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Conditions: View
Southern California's Marine Forecast.
Light Winds Make Taugher Work for His
Victory
It may have looked like Kevin Taugher had his Laser on cruise control
Sunday with a big lead before the last two races of the 2005 U.S.
Singlehanded Championship for the George O'Day Trophy, but he’s been
sailing long enough to know that no lead is too big to lose.
Confronted by the lightest winds of the three-day regatta and a flock of
Sunday boat drivers crossing the race course close to shore off Seal
Beach, Taugher admitted, “I was a little worried. It was very light, and
with the power boats going through it was also very choppy”---conditions
that favored lighter and luckier competitors.
But even with two fifth places---his worst finishes in nine races---by
day’s end his agony had turned to the ecstasy of his first national
championship. Runner-up Reed Johnson, 19, of Toms River, N.J., cut
Taugher’s 18-point lead to a final 13 with a fourth and a first, “but
there was too big a gap,” Johnson said.
Taugher, 33, of Huntington Beach, is a member of the host Alamitos Bay
Yacht Club.
Thomas Barrows, 17, of the U.S. Virgin Islands, was the first-day leader
and recaptured his form in more favorable conditions with a pair of
seconds to finish third overall, followed by Peter Phelan, 32, Santa
Cruz, Calif., and Vann Wilson, 49, Long Beach.
Taugher’s performance mirrored the varying conditions. His best day was
Saturday with finishes of 2-2-1-1 in 15 to 18 knots of breeze, following
a 3-4-2 Friday in 12 knots. On Sunday the first race started in 5 knots,
building to 8 through the second race.
“I’m glad the whole regatta wasn’t sailed in these conditions,” he said.
“I was 15th or 18th [early] in the first race but finally went out to
the left side and got back into it.”
Johnson said, “I thought I was going to get lucky when he was so far
back, but Kevin sailed well. Second’s all right. When I sailed this
regatta two years ago in Oklahoma City I was dead last.”
Barrows had no complaints, either. “It’s a really friendly event. People
talk to each other about what they’re doing. I’m real happy.”
So was the host club to celebrate with one of its own, joining an elite
list of national and champions and Olympic medalists in various
small-boat classes.
“I’m really pleased to win it at my own club,” Taugher said. “So many
people here have helped me to improve over the years, it’s a victory for
all of us. It’s a great honor to have my name on that trophy with all
those great sailors.”
Peter Barrett was the first O’Day winner in 1962, and the second winner,
Finn sailor Henry Sprague of Newport Beach, was present for the award
presentations Sunday afternoon.
The event was once again sponsored by Vanguard Sailboats, which provided
the Lasers, and Rolex Watch U.S.A., which has consistently recognized
excellence in every important arena of competitive sailing dating to the
1958 America's Cup. Vanguard has been a dedicated sponsor of numerous
U.S. national championships for more than a decade.
The finalists (23 boats, 9 races):
1. Kevin Taugher, Huntington Beach, 3-4-2-2-2-1-1-5-5, 25 points.
2. Reed Johnson, Toms River, N.J., 7-3-3-1-7-8-4-4-1, 33.
3. Thomas Barrows, St. Thomas, USVI, 1-1-6-5-12-9-15-2-2, 53.
4. Peter Phelan, Santa Cruz, Calif., 5-6-7-3-5-6-9-6-10, 57.
5. Vann Wilson, Long Beach, 12-5-1-9-3-7-3-16-6, 62.
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