NYYC Invitational Cup U.S. Qualifying Series: September 2010

New York Yacht Club, Newport, RI

The 2010 NYYC IC U.S. Qualifying Series is an invitational fleet racing regatta to be sailed in Sonars and J/22s for qualifying and consolation rounds. Twenty-four yacht club teams from around the country has been divided by draw into two twelve-team groups. After a two-day Preliminary Series, the top six in each group will meet in the Championship Series in Sonars, with the top three teams in the final series qualifying for an invitation to the NYYC Invitational Cup held in Swan 42 Class yachts in September 2011. The bottom six in each group will meet in a consolation series in J/22s. This series is the only opportunity for U.S. Yacht Clubs to earn an invitation to the 2011 NYYC Invitational Cup.

Championship Series RESULTS - Preliminary Series RESULTS - Kattack TRACKING

Saturday, September 11, 2010

On the water

It's Eastern (43), Annapolis (53) and Newport Harbor (56) who have taken the top three spots.

43 points in 12 races (averaging just over 3.5 pts/race) is a pretty impressive record in this fleet. Congratulations to the Eastern team!!

I'm signing off for now...

Race #12 finishes

Newport Harbor, Bayview, American, Eastern, Annapolis, Indian Harbor, San Fran.
then four boats abreast....my guess from close, but not on, the line is Fishing Bay, Ft Worth, Pequot, Carolina; then Larchmont

coming down the run

Newport Harbor wiht a big lead....pending protests, they should qualify!

American and Bayview neck and neck for 2-3, Eastern in 4, Annapolis in 5

sorry, lost internet for a bit...

OK, I know it's a critical time, but I didn't invent the internet!
Both American and Newport Harbor having great races. On the second beat, American is hard left, Newport Harbor hard right. American needs the leverage and following NH wasn't going to help. Newport Harbor going to cross....

Race #12 start

Not as packed at the right end, but boats still looking for lanes right. Eastern OCS and went back.

Newport Harbor was up in the middle and able to cross Ft Worth who led out of the right. American tacked on an early layline, but with the slackening current, was able to just shoot up at the mark and round ahead of Newport Harbor. Ft Worth third, then Bayview, Indian Harbor, Eastern, Pequot, San Fran, Annapolis, Carolina, Fishing Bay, Larchmont

OK, corrected scores

Apparently we got a few of the close calls in Race #10 backwards, so the totals we now have are:
Eastern - 39
Annapolis - 48
Newport Harbor - 55
American - 61
Larchmont - 64

But that's only if NHYC beat Pequot in Race #11, otherwise their total goes up 1

Race #11 finish

Eastern holds off Annapolis. Larchmont a comfortable third. Bayview 4th, then we think Newport Harbor, with an incredible run, came from about ninth to just catch Pequot for 5th (though Pequot may be fifth), then American.

REALLY rough scores are:
Eastern - 40
Annapolis - 47
Newport Harbor - 55
American - 60
Larchmont - 64

Sooo...pending protests, and I understand there may be a few, it looks like Eastern and Annapolis have clinched spots in the top 3, and Newport Harbor, American and Larchmont will do battle for third

Race #11 beat

Everyone started right and went right...the whole fleet played the right side short-tacking along the restricted zone. Lots of tacking and looking for clear lanes in the lighter current.

Eastern the early leader with Annapolis and Larchmont in the top group. American did a penalty turn after the start, but have minimized their tacks and gained big. Pequot around the mark 4th, Bayview, American, San Fran, Newport Harbor, Fort Worth (rd flag), then Indian Harbor, Fishing Bay and Carolina

Race #11 about to start

Wind has filled back in more solidly across the course. Current still ebbing pretty strong and boats are gathering by the boat end again so they can go right to get in less current.

One minute to go.

Maybe some protest issues from Race #10

Apparently there is one (or more) protest(s) filed in the last race against boats that may have crossed a restricted zone near the shore by the Navy Base. There is a string of white buoys along the shore that are an obstruction in the SIs and while short tacking on the right side to keep out of the current, it is alleged that boats may have crossed that line. Might be tough to prove, but could shake things up...

