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FINAL Results After Sixteen Races With Two Throwout 16 April 3:31 PM
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| Finn Olympic Trials FINAL Update Olympic Circle San Francisco Bay Race sixteen Breeze went down a little but seemed puffy, Chop remained steep in race 16. Silvestri did what he had to. He will now go to the Finn Gold Cup and qualify the USA to send a Finn Sailor to the Sydney Olympics. Herrmann was consistent getting a first and a second today. He finished ahead of Silvestri in both races today and all in all sailed a terrific second half. Finn Olympic Trials Day
Eight Update "I'm trying to be consistent but I'll let Russ worry about the end result." -Mark Herrmann Russ is starting to slip. In the woulda-shoulda-coulda department if he coulda gotten a couple boats between himself and Mark Herrmann he woulda been able to sit tomorrow out. As if that wasn't enough there's two technical protests about hiking pads directed at Russ. The jury has referred the matter to the Olympic Sailing Committee for adjudication. If Silvestri's chucked in both races today, his low throwouts ( 5 & 4 ) would make things exceedingly close with Mark Herrmann. You can do the math. So pending the deliberations it could be a real dog fight tomorrow off Berkeley. So what was today like otherwise? Seasoned SF Bay hands call it light to moderate. Wind 10 knots at the start of race one. No chop to speak of but the ebb was a veritable elevator shortening the already short weather leg. The wind had enough oscillations to make calling shifts extremely important. One competitor groused, " There's no beats. With the tide and the short leg you have to steer clear of the freeway traffic and can't really get into a rhythm." In race two the wind built up a little and even had puffs which one racer said hit 20 knots, "and made it kind of difficult going downwind." Chop picked up accordingly. In spite of all the traval, the sailors are still enjoying themselves. "Absolute total fun!" is how Chicago's Skip Dieball from Chicago summed up the regatta. Who's in the fleet? The philosophical August "Gus" Miller one of the fleets old hands sums it up, "One group of five guys is out there at the top. There's another group coming up who'll be here shortly. The old codgers thoroughly enjoy pounding on each other. All the more experienced guys just enjoy sailing the boat." In the what sucked the most department there were some dissenting (possibly tongue in cheek) opinions: "...going around the weather mark DFL" "Looking at a bunch of fat Finn sailors ahead of me." "My vang broke, my feet hurt, the sun was in my eyes, it wasn't my fault." The Olympic Sailing Committee after further review and inspection of the Silvestri Finn have found that there is no infringement of the IFA Class Rules in the technical protests lodged against Russ Silvestri's boat and have recommended that the protests be disallowed by the Jury. Russ Silvestri currently enjoys a six point lead over his nearest competitor Mark Herrmann of Seattle Washington. The final two races will take place on Sunday. Considering Silvestri's past performance he would really have to "tank it" in order to not qualify as the US Olympic Finn candidate. His closest competition is Mark Herrmann of Seattle, Washington who has been gaining on Silvestri since the seventh race with a 2.1.2.2.1.1 set of finishes in the last 6 races.. Whoever wins here tomorrow must still finish within the top twenty finishers at the Finn Gold Cup in England this summer inorder to qualify for the Sydney Olympics. John Dukat, et. al. ================ Finn Information for the Press ==================== Finn Olympic Trials Decides who goes to England for this summer's Finn Gold Cup If the winner of this trial places in the Top 20 boats in the Finn Gold Cup he will go to the Sydney Olympics Basics 8 Days of race 16 races total Race Course is any one of 4 course on San Francisco Bay stretching from Richmond down to Emeryville Course length about 3-4 miles Russ Silvestri and Mark Herrmann (Seattle Washington) both have Good Boat Speed excellent Conditioning Experience this is Silvestri's 5th campaign Tactical Smarts Tactically they are very sharp Great Equipment Good Coaching and support One plus for Russ is that these are his "home waters" The Finn is A very demanding boat Singlehanded boat (only one person on board) Very heavy for its size (300#) Takes a fat boy to race it (6'plus 200# plus) rather old design created for the Stockholm Olympics (1948) This Series 26 Competitors from throughout the US All the competitors are very skilled sailors Competitors are one of three types Highly conditioned athletes Locals boys who won't pass up a good regatta Fantasy League Racers want a chance to match up against the best Class Warhorses "I'm a Finn Sailor. My attendance supports the class I love." Finn Olympic Trials Day Seven
Update The empaneled judges were busy into the wee hours last night with some protest hearings. 4 Protests were filed in race 11. In race 12 two flags were observed but not followed thru on by the flag bearers. Of the 4 in Race 11 they included: a starting line infraction, a request for redress based on the previous, and a mid course right of way. The results saw Louie Nady, Pat Weaver and Andy Kern all getting a DSQ'd for the race. Then there was another of those technical class-rules protests. Somewhere near the starting line Mr Silvestri has his own floating radio resting in a dayglow green box anchored to the bottom. It's used between races to find out from his coach boat about current, breeze strength and direction on the course. A similar protest was filed earlier in the series. Second verse same as the first. The OSC Rep Mr Hagadorn issued essentially the same interpretation which was "Not being used while racing." Protest disallowed. Weather for racing on Saturday looks changeable. A cold front has slipped in with periodic light showers. Race course is #1, sort of tucked in a corner near Brooks Island and the north coast of Berkeley. Presently there's a light ---probably gonna postpone--- type breeze from the South. If the sun pokes through then expect a little more of the normal stuff 12-14's from the west. This is the opening of the Salmon Season in the ocean outside the Gate. Usually this is coincides with general ocean nastiness. So anything is possible. Jo
Finn Olympic Trials Day Seven Race 12 Conditions Wind to 10 knots then down winds steadied up increasing chop current seemed lighter. General Recall on start with about half the fleet over early. Again very tight mark roundings, on the reach a lot went high then squared off. ---Silvestri went low and lost the lead that's where Mike Deyett picked up and held the lead.
