International Canoe US National Championship at Sail Newport - Day 1
by Anthony Lowther 23 Aug 2015 08:26 BST
22-23 August 2015
The International Canoe US National Championship opened to cloudy conditions and a building 7 knot north-easterly pushing into the moorings outside Sail Newport.
The race course was set just north of the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge, keeping to the west of the main channel. A small swell filled in from the north, but wake from passing working and power boats kept the chop on course confused.
Mike Costello on Dance Commander scored a perfect day with 3 straight bullets, Steve Gay nipping at his heels and finishing the day on 8 points including a tough 4th place in the last race. Steve and Will Clark sit poised to compete tomorrow for 3rd position. The conditions tested the patience of the fleet with unpredictable wind variations mixed with tossing wave patterns. Of note, Will Platt, sailing a canoe for only his third time ever made it the 3 miles upwind to the course before retiring back to harbour.
Racing concludes Sunday with another set of 3 races planned.
Results after Day 1:
| Pos | Helm | Sail No | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Mike Costello | 228 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | Steve Gay | 245 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| 3 | Will Clark | 249 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| 4 | Steve Clark | 257 | 3 | NS) | 2 | 12 |
| 5 | John Kells | 244 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 13 |
| 6 | Anthony Lowther | 250 | NS) | 5 | 6 | 18 |