Final Day Wrap Up
2 Races (all races course 4, 4 legs and downwind finish) Wind 4-10 knots @ 310°-325°
Team Helly Hansen Wins!! It wasn’t pretty for us on the last day, but winning a major championship is excellent no matter the ending.
Congratulations to Matias Seguel and his team from Chile for giving us all we could handle the final day and moving up to second place just two points behind.
The final day of the 2013 J24 North Americans started stormy and the RC moved the course north of the Newport Bridge to better take advantage of the expected Northerly breezes and unfriendly weather.
Scattered storms, surrounding land effects and strong outgoing current made for trying conditions for the entire fleet. Once again, just staying in front of the fleet (inside the top 10) was a real challenge for us, especially since we were mainly trying to avoid the big mistake with the lead we had to start the day.
To make our stress level go up, the team from Chile (Semi Pro), who started the day in third, got the first big shift of the first race and was leading at the first mark. We got most of that first shift, but not as much as several other boats and rounded about 12th at the first mark. We worked what passing lanes we could find in the light and shifting breeze, and were able to move up to 9th by the finish.
Because Semi Pro finished the race 2nd, the standings were that we had an 8 point lead into the last race. Since our throw-out was a 9th place, if the Chile boat was to win the last race the worst we could have we could have would be a tie for the overall lead in the regatta.
Unfortunately, if they were to win the last race, they would then have the tiebreaker over us in the overall standings and win the event.
So, we needed to keep Chile from wining the last race, simple enough.
Before the start we tailed the boat from Chile and kept them from getting a very good start. However, in that process we also put ourselves into a position to have a significantly worse start and found ourselves in the last group on the racecourse. From there we were spectators, watching the boat from Chile move up the fleet from 15th, to 10th and all the way up to 3rd for the last leg. We had moved up the fleet ourselves, but we watched on as the lead boats maintained their advantage and we took the title. Not the way we would have planned it, but certainly the most stressful way to win since the last hour of the regatta was completely out of our hands and we were watching as if rooting for our favorite team on TV. Fortunately this time, our team won!
FINAL RESULTS
1 13/ USA 5235 Helly Hansen Mollicone, John 2 4 1 5 7 8 9 5 9 [17/20%] 50 1
2 4/ CHI 5464 Semi Pro Seguel, Matias 6 2 7 3 [12] 5 12 12 2 3 52 2
3 6/ ARG 5499 Elvis Cubria, Nicolas 5 10 [18] 14 1 4 2 7 15 4 62 3
4 42/ USA 5362 Cougar Welles, Will 4 14 2 17 16/10% [20/10%] 1 9 1 17 81 4
5 34/ USA 5482 Pipe Dream Marshall, Michael 14/10% 21 5 2 5 [32/ZFP] 5 10 17 7 86 5
6 7/ ARG 5463 Cacique Pendola, Sergio 16 16 6 1 3 1 10 21 [24] 18/10% 92 6
7 9/ USA 5287 team tarheel Bream, Peter 3 1 11 6 25/10% 7 16 18/10% [40] 11 98 7
8 2/ JPN 5430 Sokokumaru Shimoyama/Hillman 23/10%, 10% 8 29 18 6 2 [33/10%] 1 4 19/10% 110 8
9 29/ USA 4255 Dogfish Kinsman, Bob [40/30%] 12 16 8 18 16/10% 17 6 3 20 116 9
10 38/ USA 2021 Sticks Werner, Kris 1 9 8 9 [29] 18 6 20 22 25 118 10
11 16/ USA 2547 Buckshot Kirkpatrick, Steven 27 [32] 3 10 13 6 18 18 6 23 124 11
12 45/ USA 5432 HoneyBadger Odenbach, Travis 10 3 12 15 14 25 14/RDG 3 [44] 32 128 12
13 12/ USA 1829 BASH Medlin Jr., Ron 20 17 27/10% 4 4 14 4 27 12 [35] 129 13