Photos from today

Race 8 windward mark

Race #9 start

Pequot close up - Ben concentrating

Race 10 windward mark

Race #10 finishes

Newport Harbor wins by a bunch.
Then we think Annapolis just edges Carolina (but official scores may be the other way).
Then a toss up with American and Eastern for 4-5.
Then San Francisco, Fort Worth, Pequot, Fishing Bay, Indian Harbor, Bayview, Larchmont

Approx. scores (not sure on a couple of those finishes) now:
Eastern - 38 or 39
Annapolis - 45
Newport Harbor - 50
American - 53 or 54
Larchmont - 61
Indian Harbor - 67
San Francisco - 67
Pequot - 68
Bayview - 74
Fishing Bay - 82
Fort Worth - 85
Carolina - 89

Newport Harbor played the current perfectly on the second beat and now has a huge lead. Annapolis next, then American, Carolina and Eastern. Gap to San Fran, then Fort Worth, Pequot and Fishing Bay. Indian Harbor, Bayview and Larchmont bringing up the rear.

Windward mark

Eastern led, then Annapolis, Carolina, American San Francisco, Newport Harbor with a red flag (but no incident here) Fort Worth and Pequot

Fishing Bay, Indain Harbor (red flag), Bayview and Larchmont almost a leg behind the leaders.

Stuck to the left...

Larchmont really struggling, Bayview also stuck left with Indian Harbor and FIshing Bay

Race #10 beat

Leaders tack to the right to get out of the current and now coming back with better breeze and angle.
Eastern, Annapolis, American, Newport Harbor, Carolina all looking good.

Who's HOT and who's not...

So in the Gold fleet, Eastern (2-5-3), Indian Harbor (7-2-1) and Larchmont (5-3-4) are HOT.
Bayview has turned their results around with 6-4-2 finishes today.
Struggling so far today are Newport Harbor with 10-11 finishes following a bullet in the first race.
Also San Francisco has fallen off the pace with a 3-11-12 today.

But the race is on for the third spot. Indian Harbor, Pequot and San Fran will really have to turn it on to catch the group now tied for 3rd, but the conditions are tricky so much can happen.

Race #10 sequence underway...

Silver fleet scores

SILVER totals (top five):
St. Francis - 22
Seawanhaka - 40
Southern - 41
Ida Lewis - 46
San Diego - 46

Updated scores...

So we think the points total are as follows (again, wait for the official scores):
Eastern - 34
Annapolis - 43

Three-way tie for the critical third spot!! I'll let you scoring gurus break it...
Newport Harbor - 49
American - 49
Larchmont - 49

Indian Harbor - 57
Pequot - 60
San Francisco - 61
Bayview - 63
Fishing Bay - 73
Fort Worth - 78
Carolina - 86

OK, I'm back...

Sorry, had to run in to pick up the videographer...
Race #9 now complete. Four boats that got flushed after the start got in fresh breeze to the right and had a private battle for the top four the rest of the way. So Larchmont, Bayview, Eastern, Larchmont (Bayview/Eastern might be the other way around). Then Pequot led the rest of the pack to finish 5th, then American, Fort Worth, Carolina, Annapolis, Fishing Bay, Newport Harbor and San Francisco.

Race #9 windward mark

Larchmont will round first, followed by Eastern, Bayview and Indian Harbor.

Race #9 start

Pequot punched up at the windward end and has the early lead. Newport Harbor won the pin and is leading out to the left. Eastern, Bayview and Larchmont all got flushed out and forced right, but now they seem to have the best wind on that side, so they may be back in the race.

Race #9 start sequence

Coming up on two minutes. Course has definitely shortened as the current was making the previous course seem very long upwind.

