Despite today's dismal wind forecast for the Chesapeake Bay, PRO Keith Jacobs opted to send the fleet out while keeping his fingers crossed.
As the fleet rounded Tolly Point, they were greeted by a light southerly that looked a lot like the beginnings of an Annapolis sea breeze. Jacobs wasted little time getting a course set up and the nine contending teams got going in race #5 for the series. The current was at the end of the ebb which caused the wind to be less than stable. A huge right shift at the top mark caused a number of place changes and those able to jibe around the mark were rewarded with good position on the run. The second beat was shorter and squared up with the breeze but still featured numerous changes as the wind remained stubbornly fluky. Mass Maritime picked it best and took the bullet with Navy finishing second and Maine third. Regatta leader KP could manage only fourth. However, Navy flew an I flag for an incident with Coast Guard so gained no points on KP for the race. The 6th and final race got underway after the flood had begun and the breeze seemed to solidify out of around 140 deg. Navy, Coast Guard and Mass led out to the left while KP was forced to tack right after getting buried at the start. KP found the jackpot however with not only current relief but also fresh pressure and a significant right shift to lead at the weather mark followed by Mass and Navy. Navy followed close on the run and got the best of Mass and KP on the jibe to lead into the gate. KP opted for the right gate (looking downwind) leaving Navy and Mass the left gate and the apparently favored right side for the second beat. Navy extended to the far right while Mass was forced to tack. KP found a seam of breeze on the left and passed Mass moving up to second behind Navy who needed two boats between themselves and KP to win the regatta. But KP stuck close on the run finishing second to Navy's first to secure the championship by two points over Navy. Congratulations to King's Point who sailed a tremendous series to win the 2011 McMillan Cup! A huge thanks to Keith Jacobs and his NASS Race Committee volunteers as well as Chief Judge Dan Trammell and all the volunteer safety officers who helped make this year's Mac Cup happen. Next up for Navy Offshore Sailing is the Kennedy Cup which runs 4-6 November. Best regards, Jahn 1. King's Point 3,1,2,2,4,2 14 2. Navy 2,2,1,6,4,1 16 3. Mass Maritime 1,6,4,5,1,5 22 4. St. Mary's 5,4,5,1,6,6 27 5. Maine Maritime 7,8,7,3,3,5 33 6. SUNY 3,7,6,4,9,7 36 7. Coast Guard 10,3,3,10,7,4 37 8. Army 6,5,8,7,7,8 41 9. Vermont 10,10,10,10,8,9 57 Jahn S. Tihansky Director, Varsity Offshore Sailing Team United States Naval Academy 410-293-5608 (office) 410-293-5233 (fax) [email protected] http://usna.edu/SailingTeam/newsite/VOST/#info.html ________________________________________________ icsa mailing list [email protected] http://www.collegesailing.org/mailman/?listname=icsa Unsubscribe: Send a blank email to [email protected]
