Daily Reports

Day 1– Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Nine out of eleven teams made it out to the practice line in Marblehead today, fine tuning themselves for tomorrow’s launch of the U.S. Men’s championships, hosted by Boston Yacht Club.  The other teams worked among themselves practicing in the 23 foot Sonars that have been overhauled and outfitted with all new sails for the week’s racing.

“We had the ideal Marblehead conditions we always talk about, but don’t always get” said Geoff Smith, Boston’s Race Committee Chairman and Event Chair.  The 10 knot breeze was steady and it got the sailors excited to go head to head tomorrow through Friday, when they hope to get in 15 races for the three days. This is not a challenge for Boston Yacht Club’s Commodore, C.H. Ritt who will be the event’s PRO.  Ritt ran 68 races in two days at this year’s Jackson Cup Team Race Regatta, also at Marblehead, opening the season in April. 

Get ready racers – the wind will freshen from the West tomorrow at 11 to 15. Good Luck All.

Chairman Bill Ross reports:

It appears that we have everything set for the Finals later this week. Eleven Teams are lined up and 1 or 2 showed up at the Yacht Club today. We had 8 teams qualify through the ladder events and 11 applied by the resume system for the three slots left open.

Zak Fanberg a three time winner who tied Buddy Melges’ record could not come to defend his honor. He has promised to return next year. Katrina is still taking its toll, and Zak has a new job that had to take precedence.

Geoff Smith, Regatta Chairman has put in many hours over the months in preparation for the Finals competition and I want to thank him for all his effort and time. I have come to know Geoff and it has been nice to make a new friend like him. Thank you Geoff from all of us.

In addition I want to thank the selection committee who worked to fill the three open slots in the line up. The resume idea worked very well thanks to their assistance.