Sunday, August 5

The storms of the night before scudded off to the East.  The skies began to clear and the cool temperatures from the previous night kept the conditions moderate.  The breeze was from the South, rarely dropping below 8 and gusting to 12 in the first race.  The gusts favored the starboard tack.  By afternoon the heat was full on and the gusts were pumping to 15.  The skies cleared completely to intensify the sunlight.  And the racing continued.

By day’s end an additional five races were sailed in all divisions.  Preliminarily (pending protests) Karen Mitchell has taken the lead in the Freedoms with a point total of 15, enhanced by today’s straight bullets.  In second place, with 27 points, is Mike Jaffe.  Mike Strahle slipped to third with 34 points.  When asked about her perfect performance, Mitchell remarked, “I love these conditions because when it’s shifty like it was, you have to keep your head out of the boat.  You make great gains if you stay in the wind patches.”

LeBlanc held on to first in the 2.4mRs with 15 points.  The next closest competitor is Rosenfield with 22.  Hot on his heels with 23 points is John Ruf.  In the Sonars, Albert Foster was able to put some distance between him and his nearest competition.  Foster’s 20 points gives him some breathing room over both Ken Kelly and Paul Callahan, each with 28 points.

In the first 2.4mR race of the morning, the pin end of the line was favored.  Once everyone had clear air a tacking duel ensued among the top three contenders.  Jon Ruf in 88 lee bowed Mark LeBlanc.  LeBlanc tacked away to clear his air and Ruf covered.  As they approached the weather mark, Ruf had the lead followed by LeBlanc and Rosenfield.

Downwind looked like a parade with the rounding places remaining the same for the entire leg.  Once around the leeward mark Ruf let LeBlanc go, splitting tacks with him.  He flopped over to cover at a distance letting Rosenfield go out on his own.  With Ruf and LeBlanc on the left side of the course and Rosenfield alone on the right, the breeze freshened.

As the three leaders near the weather mark LeBlanc is on a port approach with Rosenfield under him.  Ruf is on starboard coming to the mark.  LeBlanc tacks on to starboard to keep his air clear.  Rosenfield ducks him.  All three are on starboard as they prepare to round.  LeBlanc rounds 8 seconds ahead of Ruf who is just inside of Rosenfield.  LeBlanc crosses the finish line first followed by Ruf and Rosenfield.

Racing continues tomorrow.