The third and final day of the Larchmont NOODs saw a delay in racing until noontime when the wind filled in enough out of the SSW to get off one long race for each of the 14 one-design classes participating. One hundred and thirty boats circled idly waiting for the competition to begin and many crewmembers swam in Long Island Sound to cool off from the unseasonably warm 80-degree weather. But when the warning guns sounded on the two circles the final racing of the series got even hotter.
The J/105 fleet saw new class member Kerry Klingler, the current J/80 world titleholder, sail his newly commissioned Magic to the top spot. Klinger, who bought the boat so his family could spend more time sailing together and still provide him with a boat to race, was relaxed about the late start. I knew what the forecast was and it was just a matter of time before the wind filled in, said Klingler. We took the opportunity to swim and clean the bottom. Britt Hughes didnt go swimming from his J/24 Shogun, but the Stratford, Conn. native won the 18-boat class by winning two races and never finishing out of the top five. Hughes was crowned the J/24 Long Island Sound Champion as well as winning the Lewmar Boat of the Day for having Saturdays lowest score.
In the race for other class titles Tony Da Lia and his Zero Gravity team came back to win the final race and secure the Henderson 30 North American title. John Raymond onboard Quixote secured the J/92 North Americans winning 5 races and finishing second in the other two. The 8-boat J/30 East Coast Championship was won by Joe McCanns Paddy Wagon from Glen Cove, N.Y. Peter Johnson from Buffalo, N.Y. won the J/27 North Americans and Michael Lague from Stewartsville, N.Y. and his Flash team held off Martin Kalds Monster Lady to win the J/80 East Coast Championship.
1999 Soverel 33 champion Erik Will from Sodus Bay, N.Y, won the Soverel 33 National title again. Wills BushWacker team has been sailing together for many years. The secret to my success, said Will, are the dedicated friends who have crewed with me for almost 20 years. We face some stiff handicap competition on Lake Ontario but you cant beat one-design racing. Almost every boat in the class had speed at one time during the regatta, we just got some awesome starts and stayed consistent.
The Farmers Family Award went to J/120 class winner Robert Carballal. His wife Teresa and sons, Matthew and Dean crewed onboard Sunday Driver. The Larchmont NOOD is hosted by the Larchmont YC and presented by Farmers Insurance and Mount Gay Rum.