14 31/ CAN 5483 Clear Air Milev, Rossi 14 5 31 21 17 18/ZFP 14 4 5 [34] 129 14
15 39/ USA 5476 Velocidad Laborde, Christopher 24 15 9 [39] 32 12 11 14 11 15 143 15
16 27/ PER 5429 Wayra Arribas, Javier 7 13 23 25 [32/10%] 24 7 13/10% 8 26 146 16
17 23/ USA 5253 3 Big Dogs Toole, Patrick 22/10% 7 27/30% 20 22 17 8 24 [31] 10 157 17
18 24/ CHI 5431 Gringa Y. Vernon, Robert 8 6 24 32/20% 2 [43/ZFP] 20 11 19 39 161 18
19 5/ ARG 5461 TWIN De Martis, Guillermo 15 11 19 16 [47/DNF] 10 3 47/ZFP 38 5 164 19
20 47/ USA 5472 Panceta Doble Wilsey, John 18 28 14 [34] 19 19 13 15 14 30 170 20
21 35/ CAN 1964 Drivers Wanted Bartlewski, Ted 22 19 4 11 26 28 26 23 [34] 21 180 21
22 15/ PER 3510 Tiamat Peschiera, Lucas 21 [37/30%] 26 12 13/10% 13 23 33/10% 27 12 180 22
23 46/ CHI 5484 La Banca Del Castillo, Raul 19 20 30 38 [47/DSQ] 3 47/DSQ 2 16 9 184 23
24 17/ USA 4520 Bubbles Neff, Taylor 32 25 15 28 30 27 15 [37/10%] 23 1 196 24
25 30/ CAN 3935 Mister H Howarth, Michael 30 29 35 7 25 29 30 [46/ZFP] 26 2 213 25
26 11/ USA 4331 Adrenaline Rush Blunden, Gregory 12 31 38 29 [41] 20 31 22 13 22 218 26
27 19/ CAN 2246 Sticky Fingers Whynacht, John 11 [47/DSQ] 28 27 15 21 25 19 32 41 219 27
28 22/ USA 5351 Murder, Inc Poulson, John 23 36/20% 21 26 33 [42/ZFP] 27 17 20 18 221 28
29 37/ USA 4119 Little Martha Clancy, Chris 38 22 25 41 10 16 21 30/10% [45] 24 227 29
30 8/ USA 4202 ZOT McNamara, Frank 35 [47/30%] 33 30 16 47/ZFP 32 39 7 6 245 30
31 36/ USA 1048 Spooky O’Rourke, John 25 24 26/20% 24 38 35 [40] 29 29 19 249 31
32 41/ BER 3942 No Skirt Required Taylor, Gary 28 18 [47/DSQ] 19 21 39/ZFP 33 16 33 47/DNF 254 32
33 44/ UAS 2109 Airodoodle Denman/Smith 36 30 20 32 24 37 22 34 25 [43] 260 33
34 10/ USA 4453 Bearlymuven Nahmias Turowski, Lindsey 43 35 37/10% 13 9 [47/ZFP] 47/30% 31 10 38 263 34
35 25/ USA 4446 On the Beach Buress, Lee 31 26 27 33 23 31 29 35/10% 28 [36] 263 35
36 3/ USA 3688 Crack of Noon Scott, Ian 34 33 10 35 36 32 [39/10%] 33 39 16 268 36
37 43/ USA 1359 Shifty Gallagher, Martin 29 [47/20%] 37 31 28 22 37 36 21 29 270 37
38 14/ USA 5256 Crash C. Greene, Roger 33 41 43 22 [47/DSQ] 26 19 38 35 31 288 38
39 33/ USA 1502 Sparky Wills, John [47/DNS] 47/30%, 30% 36 40 31 39 35 26 18 42 314 39
40 40/ USA 2324 Heffah Borden, Margaret 42 39 42 42 35 36 41 [45] 43 27 347 40
41 28/ USA 451 J-Peas R. Anstey, Paul 37 [47/10%, 10%] 34 37 47/10%, 10% 38 38 35 36 45 347 41
42 21/ CAN 3729 A-salt Rees, Ed 39 [47/DNF] 39 36 34 43 39 41 41 37 349 42
43 26/ CAN 3366 Premature Gray Blais, Stephan 41 37 40 [45] 45/10% 44 43 44 30 33 357 43
44 20/ USA 3297 Straight Jacket Tyler, Sanford 40 43 [44] 43 42 42 44 42 37 28 361 44
45 32/ CAN 2761 Humidor Connolly, Tim 44 40 41 [47/10%] 39 40 47/10% 43 42 45/10% 381 45
46 1/ USA 2243 Invictus Sheldon, Chris 45 44 45 46 43 [47/DNS] 45 46 46 44 404 46
Notes
-1 Scoring System is ISAF Low Point 2013-2016
-2 Time limit expired (TLE) penalty is: Finishers plus 2
-3 Finishes in [brackets] denote throwouts
Information is provisional and subject to modification
Principal Race Officer: Anderson Reggio
Day 3 Report
3 Races (all races course 4, 4 legs and downwind finish) Wind 10-14 knots @ 165°-175°
Day 3 was forecast to have a building breeze all day ending with up to 20 or more knots. What we saw all day was a fairly consistent breeze in both strength and direction and like Day 1, boatspeed was critical and many boats were competitive in the top of the fleet. Team Helly Hansen was fortunate to end our day, still in the lead for the regatta, with an 8th, 9th and a 5th, and the best way to sum up those scores, and the day’s performance is…“Sometimes par is good enough.”
