Audi Melges 20 Canadian Nationals at Port Credit Yacht Club - Day 2
by International Audi Melges 20 Class Association 21 Sep 2014 08:50 BST
19-21 September 2014
Sensational day keeps Gomes Neto's lead alive
The end of September in Canada usually means sharpening the hockey skates and battening down the hatches for a long winter, but for one more day the city of Mississauga and the Audi Melges 20 fleet were greeted with warm southerly winds which allowed for four stellar races. Once again, the Port Credit RC team did an awesome job of starting on time and banging off four high quality races worthy of a World Championship event.
Like most freshwater venues, when the wind kicks up so does the sea state and being close to the shoreline, the waves were not just tall and imposing, they had the ability to loosen molars going upwind. Downwind allowed for some awesome surfing conditions and teams who could figure out how to keep their boat on a plane did well on Day Two.
Upwind was a challenge for most teams as the steep chop presented some difficult moments, and it was Cesar Gomes Neto on Portobello that showed superior boat speed to claim the lead position around every first windward mark to sail to an impressive 1-2-1-1 on the day. John Taylor on Ninkasi was not far behind with a 4-1-2-2 but could not match the speed of Gomes Neto upwind.
Local Canadian John Messenger and his team on Black Sheep hung tough all day to sit in 3rd overall and first Corinthian after Race Seven. Rhonda Joyce on Batteries Not Required pieced together a great first race to grab a second place finish, setting up for a solid day and long battle with Justin Quigg on Character 2.0 and Brian and Melissa Hill on Atlas. Despite solid leads in both the overall and Corinthian standings, there are two shifty races on tap for the final day of the Canadians.
The breeze has been stellar and the only thing better has been the Port Credit hospitality. This truly is a great place to race Audi Melges 20s and mingle afterwards. The fleet will head to the Brogue Inn for a Saturday night party, and if the party follows the wind, it will be strong!
Results after Day 2: (top five, 7 races, 1 discard)
1.) Cesar Gomes Neto, Portobello; [2]-1-2-1-2-1-1 = 8pts
2.) John Taylor, Ninkasi; [6]-2-1-4-1-2-2 = 12pts
3.) Jon Messenger, Black Sheep; 3-[5]-3-5-3-3-3 = 20pts
4.) Justin Quigg, Character 2.0; 4-3-5-3-4-4-[6] = 23pts
5.) Brian & Melissa Hill, Atlas; 1-4-[7]-6-5-5-5 = 26pts
View Full Results