Race #8 finishes

American wins, followed by Indian Harbor, Larchmont, Bayview and Eastern. Annapolis, Fishing Bay, Carolina, Fort Worth, Newport Harbor, San Fran and Pequot.
We'll see if there are any protests and there may have been an OCS that didn't return.
Scores after Race #8:
Eastern 31
Annapolis 34
Newport Harbor 38
American 43
Larchmont 45
San Francisco 49
Pequot 55

Second WM

American leads, followed by Indian Harbor, Larchmont, Bayview and Eastern. Then Annapolis, Fishing Bay, Carolina, Fort Worth, San Fran, Newport Harbor, Pequot. Red flags flying on Fort Worth and Indian Harbor.

Race #8 second beat

wind is getting a bit patchier...still some puffs, but definitely some light areas. Fleet split and right side worked better. American now in the lead and Indian Harbor second. Bayview and Annapolis coming out of the left.

Current is RIPPING...

Boats are really struggling to get around the top mark, especially those coming in on port and tacking under the starboard line up.

Race #7 results

Newport Harbor had won race #7 with Eastern second. So Eastern now leading with 26 points, then Annapolis and Newport Harbor tied in second at 28 points. San Fran now in fourth at 38 points.

Live now...

Sonars have rounded the windward mark in Race #8 (that's the second race today). Bayview led but hit the mark. Larchmont was next but had to make two short tacks to get around due to the current. American fouled and did a quick spin...

Tight at the top!

In addition to trying to win this regatta, teams in the Gold Championship fleet are aiming at a top three finish. The top three clubs will be invited to be the U.S. teams, in addition to New York Yacht Club, that will be invited to the 2011 NYYC Invitational Cup presented by Rolex that will be run in Swan 42s in September 2011.

With the top seven teams within 13 points, all of those teams have a good chance to finish in the top three. Consistency will be the key. The other five teams will really need to string together some top finishes to make a serious move up, but that might be possible with the top seven battling each other.

The Silver Consolation fleet is also vying for the top three spots that will get them invited back to the next U.S. Qualifying Series in 2012. St. Francis and Seawanhaka have the early lead, but the next FOUR teams are within one point for the critical third spot.

Still another beautiful day!

Welcome to the final day of the NYYC Invitational Cup U.S. Qualifying Series. Six more races are planned today and it's a spectacular day in Newport, RI. Not a cloud in the sky, northerly winds 8-10 knots predicted to build slightly before lightening later. High tide is at 1036, so the ebb tide (which will be more in line with the wind today as opposed to across the course) will be building all morning and really ripping by mid-day.

Friday, September 10, 2010

That's it from on the water...

See you tomorrow

Race #6 photos

tight windward mark rounding in the Sonars

J/22s on the first run

Race #6 finish

Looks like this will be the final race for the day.
Newport Harbor wins and leads the race to the Hospitality Tent!
then Larchmont, Fort Worth, Bayview, Carolina, Pequot, Eastern, Annapolis, American, Indian Harbor, San Francisco, Fishing Bay
UNOFFICIALLY we have the scores at:
Annapolis - 24
Eastern - 26
Newport Harbor - 27
American - 32
Pequot - 35
San Francisco - 35
Larchmont - 37

Race #6 second windward mark

It's Newport Harbor, then Larchmont, Fort Worth, Carolina, Bayview, Pequot and Eastern. Then Annapolis, Indian Harbor, American, San Fran and Fishing Bay. This will tighten the standings if those positions hold.

Race #6 second beat

Newport Harbor from the left just tacked on Larchmont from the right. Bayview made some gains from the right. Fort Woth and Carolina right in the mix with Pequot up on the layline.

Race #6 J/22 windward mark

Ida Lewis leading St. Francis

roundings

Newport Harbor leads, then Carolina, Larchmont, Annapolis, Indian Harbor...really tight pack...Fort Worth, American, Bayview, Pequot gets to the inside of that pack, Eastern, Fishing Bay, San Fran...last eight all really tight.

Race #6 approaching windward mark

Carolina on port, Newport Harbor on starboard....

Half way up the beat

Carolina crossed everyone to the right and now coming back left, but Newport Harbor went a little further left and JUST ducking Carolina. Fort Worth also looking strong further left and Fishing Bay OK up on their hip.