The J-24 is a very competitive class and has a very large number of high-level sailors and teams competing at most events. The 2013 North Americans certainly illustrates that in the regatta scores to this point. There are so many competitive boats in the
46-boat fleet, that just staying near the front of the fleet is a challenge in any of the races. While our finishes have not always been at the very front of the fleet (only 3 of the 8 races have been better than 5th), we have worked hard to keep ourselves near the front.
Even small mistakes at this regatta can put a boat behind and the depth of the fleet makes it more than challenging to work your way back to the front. In golf, sometimes a player will make a bad shot and then spend the rest of the hole trying to just get a par. In this regatta, it is easy to have a bad start, get involved with another boat, or just get behind for any reason. The rest of the race is then spent trying to just get an average score, like par. The biggest challenge to achieve that goal is deciding what steps to take to move up in the fleet. In golf, after a bad shot, it is tempting try to hit the perfect shot, but that will normally result in making the situation worse. Races can be similar; have some bad fortune and it is tempting to look for one move to save your race, when such a tactic often makes the situation worse and removes any chance to gain even a few boats before the finish.
As mentioned in the reports from earlier in this regatta, when we have found ourselves behind in the fleet, we spend the remainder of the race picking off boats one or two at a time. There have been very few opportunities to make large gains in this regatta; so trying to consistently make smaller gains has been a large part of our strategy.
A good example today was in the second race (Race 7), where we were OCS and had to return to the starting line to re-start. Even on the sail back to the starting line the discussion on our boat was focused about how could we catch up. Our discussion on the return was focused around a single question, “which way do we want to exit the line after we re-start?”
It is easy to get frustrated after something bad happens, like an OCS start, but sometimes decisions made immediately after difficulty can be the most critical decisions of the race. In Race 7, our decision was to exit on port tack, and sail toward the right side of the course. That side had shown to be better the race before and was the direction we had planned before our starting error. After our initial dip and re-start, we had a sufficient lane, but not yet a ‘magic lane’ .
and after a minute or so we had to make one short clearing tack to the left before we found our ‘magic lane’ on port tack sailing toward the right side. Once sailing to the right side, we simply tried to keep the boat sailing fast and minimize the time we spent close to boats that could affect or direction or speed. In that race we were fortunate to find a lane so quickly, and one toward the favored side no less.
Something else that became apparent during our OCS re-start, and throughout all our tough races, was the atmosphere on our boat. In almost every situation, of course not all, our team is able to remain focused on doing our jobs and keeping the boat moving toward the finish line. Part of that focus is due to the fact that our crew consists of very experienced racers, but even more of a factor for our ‘calm’ during the storm is because of the time spent sailing together as a team. Our group has been sailing together, as a team, for nearly 4 years and there is no substitution for the comfort level that comes along with that time. I can tell you that we have certainly had our successes as a team, but we have also had some substantial disappointments and the cumulative affect allows us to stay focused regardless of the circumstance.
