Bermuda International Invitational Race Week - Day 2
by Talbot Wilson 25 Apr 2012 08:16 BST
22-27 April 2012
Bermuda International Invitational Race Week day 2 © Talbot Wilson
Fishers Island IOD in catbird seat for ‘A’ Series Win
Peter Rugg took the helm for the Fishers Island team today and steered his IOD of the day, #10 named Bounty, to a 2-1 performance. Adding that to John Burnham’s top performance on Sunday, the team now leads the IOD ‘A’ series by 8 points over Giles Peckham of Cowes UK. With one throw out race, Fisher’s Island should be assured of winning the seven-race ‘A’ series.
Provisional Results were delayed by a complicated protest in a mark rounding. It involved three boats and Rugg’s Bounty was one. Peter McCausland from Nantucket was eventually disqualified for not giving room to Bermuda’s Craig Davis in Peppercorn and Rugg in Bounty, the inside boat which was force in to touch the weather mark with rights in the crowded rounding.
Burnham and Rugg sailed on Day 2 with the yellow Bacardi Spinnaker because of their winning performance on among the IOD class on Sunday. Tomorrow they will be the target again sailing in Shadow.
Thompson in a first-place Etchells groove
Bermuda’s young Etchelles crew led by Will Thompson, with Sommers Kempe and Adam Barboza aboard, had won the fourth race of the series on Sunday and now took up today where they left off Sunday. They had a flawless day winning both races with little pressure from their fleet. They have found the groove and are sailing fast.
Thompson now has seven points, two over second place veteran Tim Patton who fell to 4-4 today. The third Bermuda Etchells co-skippered by John Hele and Paula Lewin is in third at the halfway point in the series. The James Hudleston-Valdimir Kolinchenco team from Great Britain is the top international team, one point away from Hele/Lewin. Eleven races are scheduled for the Etchells Class through Thursday.
“I kept my head inside the boat today and let the crew do the tactics,” Thompson said. “It was my job to make the boat go fast and my crew did an excellent job getting us around the course.” Thompson finished the second race half a leg ahead of Lewin, about four minutes.
Racing was postponed Monday because of weather. The wind today on the Great Sound was fluky following a frontal passage in the morning. It went from 250º at the start of the first race to 215º for the second race; and from 5kts early, it filled in to 9-10kts by the end. Shifty conditions made for some lead changes and the leaders seemed to be able to cash in on the changes.
Smith Paces Laser Class
On the laser course each race was a windward leg followed by a reach and a windward leeward on an offset course. Past Sunfish world champion Malcolm Smith continued to pace the fleet. He had a 2-3 on the day and continued as the leader. Two-time Race Week winner Rockal Evans slipped back to third behind Laser veteran Brett Wright.
Bermuda sailors hold the top four places in the Lasers. Tobin Young from Canada is the top visitor. He is in fifth place some 20 points down from the leader. Thirteen races are scheduled for the Lasers which have completed seven after today.
Bacardi’s Bermuda International Invitational Race Week action continues Wednesday in the waters of Bermuda’s Great Sound. The annual event organized by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club will conclude Friday April 27. The Comets held all of their races on the opening Sunday with Stevie Dickenson and Patricia Young taking the silver. See www.biirw.bm for details, stories and photos.
Race Week got started Saturday evening with a welcoming reception for competitors, the race committee, sponsors and guests at Bacardi Headquarters. Tuesday night the social schedule continued as everyone was invited to the RBYC for a “Cuba Libre” buffet dinner at 6:30PM followed by a Bacardi DJ party on the club terrace. Prizes will be awarded Friday April 27th at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.
The Bermuda Department of Tourism is the official host for Race Week, Yabsta provides event web hosting at www.biirw.bm and Bermuda Blue has provided regatta wear for event volunteers.
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club facilities are open to all during Bacardi’s Bermuda International Invitational Race Week.
Inaugurated by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in 1927, Bermuda International Invitational Race Week presented by Bacardi has become an established international yachting fixture each spring - attracting top skippers from all over the world. Bermuda Premium Spirits Limited, local distributor for BACARDI® rum, is the sponsor and has been for the past 13 years. All classes with an active local racing program in Bermuda may invite international sailors to participate in Bermuda International Invitational Race Week. International participation is required for a fleet to compete.