Photos from Race #5

tight finish with Newport Harbor at pin covered by Indian Harbor. Carolina closest to the boat.

The winners of race #5 - Pequot (Becca & Susan Dellenbaugh, Ben Kinney and skipper David Rosow sitting)

Race #6 start

'Z' flag flying again
Clean start
Carolina wins the pin...Fort Worth getting flushed. Fishing Bay also in bad air at pin, San Fran buried in the middle. Bayview headed right. Newport Harbor and IHYC trying to hold their lanes. Larchmont looking good going right. Carolina just tacked from left and crossing everyone else right now in a left shift.

Race #5 finish

Pequot with a solid win. American JUST holds off Eastern, then Annapolis, Fishing Bay, Fort Worth, Bayview, Newport Harbor, Indian Harbor, Carolina, Larchmont, San Fran.

Newport Harbor, Indian Harbor, Carolina within feet and it could get scored in a different order, but think Carolina was behind the other two.

Race #5 Sonar second windward mark

Pequot still solid lead over American who rolled Eastern and Annapolis, Fishing Bay, gap, Fort Worth, Bayview, Indian Harbor, Carolina, Newport Harbor, Larchmont, San Fran....several of the leaders well back in the pack!

Race #5 J/22 windward mark

St. Francis again, followed by Rochester, Seattle, San Diego, Southern, Seawanhaka, Little T, Long Beach, Boston, St. Pete, Ida, Stamford

Race #5 roundings

Pequot, Annapolis, Eastern, Fort Worth, American, Fishing Bay, Bayview (overstood), Newport Harbor, San Fran, Larchmont, Carolina, Indian Harbor.
Don't have to gybe immediately with slackening current, so more tactical options on run.

Race #5 approaching windward mark

Pequot should lead with Annapolis next. Larchmont, San Fran, Newport Harbor, Indian Harbor, Carolina in the last group.

2/3 up the beat

Pequot looking solid in the middle and ahead of six boats to the right of them. Annapolis, American and Bayview up on each other's hips and going to be in the front group.

Left hand shift

Boats on the left now coming back in a puff and left shift. San Fran had to tack back onto port below the pack that was going to cross them. Newport Harbor now tacked back from the right and not looking particularly strong. Bayveiw furthest left up on American's hip.

Here we go again...

Race #5 start - 'Z' flag 20% penalty now flying for anyone OCS. Clean start. Fishing Bay wins the boat, Pequot clear lane just below them, Bayview with a good start down by the pin. Newport Harbor forced right from the boat end. San Fran and Larchmont also got flushed.

Sonar Race #5 start

General Recall! Current is slackening and the fleet was really pushing the line...

Photos from Race #4

Pequot in #10 punched at the start

Cheers on the west coast

Does Jon Pinckney's boss know what he's doing right now?
We think the totals are now:
Annapolis - 12
San Fran - 12
Eastern - 14
Newport Harbor - 17
American - 21

Sonar Race #4 finishes

We're not right there,but commentators are saying Newport Harbor, Annapolis were 1-2.

J/22 second windward mark

St. Francis with a big lead. Rochester, Seawanhaka, Long Beach, San Diego will be in the next group, then St. Pete.

Windward Mark

Annapolis crosses Newport Harbor and forces Fort Worth to tack and circle around...ouch! Annapolis, Newport Harbor, San Fran, Fort Worth, American, Larchmont, Pequot, Eastern, Fishing Bay, Bayview, Indian Harbor, Carolina. Most boats doing an early gybe with the strong current.

Approaching 2nd Windward Mark

Newport Harbor now leading. San Fran lost three boats at the end of the run and now looking second or third. Annapolis looking good to the right, Fort Worth looks good to the left and just crosses San Fran.

J/22 Race #4 windward mark rounding

Rochester leads, then St. Francis, Seawanhaka, Long Beach, San Diego, Boston, Little Traverse, Ida, Southern, Stamford, St. Pete, Seattle

Race #4 Approaching windward mark

The group of five on the left got into the puff and shift best and now with a healthy lead over the fleet, though they appear overstood and may lose some of the gap. San Francisco, Newport Harbor, Fort Worth, Annapolis, American in that order....Pequot 6th, then Eastern, Larchmont. Carolina had to bail with the current. Indian Harbor next, but in contact with Bayview...both protesting. Fishing Bay, then Carolina.

