostanecki/Leatherman
2nd: Guay/Cormier
3rd: Mitchell/Gruson

Silver Fleet
1st: Hartz/Greener
2nd: Johnson/DelVecchio
3rd: Jaffe/Daniher

Final Standings:
2.4mR Class

Gold Fleet (top 2.4mR finishers overall)
1st: Cleworth
2nd: McRoberts
3rd: Franklin

Silver Fleet
1st: French
2nd: Mazur
3rd: Scaramuzzino

actual race results