San Diego Bares its Teeth on Day 2
San Diego Bares its Teeth on Day 2
The wind kicks up on Day 2 at the Sperry Top-Sider San Diego NOOD, sending two sailors to the hospital and many others for a refresher course in heavy-air sailing.
SAN DIEGO-With the International 14s doing their annual tour of San Diego Bay, the Ultimate 20s almost had the South Bay Course to themselves. Despite a brewing storm, which eventually knocked five of the 14 boats out of commission, the majority of the class used the opportunity to rip through four races on Day 2 of the 2008 Sperry Top-Sider San Diego NOOD Regatta.
Showing heavy-air aplomb most certainly learned sailing on her home waters in Northern California, Trish Sudell blitzed the fleet in the first two races, winning both and vaulting up the overall standings. However, her move to the top was arrested in the second half of the day with a first in a sixth. Fellow Richmond YC member Trent Watkins, who'd entered the day in a tie for first, had a steady if not spectacular quartet of races. He is now all alone in first, with Mark Allen in second three points back. Sudell is third.
The attrition rate was slightly higher for the International 14s, who sailed one quick two-lap windward-leeward, then embarked on a distance race. Just nine of 16 finished the distance race. Two-time Olympic medalist Charlie McKee took control of the regatta by winning both races. With three wins in five races, McKee has a 10-point lead over Paul Galvez in second. Galvez, however, is only two points ahead of Alan Diercks in third and three points in front of Dalton Bergan in third.
The racing was no less taxing out on the ocean. In fact, two sailors ended their day in an ambulance, one after dislocating his shoulder, the other after taking a dip in the chilly 60-degree Pacific Ocean. After called Friday's conditions some of the most challenging he's seen off San Diego, Chick Pyle said that Friday was a walk in the park compared to today. And Pyle won both races. He has six-point lead over Gary Tisdale and Don Finkle. But Pyle will likely need a new main trimmer tomorrow as his spent the evening at the hospital getting his shoulder reorganized.
In fact, Pyle's performance was part of a trend on the Far Ocean course as in four of five classes, the same boat won both races. Tim Hirsch took a commanding 7-point lead in the Flying Tiger 10M class while Steve Wright's French Toast won both races in the Beneteau 40.7. In the six-boat J/109 class, Thomas Brott's Electra won both. John Luan's J/120 Caper just missed, finishing with a first and a second. He has a one-point lead over Chuck Nichols' CC Rider.
Will Stout has got himself on quite a run in the Etchells class, winning the last four races. However, he's carrying a ninth from his first race and leads the class by a single point over Chris Busch, with Friday's lead Brian Camet in third four points back. Two other teams swept their three races on the Near Ocean Course. Ian Trotter won all three J/24 contests while Curt Johnson did the same in the J/80.
Racing in the 2008 Sperry Top-Sider San Diego NOOD will conclude tomorrow. More wind and rain is expected.