Puff rolling down the course...

Pretty light in the middle and right. There's a big puff rolling down the course, so the angle will be key as the fleet is spread out across the course. American leading the left, Fort Worth and San Francisco with a big wind up in the middle now leading the fleet.

I wouldn't want to start at the pin...

...with the current. Fleet is generally up the line. Newport Harbor was the most punched in lower middle of the line, but wind is lighter on left side, so boats up higher are looking stronger including Annapolis. Bayview struggling and had to tack. Carolina and Larchmont in the back row for now as well.

Race #4 in sequence

Start in about 3 minutes...
By my calculations (we are not the official scorers), Eastern and San Francisco are tied for the lead at 9 points with Annapolis at 10 points. American at 15, Newport Harbor at 16, Indian Harbor at 18.

J/22 Race #3 finishes

St. Francis wins, then Seawanhaka and Southern (but may be the other way around...they were all together), Little Traverse 4th, Ida, San Diego, Rochester, Seattle, St. Pete, Boston, Long Beach and Stamford.

Current is RIPPING...

Wind is northwest about 12-14. Current is at max-ebb and flushing out the Bay at well over a knot and pretty much perpendicular to the course running right to left. The start/finish is just above the bridge near the Navy base and the axis of the course is slightly diverging from the Bridge. We have to be careful not to get sucked into one of the bridge pilings while we're blogging!

OK, we're now live...

...or at least as live as we get!
Sonars just completed Race #3: American, Fishing Bay, Eastern, San Fran, Newport Harbor, Annapolis, Indian Harbor, Pequot, Larchmont, Fort Worth, Bayview, Carolina

Championship Fleet

In looking at the results for teams that qualified for the Gold fleet, while many of the top teams had nearly identical scores in both the Sonars and J/22s, some teams appear to have a strong preference for one over the other. For instance, American had 23 points (tied for the lowest of any team) in the Sonars and 55 in the J/22s. They should be happy. Bayview, Indian Harbor, San Francisco and Carolina had better scores in the J/22s.

GOLD & SILVER

The Preliminary Series was completed on Thursday and the fleet has now been divided into GOLD and SILVER fleets. The top six from both the red and blue fleets are now in the Championship Gold Fleet, while the bottom six teams from the red and blue fleets are in the Consolation Silver Fleet. Gold will sail in Sonars; Silver will be in J/22s. All scores from the Preliminary Series are now history...teams start with a clean slate.

LIVE Commentary - VHF 84

If you're out on the race course or nearby on land, tune in to VHF channel 84 to hear live commentary from on the water. Commentators are NYYC members Clay Bischoff and Blake Kimbrough.

Racing underway...

We'll be out on the water blogging soon, but racing is underway.
Cooler weather today with a great northerly breeze. It's blowing about 15-18 now and the forecast is for similar or slightly dropping the rest of the day.
The race area is up north of the Newport Bridge today on the east side of the bay near the Navy Base. Not enough room to get in the full race course with Rose Island in this breeze direction.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

J/22 Race #14 finishes

San Francisco pulls away, then Pequot (looks like they may have made it through), Bayview (not bad for a Moth sailor Bora), Seawanhaka, Newport Harbor (with red flag), Ida Lewis, Carolina, Seattle, Little Traverse, Boston, Stamford and American (or the other way around)

It's gotten up to around 14 knots by day's end...

We're headed in. There are definitely a few protests (at least one left over from yesterday), so the final results will take a while, but look for the preliminary scores here.

Sonar Race #14 finishes

Indian Harbor, Eastern , Annapolis, San Diego, St. Francis, Larchmont, Rochester, Long Beach, Fishing Bay,Southern, Ft Worth, St. Pete

remember, these are not official!

