Carruthers Remains in Top Spot
CHICAGO (September 20, 2014) – It could be anyone’s regatta in the third and final day of the International Etchells Class North American Championship on Sunday. With two races to go, the top eight teams just nine points apart and four teams tied for second place, tomorrow’s races will decide who is the top Etchells team in North America.
Despite a stormy afternoon forecast, 32 teams from all over the world competed in two races out of the Chicago Yacht Club’s Belmont Station in the second day of the regatta.
“Today was a challenge because of the offshore breeze,” said PRO Lynn Lynch. “There was a good twist from the top to the bottom of the course, but I’m pretty happy with the calls we made and keeping the course as square as possible. The Race Committee responded really well to all of the changes and last-minute decisions.”
“We did what we could with the conditions and got in two good races,” Lynch continued. “Tomorrow we’re looking forward to an even bigger breeze, a steady northerly wind.”
Through six races, Elizabeth, skippered by Tom Carruthers (San Diego YC), remains in the top spot with 20 points. But the next four Etchells teams, each with 21 points, are tied for second place.
Bruce Nelson, who is sailing on Firing Line, moved into seventh place today and is hopeful for another strong day of racing on Sunday.
“We’re hoping to crack the top five tomorrow if we have another good day,” Nelson said. “This is a tough fleet. A lot of these teams were training for the Etchells Worlds, so we’re feeling good just hanging around these guys.
“This has been a really great regatta – good turnout, good competition. The Chicago Yacht Club has been a great host. We’ve been blessed with really nice wind each day, and tomorrow looks even better.”
The International Etchells Class North American Championship runs through Sunday, September 21 at Chicago Yacht Club’s Belmont Station. The event began on Thursday with a practice day followed by three full days of racing.
Complete results are available here.
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Top 10 Results
Day 2, Cumulative Bow/Sail Number/Boat Name/Skipper/Race 1-2-3-4 [TO] Total
1. 15, USA 1411, Elizabeth – Thomas Carruthers/Andrew Palfrey/Chris Busch 1-3-2-8-6, [12], 20 2. 2, USA 1397, Raging Rooster – Peter Duncan/Jud Smith/Tom Blackwel 10-6-6-7-1-1 [10] 20 3. 4, USA 1262, SCIMITAR – Steve Benjamin/Chris Larson/Scott Norris
3-1-8-4-5-16 [16] 21 4. 21, USA 1404, Lifted – Jim Cunningham/Mark Ivey/Jeff Madrigali/Bryn Bachman 4-7-9-1-3-6 [9] 21 5. 10, USA 1372, Aretas – Jon McClean/Skip Dieball/Jeff Eiber
2-11-4-2-2-27 [27] 21 6. 69, NZL 1348, The Horn – Anatole Masfen/Dirk Kneulman/Andrew Wills 7-4-1-9-4-11 [11] 25 7. 17, USA 1398, Firing Line – Bruce Nelson/Glenn Burton/Jon Easley
9-19-5-5-7-3 [19] 29 8. 19, USA 1137, La Tormenta – Shannon Bush/Curt Oetking/Brad Boston 8-2-14-3-9-8 [14] 30 9. 5, AUS 1391, Tango – Chris Hampton/Ian Walker/Matthew Johns
14-10-3-25-14-2 [25] 43 10. 8, USA 1373, Victory – Buddy Cribb
12-5-10-17-8-9 [17] 44
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