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Daily Reports
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U.S. Match Racing Championship 2005
Wednesday, September 21 |
The U.S. Match Racing Championship was
off to a slow start as only two flights could be sailed in some very
unusual California South Coast weather. The skies were blue and the
winds up as the RC and the competitors left the docks of the Newport
Harbor Yacht Club. By the time the RC and the fleet had motored to
the end of the harbor jetty, thick fog had rolled in so that
visibility was reduced in some cases to less than 100 yards.
Conditions persisted and safety dictated a return to the club.
Although the sailors and the RC feared that racing had ended for the
day, fresh winds pushed the fog back and racing started in the mid
afternoon. Two flights were run before the late afternoon breezes died.
At the end of the day every team had a
win in this final field of eight competitors.
Hurricane Katrina and new hurricane
Rita caused some last minute team cancellations. Two teams, those of
Benz Faget and Andy Lovell could not break away from the devastation
of the New Orleans area to race in the Championship. We understand
that they and their families, as well as those of their teammates are
safe, but both they and their teammates had have lost houses and most
of their possessions.
More racing is schedule through Saturday
to determine the U.S. Match Racing Champion.
Thursday, September 22 |
| Persistent fog that has
hugged the coastline from LA to Laguna continues to haunt the U.S. Match
Racing Championship. A second day of fog forced cancellation of all
racing. As the racing enters the third day of the Championship all of
the competitors and the race committee are looking forward to fair winds
and blue skies. |
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Friday, September 23 |
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The heavy fog which has covered the
Newport Coast for the past two days gave way to blue skies and
moderate breeze. The wind filled in later that expected, but
remained steady through the afternoon. After a day of
postponement due to fog, the teams were ready to race and the
improved conditions allowed the U.S. Match Racing
Championships to complete the first round robin.
The top four teams are Brian Angel,
representing King Harbor Yacht Club (Redondo Beach, CA) with six
wins, David Rosow Jr. from Pequot Yacht Club (Southport, CT) with
five wins, Chris Van Tol from Bayview Yacht Club (Detroit, MI) and
John Loe from Southern Yacht Club (New Orleans, LA) with four wins
each.
With the loss of a day's racing, the
event format has been adjusted to allow the Semi Finals and the
Finals to take place on the last day of the Championship. Brian
Angel will sail against John Loe in the first Semi Final match and
Brian Rosow will face Chris Van Tol in the second Match. The
forecast is for fair weather and Southwesterly breezes from 5 - 10
knots.
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