J/22 Race #14 second beat

quick glimpse as we went by...San Fran, Bayview, Pequot are the leaders

Sonar Race #14 windward mark

Indian Harbor still leading. Eastern slides into second from the port layline. Annapolis, San Diego, St.Francis, Larchmont, Rochester...all very tight...gap...then Long Beach, Fishing Bay, Southern, St. Pete.
Rochester just did a spin...maybe a mark touch...so they've drop back to the boats behind.

J/22 Race #14 windward mark

San Francisco tacks in front of a big pack to lead, Bayview, then Newport Harbor, Seawanhaka, Pequot, Stamford, Seattle, Carolina (nice comeback), Ida, American hit the mark and doing a 360, Boston, then American, Little Traverse...American doing another turn for fouling Boston (rule 18.3) at the windward mark.

Blue Fleet Race #14 start

Carolina was OCS and returned.

They're off...

Fishing Bay was OCS and returned, but forced to go right...everyone else headed left.

start of Red race #14

Indian Harbor now leading around the windward mark...

AP is down...

Final race #14 in sequence

Power issue resolved...LAST race coming up

short postponement while they reset the course. Here are some photos from the Sonar windward mark rounding in Race #13:

Larchmont leading in

St. Francis right behind

Fort Worth just ahead of San Diego

losing battery life...

may need to stop blogging.

more shots...

shots from earlier...

Bayview in J/22 form

J/22 Race #13 windward mark

Newport Harbor, Bayview, Carolina, San Fran, Boston, Ida, Seattle, Seawanhaka, Stamford, Pequot, American, Little Traverse

Red Sonar Race #13 windward mark rounding

Larchmont, St. Francis, Eastern, Annapolis, Southern, Fishing Bay, San Diego, Ft. Worth, Rochester, Long Beach, Indian Harbor, St. Pete

Sonar Race #13 start

Larchmont leading off the pin end. Eastern, St. Francis, Ft. Worth have clear lanes moving up the line. Annapolis has stepped up to the right and looks OK with Fishing Bay up on their hip the farthest right. Fleet is all lined up on starboard heading left.

J/22 Race #12 finishes

Pequot by a ton! Then Bayview. Carolina and San Fran battling for 3rd...San Fran just edges them. Newport Harbor will edge Boston, then Ida, Seattle, Seawanhaka, American, Little Traverse, Stamford.

Red Race #12 finishes

Southern wins, followed by Indian Harbor, then Annapolis. Ft. Worth, St. Francis, St. Pete, Eastern, Larchmont, Fishing Bay, Rochester, Long Beach, San Diego. Very close in the middle pack.

Blue Fleet Race #12 leeward gate

Pequot with a HEALTHY lead, then Carolina and Bayview. San Francisco next, then Newport Harbor (having a good day). Boston in 6th, gap, then Ida, American, Little Traverse, Seattle, Seawanhaka (going right), Stamford

Middle of the course...Race #12

J/22s two-thirds up the beat...Pequot, Carolina, Boston, Newport Harbor looking strong.

Sonars - Southern with a nice lead...Indian harbor, Eastern, St. Pete in the next group. Remember, someone was OCS and didn't go back...

Fleets have switched...Red Sonar Race #12

Several boats OCS
Rochester and Larchmont off the line, San Diego went back, but 'X' still flying...someone's going to get a nasty surprise.
Fishing Bay, St. Pete, Southern, Eastern all have clear lanes...everyone on port now

J/22 Race #11 finishes

Larchmont wins! Fishing Bay holds off Annapolis, then Long Beach (nice recovery!), Southern (right side worked on the second beat), [I think Long Beach actually took Annapolis right at the line], St. Francis, Eastern, St. Pete, San Diego, Ft. Worth, Indian Harbor, Rochester

Sonar Race #11 finishes

Newport Harbor wins, then Pequot, then American. Bayview pulled into 4th, followed closely by Seawanhaka and Carolina. small gap to Seattle, then Ida, San Fran, Boston, Little Traverse and Stamford.

Middle of the course...

