2008StPetePGTh
While the first race for the 49-boat Melges 24 class started in a promising breeze, the wind quickly died away. Prints of this photo and others available at http://noodregattas.smugmug.com.
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Chip Till and his crew on Tunnel of Love, one of 25 J/24s sailing in the 2008 Sperry Top-Sider St. Pete NOOD Regatta, goes for an unconventional approach to the starting line, coming from windward of the committee boat with 30 seconds until the gun.
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Mike Carroll and Marty Kullman’s New Wave leads two other Melges 32s toward the leeward make. The Melges 32s were the only of the Circle B boats to get a second beat in before the race committee shortened all courses.
The crew of John Taylor’s Melges 32 Ninkasi scrambles through a complicated windward douse and jibe during Race 1.
With the finish line just a few feet away, two Melges 24s sit becalmed, anxiously trying to lock up a solid finish. Paul Hulsey’s Hoodlum, foreground, won the race, finishing under jib in very light and shifty winds.
Paul Hulsey’s team, still becalmed; the finish line, which was through the leeward gate, in sight.
While the first few boats crawled across the line fairly well separated, the breeze filled lightly from behind and the finishes came fast and furious in the middle of the pack, with most of the boats aiming for the right-hand gate, looking downwind.
While the first few boats crawled across the line fairly well separated, the breeze filled lightly from behind and the finishes came fast and furious in the middle of the pack, with most of the boats aiming for the right-hand gate, looking downwind.
While the first few boats crawled across the line fairly well separated, the breeze filled lightly from behind and the finishes came fast and furious in the middle of the pack, with most of the boats aiming for the right-hand gate, looking downwind.
While the first few boats crawled across the line fairly well separated, the breeze filled lightly from behind and the finishes came fast and furious in the middle of the pack, with most of the boats aiming for the right-hand gate, looking downwind.
Two J/105s almost going in opposite directions as they try to keep their spinnakers full as they approach the finish line.
Steve Olinger’s J’Makin’ Waves tries the low road while Kevin Grainger’s Gumption 3 defends its wind against another boat hoping to make a last-second pass.