Our takeaways from Day 3 are…
1. Sometimes par is good enough.
2. Always look for the small gains since each point is valuable in talented fleets.
3. Remain focused as a team, no matter the situation.
Results after day 3
1 13/ USA 5235 Helly Hansen Mollicone, John 2 4 1 5 7 8 [9] 5 32 1
2 6/ ARG 5499 Elvis Cubria, Nicolas 5 10 [18] 14 1 4 2 7 43 2
3 4/ CHI 5464 Semi Pro Seguel, Matias 6 2 7 3 [12] 5 12 12 47 3
4 7/ ARG 5463 Cacique Pendola, Sergio 16 16 6 1 3 1 10 [21] 53 4
5 9/ USA 5287 team tarheel Bream, Peter 3 1 11 6 [25/10%] 7 16 18/10% 62 5
6 34/ USA 5482 Pipe Dream Marshall, Michael 14/10% 21 5 2 5 [32/ZFP] 5 10 62 6
7 42/ USA 5362 Cougar Welles, Will 4 14 2 17 16/10% [20/10%] 1 9 63 7
8 38/ USA 2021 Sticks Werner, Kris 1 9 8 9 [29] 18 6 20 71 8
9 45/ USA 5432 HoneyBadger Odenbach, Travis 10 3 12 15 14 [25] 25 3 82 9
10 2/ JPN 5430 Sokokumaru Shimoyama/Hillman 23/10%, 10% 8 29 18 6 2 [34/10%] 1 87 10
11 12/ USA 1829 BASH Medlin Jr., Ron 20 17 [27/10%] 4 4 14 4 27 90 11
12 31/ CAN 5483 Clear Air Milev, Rossi 14 5 [31] 21 17 18/ZFP 14 4 93 12
13 29/ USA 4255 Dogfish Kinsman, Bob [40/30%] 12 16 8 18 16/10% 17 6 93 13
14 16/ USA 2547 Buckshot Kirkpatrick, Steven 27 [32] 3 10 13 6 18 18 95 14
15 24/ CHI 5431 Gringa Y. Vernon, Robert 8 6 24 32/20% 2 [43/ZFP] 20 11 103 15
16 27/ PER 5429 Wayra Arribas, Javier 7 13 23 25 [32/10%] 24 7 13/10% 112 16
17 39/ USA 5476 Velocidad Laborde, Christopher 24 15 9 [39] 32 12 11 14 117 17
18 23/ USA 5253 3 Big Dogs Toole, Patrick 22/10% 7 [27/30%] 20 22 17 8 24 120 18
19 5/ ARG 5461 TWIN De Martis, Guillermo 15 11 19 16 [47/DNF] 10 3 47/ZFP 121 19
20 47/ USA 5472 Panceta Doble Wilsey, John 18 28 14 [34] 19 19 13 15 126 20
21 35/ CAN 1964 Drivers Wanted Bartlewski, Ted 22 19 4 11 26 [28] 27 23 132 21
22 46/ CHI 5484 La Banca Del Castillo, Raul 19 20 30 38 [47/DSQ] 3 28/10% 2 140 22
23 15/ PER 3510 Tiamat Peschiera, Lucas 21 [37/30%] 26 12 13/10% 13 24 33/10% 142 23
24 19/ CAN 2246 Sticky Fingers Whynacht, John 11 [47/DSQ] 28 27 15 21 26 19 147 24
25 37/ USA 4119 Little Martha Clancy, Chris 38 22 25 [41] 10 16 21 30/10% 162 25
26 17/ USA 4520 Bubbles Neff, Taylor 32 25 15 28 30 27 15 [37/10%] 172 26
27 41/ BER 3942 No Skirt Required Taylor, Gary 28 18 [47/DSQ] 19 21 39/ZFP 34 16 175 27
28 11/ USA 4331 Adrenaline Rush Blunden, Gregory 12 31 38 29 [41] 20 32 22 184 28
29 22/ USA 5351 Murder, Inc Poulson, John 23 36/20% 21 26 33 [42/ZFP] 28 17 184 29
30 30/ CAN 3935 Mister H Howarth, Michael 30 29 35 7 25 29 31 [46/ZFP] 186 30
31 44/ UAS 2109 Airodoodle Denman/Smith 36 30 20 32 24 [37] 22 34 198 31
32 25/ USA 4446 On the Beach Buress, Lee 31 26 27 33 23 31 30 [35/10%] 201 32
33 36/ USA 1048 Spooky O’Rourke, John 25 24 26/20% 24 38 35 [41] 29 201 33
34 10/ USA 4453 Bearlymuven Nahmias Turowski, Lindsey 43 35 37/10% 13 9 [47/ZFP] 42/10% 31 210 34
35 3/ USA 3688 Crack of Noon Scott, Ian 34 33 10 35 36 32 [40/10%] 33 213 35
36 43/ USA 1359 Shifty Gallagher, Martin 29 [47/20%] 37 31 28 22 38 36 221 36
37 14/ USA 5256 Crash C. Greene, Roger 33 41 43 22 [47/DSQ] 26 19 38 222 37
38 8/ USA 4202 ZOT McNamara, Frank 35 [47/30%] 33 30 16 47/ZFP 33 39 233 38
39 33/ USA 1502 Sparky Wills, John [47/DNS] 47/30%, 30% 36 40 31 39 41/10% 26 260 39
40 28/ USA 451 J-Peas R. Anstey, Paul 37 [47/10%, 10%] 34 37 47/10%, 10% 38 39 35 267 40
41 21/ CAN 3729 A-salt Rees, Ed 39 [47/DNF] 39 36 34 43 40 41 272 41
42 40/ USA 2324 Heffah Borden, Margaret 42 39 42 42 35 36 42 [45] 278 42
43 32/ CAN 2761 Humidor Connolly, Tim 44 40 41 [47/10%] 39 40 47/10% 43 294 43
44 26/ CAN 3366 Premature Gray Blais, Stephan 41 37 40 [45] 45/10% 44 44 44 295 44
45 20/ USA 3297 Straight Jacket Tyler, Sanford 40 43 44 43 42 42 [45] 42 296 45
46 1/ USA 2243 Invictus Sheldon, Chris 45 44 45 46 43 [47/DNS] 4
6 46 315 46
Day 2 Report
2013 J-24 North Americans Report – By Geoff Becker Day 2
3 Races (all races course 4, 4 legs and downwind finish) Wind 6-10 knots @ 215°-245°