J/22s - Larchmont now leading, recently tacked on Fishing Bay, but Fishing Bay now back on a port tack lift from the left. Annapolis also up there...though Fishing Bay and Annapolis may be overstood with the current.

Sonars - on final run...Newport Harbor now with nice lead, Pequot second with big gap over American in third. Then a bigger gap and a group of six boats vying for 4th.

J/22 Race #11 leeward gate

Annapolis in the lead, then Fishing Bay, St. Francis...gap to Eastern, then Larchmont...gap...then a close pack...San Diego just ahead of Indian Harbor taking the inside at the right buoy. Ft Worth and Long Beach just behind them at the right. Rochester, St. Pete and Southern rounded the left buoy at the same time.

Sonars at the gate

Pequot extending over Newport Harbor, both with a good gap over Seattle in third. Bayview, American, Carolina, Ida all lined up across about 4 BLs back of Seattle, then another three lengths to Seawanhaka, Boston, San Fran.

Sonars on the run...

Pequot in the lead by several lengths over Newport Harbor. Then a gap to a group with Ida, Carolina and Seattle. Next group has Boston, American, Bayview, San Fran. Seawanhaka in touch with that group. Little Traverse and Stamford a ways back for now.

Up the course...

J/22s - left side definitely more wind. Fishing Bay in the lead, Annapolis next, Eastern and St. Francis also in the top group that is crossing any pretenders from the right.

J/22 first beat

Fishing Bay stepping out nicely to leeward of the fleet. Annapolis holding strong up on their hip. Big puff in their near future. Left side seems stronger early on. Indian Harbor winning the right after OCS.

J/22 Race #11 start

Indian Harbor too early at the pin and went back around. Long Beach also OCS. Annapolis punched in the middle. Fishing Bay leading to the left. Ft. Worth and Rochester together winning the upper end of the line.

Sonars on the beat

Bayview tacked over toward American and tack\s on them forcing American back to the right. Meanwhile Newport Harbor got a nice puff from the left, tacked and seems to be in a good position. Pequot a ways back on their hip, but also in good shape.

Sonar start

Newport Harbor likes and wins the pin, San Fran up on their hip. Bayview, Ida, Carolina clear on the upper end. Pequot punched in the middle. American started at boat and tacked to port. Bayview appears to be the most punched.

Race #11 in sequence

This will be the last race for the each group in their current fleet of boats...they will switch after this race for the final three races.

Photos from this morning

Red Fleet J/22 Race #10 finishes

St. Pete justs holds off Long Beach! San Diego edges Fort Worth. IHYC, Fishing Bay, Eastern all right behind. Annapolis 8th, Larchmont, Rochester, Southern, St. Francis.

J/22 coming to the finish

St. Pete still leading. San Diego, Long Beach, Fort Worth, Indian Harbor all in the mix.

the rest of the story...

Little Traverse just edging Pequot for 7th, then Carolina, Boston, Stamford and Seattle.

Sonar Race #10 finishes

American with a strong win. Newport Harbor slapping fives coming into the finish in second. Ida JUST edging Bayview with a puff in the last 10 boatlengths. San Fran 5th, Seawanhaka 6th, then a big gap.

Newport Harbor making their move...

A little separation and a nice lane of puff...they appear to be in a solid second now. American still leading. Ida and Bayview neck and neck for 3rd....all a matter of getting the next puff.

from the middle of the course...

Sonars coming down the run....American with a nice lead, looks like Bayview in second, Ida right in the thick of things. Newport Harbor off to the right (looking downwind) and in a puff, so they could be in the top group.

J/22s on the left seem let down...all J/22s on port now...current going right to left pretty strong. St. Pete should still have strong lead as they stepped back across at the right time.

J/22 second beat

Almost everyone is on starboard now...a few tacking back. St. Pete still in the lead.

Up the course the Sonars on the starboard layline seem to have a righty puff...top 5 have rounded.

J/22 leeward gate

St. Pete with a 3 BL lead over a clump including San Diego, Southern and Long Beach; then IHYC, then Eastern and Larchmont, then Fishing Bay and Fort Worth....that whole group from 2nd to 9th all within boatlengths. St. Francis, Rochester, Annapolis pulling up the rear, but definitely in touch with the pack!

