MHeadNOOD07-Fri_Story
MARBLEHEAD, Mass.-The longest-running, most respected and largest sailboat racing regatta series in North America, the Sperry Top-Sider National Offshore One Design (NOOD) Regatta, continued its second day of sailing in Marblehead with a turnout of 187 boats, or over 2,000 sailors in 12 boat classes. Rob Gorman (Marblehead, MA), the overall Marblehead NOOD Regatta winner in 2006 took a commanding lead today in Viper 640 class series. If Gorman continues to sail well, the local sailor could earn his fourth consecutive victory in Marblehead. Jonathan Cressy (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) continues to lead the Rhodes 19 fleet after today’s race. Although Cressy has been the frontrunner over the past two days, Kim & Christina Pandapas (Marblehead, MA) are still in contention to win and will do their best to try and earn their sixth straight victory in Marblehead.. 2005 Town Class fleet winner Arthur O’Neill (Swampscott, MA) overtook lead in the series after today’s race. Dave Anderson (Marblehead, MA), who led the class yesterday, now trails O’Neill by one point. The Colgate 26 class hit the water today for the first time at this year’s event with John A. Devine (Lynn, MA) pacing the fleet in the class series. The Corinthian and the Skud-18 fleets both hit the water today for their first day of sailing as well. Ron Vener (Marblehead, MA) took the top spot for the day in the Corinthian class, while the Skud-18 fleet was led today by Scott Whitman (Brick, NJ). David Carlson and his boat Mojo led the J/24 class today, while David Bows claimed the top spot on the day for the J/30 class series. Both Kevin Colcord and Peter & Doug Morgan tied as leaders in the J/105 class after today’s race. Gregory Hefler (Milton, MA) remains the leader for the Etchells class after today’s race, while Charlie VanVoorhis (Mattapoisett, MA) captured the top spot in today’s IOD class race. The Sonar class, the largest fleet competing in Marblehead, was led today by Bill Lynn & Ed Keller (Marblehead, MA). Lynn & Keller took the lead in the series, but must continue to sail well, as they are competing against 39 other boats. Racing continues tomorrow Saturday, Jul 28 and concludes on Sunday, July 29 where the overall winner will be named. That boat will receive a Sunsail charter during the 2007 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta Championship, in the British Virgin Islands, where they will compete against the overall winners from each stop on the nine-regatta Sperry Top-Sider NOOD circuit. For more information on the 2007 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta in Marblehead, including daily reports, results and exclusive Web reports by Sailing World editors, go to www.sailingworld.com. Sperry Top-Sider is the national title sponsor of the Marblehead, Mass., NOOD, which is presented by Sailing World. Support sponsors joining the event include Gill, Sunsail, North Sails, Mount Gay Rum, Active Network, Ocean Equipment and Budweiser Select. The 2007 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta Series will sail next into Larchmont, New York, on Sept. 8-9. Additional venues for 2007 include Annapolis, Md., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Detroit, Mich., Houston, Texas, Chicago, Ill., San Diego, Calif., and St. Petersburg, Fla. Created by Sailing World in 1988, the NOODs attract close to 2,000 boats and more than 30,000 competitors and spectators annually. Each event in the series features three days of sailboat racing for one-design models from 20 to 70 feet in length. In addition to local sailors, sailing’s top stars – including America’s Cup and Olympic champions – are well-represented at the NOODs. Competitive sailors rate the NOODs as the top national event in each region of the country.