Finn Olympic Trials Day Six With the two throwouts entering into the mix: At the top of the pack is Mr Silvestri had to struggle to get clear air. Today he got his two throwouts 5 and 4. Still he finsihed ahead of Darrell Peck in race 9. Darrel, who showed great weather ability today, is maintaining a spare 2 point lead over the entirely focused Mark Herrmann. I'm not sure this would bother Darrell. In the pre-race 9 delay today, you could hear him chatting somewhat animatedly about taking his daughter Sydney to a park and going down a slide. Contrast this with Russ anchoring a floating box near the starting line and then when rules allow going to the box, pulling out the radio and calling his chase boat. He is bringing a new definition to preparation for a regatta. Statistics 33 Total crew We're doing this regatta for 9 days on the water days and we'll burn off about $720 worth of fuel
Finn Olympic Trials Day Four Winner guess who? Old Bow #12: Russ; Bridesmaid: Darrel Peck; Best Man: Mark Herrmann Conditions: Depends on who you talk to. Opinion #1 "It was beautiful All these guys were saying too windy. But it was less than yesterday. I had to come in because I broke my vang. Peaked right at first gun then it laid down." Opinion #2 "I just got tired. It came up from nothing to a survival race." Opinion #3 "It was the Giants-Dodgers opening day at PacBell Park. I just had to come. Besides I was sneaking looks at the Thunderbirds flying by."
Finn Olympic Trials Day Three "This race separated the more professional from those who have jobs." -Geoff Ewenson Race Six was the gear buster the Berkeley Circle is so noted for. The breeze built up to 18 at the start with 22's in the puffs and on top of it all a three foot chop. In those conditions all it takes is one slight mistake and it's gonzo. In the third downwind leg 5 boats were capsized simultaneously. 8 total did the "Help! I've augered in and can't get my mast out!" on that leg alone. Two masts died today. One competitor described his second race as "Typical Berkeley Circle: Mixed up waves and a couple of screaming reaches and then there was the puff." He had renamed his Finn "Toledo Mudd Hens" a quick reference to TV character's favorite minor league team in the hopes of avoiding further encounters with the Bay's benthic community. It didn't work. Mudhens don't even leave the turning basin. The least capable –but possibly the smartest because they knew their limits– opted for chicken jibes. Afterwards back at the host Richmond Yacht Club all the RC's types and ancient shellbacks sort of nodded and agreed, "This ain't the worst by any means." Something to look forward to. Mark Herrmann sailed masterful, was leading for most of the race and capsized after rounding the last weather mark. Always in the hunt Darrel Peck and incomparable Russ Silvestri bounced by. Meanwhile it seems Mr Peck was engaged in some "foul" activity at the start on race 6. He did his turns however he is discussing the entire matter with other honorable competitors before the empaneled judiciary. The resolution gave Mo Hart of South Portland, Maine, the average of his points to date. In closing this is a San Francisco Bay Regatta. The Berkeley Circle is the closest known yacht racing venue to what's called locally as the "gourmet ghetto." Without any sense of San Francisco Bay pretention whatsoever San Francisco Bay has a certain sense of style in the practice of yachting. Without mentioning names, the other San Francisco entrant, and although he may not take line honors in this competition, he may at least ascend to the gustitorial laurels. At half time between the two races this gent dined on maguro sushi (tuna) and a dragon roll. The latter being a combination of smoked eel and other savories. Not to be outdone he replenished his fluids with a small little, bottle of Nama Sake. --John Dukat
Finn Olympic Trials Day Two Second day pretty much a re-run of the the first day. Sailors are getting tired. The jury ordered some weighing in of clothing. Sanctions were imposed on one sailors whose clothing did not pass the test. Silvestri although not perfect is starting to build a commanding lead. He's now 8 points ahead of Darrel Peck. Weather was actually a little bit lighter. The race committee had trouble setting the course and even had to postpone a start when a big wind shift came through. Course are was moved and two races of about one hour each were run. In a personal note Peck came down here with his Wife and daughter. As he was leaving the dock you could hear them say "Go Daddy GO!" It was enough to bring a tear to even the most cynical eye. Home town boy Mike Moore capsize and then rolled his masthead through the mud. It moved him back in the finish order and then while trying to clear off the mud couldn't get his main up. He was ignominiously towed in by the press boat that was dropping off one wet photojournalist. John Dukat
Finn Olympic Trials Day One It all came down to the last weather mark of the last race today. Mark Herrmann of Seattle Washington held a slim 3 boat length lead for about 6 legs while being pushed by home town boy Russ Silvestri who had already convincingly won the first race. At the last weather mark Herrmann capsized on his jibe. Silvestri speeded by to his second victory of the day. Herrmann managed to recover quickly enough to take second. Darryl Peck of Gresham, Oregon showed some brilliance and had some trouble calling laylines was third taking a second and fourth. The San Francisco Bay race course displayed it's usual contrariness. The First race was a relatively light at about 10 knots of breeze which through the day built up to 15. The chop was the often murderous 1-2 foot short stuff that gave more than one Finn a substantial bouncing. One thing the wind was not was shifty. Nick Barnhill Principle Race Officer for the trials commented, " It was a race officers dream, the wind never varied." |
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