Today was very different from Day 1 in that the conditions were more variable and the starting line had packs of boats being more aggressive. Team Helly Hansen ended the Day 2 leading the regatta with finishes of a 1st, a 5th and a 7th. On the surface those finishes look like a consistent performance, but in fact we had to work extra hard for every point on the day.
With the wind somewhat lighter and more variable in both speed and direction, there were more opportunities to gain and lose throughout racecourse. The lighter winds also seemed to make the start more significant since getting away from the line could really allow the leaders to extend early in the races. In race 3 (first race of the day), we had a great start near the left end and many of the boats near us were over the line early. After the OCS boats cleared out, we found ourselves with a great lane toward what ended up being the favored side and from there we were able to extend away from most of the fleet with a small group of boats. Once out with the lead pack, we were able to take the lead to the finish.
In races 4 and 5 we had a frustrating time with our starts. In fact, for both races we were not able to hold our lane for more than a couple of boat lengths away from the starting line. After both starts we went immediately into lane management mode and had to find a way to get a clear upwind lane ASAP! Fortunately, we did find clear lanes eventually and got to the first mark in positions that we could improve into quality finishes. Once back to the dock, a few other boats asked us, “how did you do so well with such bad starts?”
Everyone has been in a race situation where the start of the race was less than optimal, and the entire race seemed like damage control. The idea of ‘damage control’ is a good description because once behind early in a race, stopping the damage is the first priority before any real gains can be made. On our boat we have a simple and straightforward strategy for the initial tactics after a bad start; we look for a ‘Magic Lane.’
Immediately after a start where you have been pinched off, or rolled, looking for a way out is the first priority and that way out is most often getting away from the effect of other boats. Sometimes that escape lane is one tack away, but often it is two or more tacks up the course. The tactician needs to be completely focused on keeping his eyes outside the boat and planning out any tacks or ducks that will get the boat the clear wind and a position where the boat can sail straight without interference from other boats. This position is what we call the ‘Magic Lane’.
After the ‘magic lane’ is achieved, the boat should now be in a position to make tactical decisions to begin moving up in the fleet.
Remember, getting free of traffic needs to be the first priority before making any real attempts to gain back positions in the race. We often see boats with bad starts getting into small battles with other boats before the ‘magic lane’ is achieved. Since a ‘magic lane’
requires that you are free from interference of other boats, staying away from other boats, and certainly out of smaller battles, is a prerequisite. In many cases you are going to want to let any boats just ahead of you to cross you, regardless of what tack you are sailing, sending them away from your vicinity. Using your starboard tack to make a boat tack on your leebow, is exactly the opposite strategy needed when in search of your ‘magic lane.’
Lastly, after finally getting free and sailing in your ‘magic lane,’
normal tactics can begin to be applied to the racecourse. In most cases the best overall strategy after a getting clear from a bad start will be to look for smaller gains by picking off a boat or two at a time. It can be tempting to look for a home run to catch up quickly, but remember, the race just started and there will likely be many opportunities to make up places during the remainder of the race.
