Star District Championship-Final
Marina Del Rey
All 15 teams were back out on the Santa Monica Bay today for the final three races of the District 5 Championship.
The conditions for race 4 (first of today) were 9 knots from the southwest, sunshine and smooth seas. Danny and i had a good srart down at the left end of the line. We managed to get to the first mark first. Down the run we got in a bad lane and Ben Mitchell with Hollywood Hal crewing got past us. We caught them just before the top mark but did not quite get around them. Results of race 4 was Mitchell, Cayard, Dave Watt, Doyle and Szabo so the battle for the championship was getting tight.
Race 5 saw Szabo and Doyle take first and second while Steve Gould and Greg Seek sail a great race, leading at the first Mark and finishing third. Danny and I were 4th with Jim Buckingham in 5th.
Going into the final race, Szabo and Doyle were one point apart but it was a who beat who. Mitchell and Cayarf were tied for third. Szabo and Doyle got out front early and Szabo held the lead. Danny and I were in the top 4 at the first mark while Mitchell was in 12tg.
Up the second windward leg, a block in our main sheet system broke and I had to go to the aft deck and implement a bit of seamanship. That cost us a few places including Mitchell who was going fast in the 12 knots of wind.
On the final run, while winning the race and Championship, Szabo’s boat rolled hard on a wave and he lost his crew overboard. Doyle sailed by and went on to win the race and the Championship. Mitchell and Haenel finished 3rd while Danny and I finished 6th.
Overall:
- Doyle, 2) Szabo, 3) Mitchell, 4) Cayard, 5) Buckingham.
I am headed to Boston to join my team on Phoenix, a TP52, for the New York Yacht Club Race Week.
Paul