Sonar beat

Seawanhaka has positioned themselves well to the right of the top four and is looking strong early on the beat. American seems to have scootched forward (if that's a word) to leeward and ahead of Newport Harbor.

Sonar leeward gate...

Newport Harbor made a nice move getting a little separation and will round the gate first. Other four are really tight. Ida pulling the group in a bit, still in 6th.

So it's NHYC around the left gate, American around the right, then San Fran left and Bayview right at the same time, then Seawanhaka left just behind San Fran. Ida right about 8 BL's back.

RC is showing a "C" flag for change of course and mark will be set about 20 degrees to the left.

Carolina and Pequot ahead of the next group, but a pretty big gap behind Ida.

Blue Fleet Race #10 run

American leading on the run; group of Bayview, Seawanhaka, San Fran, Newport Harbor about 5 BL's behind...then a big gap to Ida in 6th

Pretty shifty...

Wind is northwesterly and it's pretty shifty. Some big wind ups (and let downs) on both side. Current strong from right to left in the middle of the course, but starting line is pretty protected from the current.

Red Fleet J/22 Race #10 start

St. Pete at the pin, Southern more punched above them in clear air. Ft Worth at boat, tacks to the right; Larchmont the only other boat at that end and in a strong position to windward of the fleet. Ft. Worth now back on starboard and looks to be crossing the fleet.

Blue Fleet Race #10 start

Newport Harbor wins the pin; American just above them, tacks and is crossing the fleet. Carolina and Pequot leading the group to the right and have tacked to port right away.

NHYC and American look to be the early leaders. Ida up on their hip.

Race #10 in sequence

The start/finish line is right by the south end of Goat Island. The windward mark is all hte way up by the south end of Rose Island. Breeze is still around 8-10. Sunny with some puffy clouds. Mid-70s so far.

End game strategies...

Different teams will have different strategies going into the final five races in the Preliminary Series. The goal is to make the top six in their group of twelve to move into the Championship Series. No scores will carry over, so getting there is the key...it doesn't have to be pretty. And the Championship Series will be sailed all in Sonars. Some teams have struggled in the J/22s (or vice versa), but if they make it to the top group, can focus on sailing the Sonars.

Top teams coming into today can simply maintain...not take too many chances and work on the finer points of boathandling, etc. Teams in the 8-10 range need to make some moves...so maybe take a few chances and try to string together some top finishes. There is a tight bunch in the 4-9 range in the standings, so teams may also have to be conscious of the other teams and be able to keep track of the scores so they know who they may have to beat or stay close to in the final race or two.

Red Race #9 finishes

Fishing Bay, Larchmont, Rochester, Annapolis, Indian Harbor, Eastern, San Diego, Long Beach, Fort Worth, St. Pete, Southern, St. Francis

Red Fleet J/22s on final run

Fishing Bay with a nice lead, then Larchmont, Rochester and Annapolis...

Blue Fleet Sonar Race #9

Coming to the finish of a W4...Seawanhaka leading with Carolina nipping at their heels. Should be able to hold them off. American 3rd, Newport Harbor next, Bayview, then San Fran, Seattle, Pequot, Boston, Ida, Little Traverse, Stamford (Pequot and Seattle probably the other way around.

Results & Tracking

Results will be updated throughout the day. You can also watch live tracking of the racing.

It's a BEAUTIFUL day!

Racing is about to get underway on Thursday, Sept. 9. The RC has announced that they are planning six more races today in the Preliminary Series; three races in each class (Sonars and J/22) for each group. The scores are really tight in the battle to make the top six in each group, so there is a lot on for many teams today.

Wind is WNW at around 8-10 knots and is forecast to build during the day. Tide was really high this morning at 0855, so current will be ebbing most of the day (moving right to left across the course), so that should make the start and windward mark roundings additionally interesting.

New York Yacht Club, Newport, RI

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Friday, September 10, 2010

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Wednesday, September 8, 2010