Swinging for the fence early in a race can easily see you strike out and put your boat so far behind that there will be almost no chance for a good finish in the race.
Our takeaways from Day 2 are…
1. Avoid congested areas on the staring line.
2. Work hard on finding a ‘magic lane’ after a bad start before other strategies.
3. After a frustrating start, look for opportunities to make small gains the whole race and avoid taking large tactical risks, especially early in a race.
Day 2 Results:
1 13/ USA 5235 Helly Hansen Mollicone, John 2 4 1 5 [7] 12 1
2 4/ CHI 5464 Semi Pro Seguel, Matias 6 2 7 3 [12] 18 2
3 9/ USA 5287 team tarheel Bream, Peter 3 1 11 6 [25/10%] 21 3
4 7/ ARG 5463 Cacique Pendola, Sergio [16] 16 6 1 3 26 4
5 34/ USA 5482 Pipe Dream Marshall, Michael 14/10% [21] 5 2 5 26 5
6 38/ USA 2021 Sticks Werner, Kris 1 9 8 9 [29] 27 6
7 6/ ARG 5499 Elvis Cubria, Nicolas 5 10 [18] 14 1 30 7
8 42/ USA 5362 Cougar Welles, Will 4 14 2 [17] 16/10% 36 8
9 45/ USA 5432 HoneyBadger Odenbach, Travis 10 3 12 [15] 14 39 9
10 24/ CHI 5431 Gringa Y. Vernon, Robert 8 6 24 [32/20%] 2 40 10
11 12/ USA 1829 BASH Medlin Jr., Ron 20 17 [27/10%] 4 4 45 11
12 16/ USA 2547 Buckshot Kirkpatrick, Steven 27 [32] 3 10 13 53 12
13 29/ USA 4255 Dogfish Kinsman, Bob [40/30%] 12 16 8 18 54 13
14 2/ JPN 5430 Sokokumaru Shimoyama/Hillman 23/10%, 10% 8 [29] 18 6 55 14
15 35/ CAN 1964 Drivers Wanted Bartlewski, Ted 22 19 4 11 [26] 56 15
16 31/ CAN 5483 Clear Air Milev, Rossi 14 5 [31] 21 17 57 16
17 5/ ARG 5461 TWIN De Martis, Guillermo 15 11 19 16 [47/DNF] 61 17
18 23/ USA 5253 3 Big Dogs Toole, Patrick [22/10%] 7 13 20 22 62 18
19 27/ PER 5429 Wayra Arribas, Javier 7 13 23 25 [32/10%] 68 19
20 15/ PER 3510 Tiamat Peschiera, Lucas 21 [37/30%] 26 12 13/10% 72 20
21 47/ USA 5472 Panceta Doble Wilsey, John 18 28 14 [34] 19 79 21
22 39/ USA 5476 Velocidad Laborde, Christopher 24 15 9 [39] 32 80 22
23 19/ CAN 2246 Sticky Fingers Whynacht, John 11 [47/DSQ] 28 27 15 81 23
24 41/ BER 3942 No Skirt Required Taylor, Gary 28 18 [47/DSQ] 19 21 86 24
25 30/ CAN 3935 Mister H Howarth, Michael 30 29 [35] 7 25 91 25
26 37/ USA 4119 Little Martha Clancy, Chris 38 22 25 [41] 10 95 26
27 17/ USA 4520 Bubbles Neff, Taylor [32] 25 15 28 30 98 27
28 36/ USA 1048 Spooky O’Rourke, John 25 24 26/20% 24 [38] 99 28
29 10/ USA 4453 Bearlymuven Nahmias Turowski, Lindsey 43 35 [46/30%] 13 9 100 29
30 22/ USA 5351 Murder, Inc Poulson, John 23 [36/20%] 21 26 33 103 30
31 44/ UAS 2109 Airodoodle Denman/Smith [36] 30 20 32 24 106 31
32 46/ CHI 5484 La Banca Del Castillo, Raul 19 20 30 38 [47/DSQ] 107 32
33 25/ USA 4446 On the Beach Buress, Lee 31 26 27 [33] 23 107 33
34 11/ USA 4331 Adrenaline Rush Blunden, Gregory 12 31 38 29 [41] 110 34
35 3/ USA 3688 Crack of Noon Scott, Ian 34 33 10 35 [36] 112 35
36 8/ USA 4202 ZOT McNamara, Frank 35 [47/30%] 33 30 16 114 36
37 43/ USA 1359 Shifty Gallagher, Martin 29 [47/20%] 37 31 28 125 37
Day Two- PRELIMINARY Results38 14/ USA 5256 Crash C. Greene, Roger 33 41 43 22 [47/DSQ] 139 38
39 21/ CAN 3729 A-salt Rees, Ed 39 [47/DNF] 39 36 34 148 39
40 33/ USA 1502 Sparky Wills, John [47/DNS] 47/30%, 30% 36 40 31 154 40
41 28/ USA 451 J-Peas R. Anstey, Paul 37 [47/10%, 10%] 34 37 47/10%, 10% 155 41
42 40/ USA 2324 Heffah Borden, Margaret [42] 39 42 42 35 158 42
43 26/ CAN 3366 Premature Gray Blais, Stephan 41 37 40 [45] 45/10% 163 43
44 32/ CAN 2761 Humidor Conn
olly, Tim 44 40 41 [47/10%] 39 164 44
45 20/ USA 3297 Straight Jacket Tyler, Sanford 40 43 [44] 43 42 168 45
46 1/ USA 2243 Invictus Sheldon, Chris 45 44 45 [46] 43 177 46
____________________________________________________________________________________
2013 J-24 North Americans Report – By Airwaves writer Geoff Becker
Team Helly Hansen Skipper: John Mollicone Tactican: Tim Healy Trimmer: Geoff Becker Mast: Collin Leon Bow: Gordon Borges
Day 1 Report
2 races (both races course 4, 4 legs and downwind finish) Wind 12-15 knots @ 335°-345°
Two words, “perfect conditions!” You could not have asked for a better day to start any regatta, with a 12-15 knot seabreeze and 70° temperature. Today is why we all love to sail and be out on the water.
To top it off, Team Helly Hansen ended the day in great position with a 2nd and a 4th, which has us sitting comfortably in 2nd place overall.
Because the conditions were so consistent during both races, no large shifts and fairly even wind speed across the course, the races came down to getting away from the starting line cleanly and having good speed around the track. Keeping lanes clear of other boats and bad air is always a large part of the tactical decisions on days with such consistent sailing conditions. Today did not offer many opportunities to make large gains using windshifts, puffs, or lulls, so keeping the boat going full speed all the time was our main goal throughout the day.
Fortunately, at this regatta, we are sailing the boat we regularly sail and one we have put a significant amount of time into the setup and learning to make go fast. Being comfortable with your speed is definitely an advantage in conditions like today, but it isn’t a guarantee to finish at the top. On consistent weather days, staying out of trouble and keeping lanes clear seems like a simple enough plan, but with almost 50 boats trying to do the same thing, it is always a challenge.
In the two races today, we got away from the starting line in good shape and were able to stay on starboard tack until Tim made the decision to make our first tack on the first upwind leg. Often, a poor lane off the starting line, forces a boat to make that first tack in a less than optimal position early in a race. In a consistent, straight-line racecourse, finding a strong first crossing lane after the start, can be the difference between the top of the fleet and back in the fleet at the first mark.
Our main focus in the prestart was to have an option to continue sailing on starboard tack until we made the decision to tack across the course on port. The best way to set up this strategy is having a position on the starting line with a comfortable space to leeward after the start. A good size leeward gap off the starting line can best provide the maximum amount of time on starboard giving the tactician the option to wait until the best tacking lane becomes available after the start. That lane might be inside the first minute, or it could be several minutes into the race, either way having a comfortable space to leeward gives the best opportunity to find the best possible crossing lane whenever it is available.
After finding your best, first lane off the starting line, keeping lanes clear both upwind and downwind allows the boat the ability to sail at full speed as much as possible. Often, sailing away from packs of boats is better in these consistent conditions, since packs of boats can slow each other down and prevent clean lanes for any of the boats in the pack. Simple sailing conditions require simple tactical strategies…Get off the line clear, stay away from packs of boats and keep your lanes clear allowing the boat to sail at full speed.
Our takeaways from Day 1 are…
1. Today’s conditions are why we all do this!
2. In consistent winds, get off the starting line with the option of staying on starboard until the tactician finds the best crossing lane.
3. To keep the boat sailing full speed as much as possible, stay away from packs and keep lanes clear both upwind and downwind.
Remember, Sail1Design offers professional, private coaching. The author of this piece is one our coaches!
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RESULTS AFTER DAY 1
1 9/ USA 5287 Team Tarheel Bream, Peter 3 1 4
2 13/ USA 5235 Helly Hansen Mollicone, John 2 4 6
3 4/ CHI 5464 Semi Pro Seguel, Matias 6 2 8
4 38/ USA 2021 Sticks Werner, Kris 1 9 10
5 45/ USA 5432 HoneyBadger Odenbach, Travis 10 3 13
6 24/ CHI 5431 Gringa Y. Vernon, Robert 8 6 14
7 6/ ARG 5499 Elvis Cubria, Nicolas 5 10 15
8 42/ USA 5362 Cougar Welles, Will 4 14 18
9 31/ CAN 5483 Clear Air Milev, Rossi 14 5 19
10 27/ PER 5429 Wayra Arribas, Javier 7 13 20
11 5/ ARG 5461 TWIN De Martis, Guillermo 15 11 26 11
12 23/ USA 5253 3 Big Dogs Toole, Patrick 22/10% 7 29 12
13 2/ JPN 5430 Sokokumaru Shimoyama/Hillman 23/10%, 10% 8 31 13
14 7/ ARG 5463 Cacique Pendola, Sergio 16 16 32 14
15 34/ USA 5482 Pipe Dream Marshall, Michael 14/10% 21 35 15
16 12/ USA 1829 BASH Medlin Jr., Ron 20 17 37 16
17 39/ USA 5476 Velocidad Laborde, Christopher 24 15 39 17
18 46/ CHI 5484 La Banca Del Castillo, Raul 19 20 39 18
19 35/ CAN 1964 Drivers Wanted Bartlewski, Ted 22 19 41 19
20 11/ USA 4331 Adrenaline Rush Blunden, Gregory 12 31 43 20
21 41/ BER 3942 No Skirt Required Taylor, Gary 28 18 46 21
22 47/ USA 5472 Panceta Doble Wilsey, John 18 28 46 22
23 36/ USA 1048 Spooky O’Rourke, John 25 24 49 23
24 29/ USA 4255 Dogfish Kinsman, Bob 40/30% 12 52 24
25 17/ USA 4520 Bubbles Neff, Taylor 32 25 57 25
26 25/ USA 4446 On the Beach Buress, Lee 31 26 57 26
27 19/ CAN 2246 Sticky Fingers Whynacht, John 11 47/DSQ 58 27
28 15/ PER 3510 Tiamat Peschiera, Lucas 21 37/30% 58 28
29 22/ USA 5351 Murder, Inc Poulson, John 23 36/20% 59 29
30 16/ USA 2547 Buckshot Kirkpatrick, Steven 27 32 59 30
31 30/ CAN 3935 Mister H Howarth, Michael 30 29 59 31
32 37/ USA 4119 Little Martha Clancy, Chris 38 22 60 32
33 44/ UAS 2109 Airodoodle Denman/Smith 36 30 66 33
34 3/ USA 3688 Crack of Noon Scott, Ian 34 33 67 34
35 14/ USA 5256 Crash C. Greene, Roger 33 41 74 35
36 43/ USA 1359 Shifty Gallagher, Martin 29 47/20% 76 36
37 10/ USA 4453 Bearlymuven Nahmias Turowski, Lindsey 43 35 78 37
38 26/ CAN 3366 Premature Gray Blais, Stephan 41 37 78 38
39 40/ USA 2324 Heffah Borden, Margaret 42 39 81 39
40 8/ USA 4202 ZOT McNamara, Frank 35 47/30% 82 40
41 20/ USA 3297 Straight Jacket Tyler, Sanford 40 43 83 41
42 28/ USA 451 J-Peas R. Anstey, Paul 37 47/10%, 10% 84 42
43 32/ CAN 2761 Humidor Connolly, Tim 44 40 84 43
44 21/ CAN 3729 A-salt Rees, Ed 39 47/DNF 86 44
45 1/ USA 2243 Invictus Sheldon, Chris 45 44 89 45<
br />46 33/ USA 1502 Sparky Wills, John 47/DNS 47/30%, 30% 94 46
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