2005 Grey Goose ISAF Team Racing Worlds - Day 4

Strong winds on day four of the 2005 Grey Goose ISAF Team Racing World Championship © Dan Nerney

Blown out after 10 races

The New York Yacht Club's (NYYC) Race Committee got the racing rotation underway promptly at 9:00 a.m. on day four of the 2005 Grey Goose ISAF Team Racing World Championship in a valiant effort to beat the wind gods. A weather prediction that included high wind warnings for most of coastal Rhode Island ultimately came to fruition, but only after 10 races were successfully completed in a breeze that was building to 25 knots.

Competitors were flying around the course in their supplied Vanguard 15s when the apparent edge of the frontal passage made itself known with gusts of 30 knots recorded on Rose Island which anchors one side of the race area. The decision by organizers to bring the sailors back to Harbour Court was later borne out by the weather service that recorded gusts to 47 mph shortly before noon. At 1:00 p.m. the decision was made to cancel racing for the remainder of the day.

The gold fleet saw the completion of six races this morning, with AUS 1 racking up two strong wins over AUS 2 and IRL 2. AUS 1 are the reigning Australian Open Team Racing Champions with team members Rod Chamberlain, Caroline Ross, Tim Cubit, Emma Flukes, Stewart Wells and Michael Sorrell-Saunders -- who, at age 15, is this event's youngest competitor. At the other end of the age spectrum is Canada's David Sprague, the 55-year old former president of the Canadian Yacht Association. Although Canada has yet to see a win in this series, losing this morning to the US Virgin Islands in its only outing today, Sprague is hoping to use this event to generate more excitement for team racing in Canada.

In the silver fleet, four races were completed among teams who are jockeying for position in hopes of avoiding the first knockout round. Racing resumes tomorrow, Friday, September 30, and concludes Saturday, October 1, when awards will be presented at Harbour Court followed by Closing Ceremonies. Competing are two teams each from Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand and the U.S.A., and one team each from Canada, the Czech Republic, Italy, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In addition to title sponsor Grey Goose, supporting sponsors are North Sails, Vanguard Sailboats, Ribcraft Inc., Ronstan, Sailing World and Sentient Jet Membership. Suppliers are American Lighthouse Foundation, Bagel Boys, Barry Motors, Challenge Electronics, Conanicut Marine Services, Crystal Spring Water Company, Heineken, Hyatt Regency Newport Hotel and Spa, International Yacht and Athletic Club, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Jailhouse Inn, Jamestown Ferry, Newport Harbor Hotel, Newport Lobster Company, Newport Tent, North Flags, R.I. State Yachting Committee, Rolex Watch U.S.A., Sailing Foundation of New York, and Team One Newport. The organizing authority for the championship is NYYC, ISAF and US SAILING, the United States' Member National Authority (MNA) of ISAF.

Complete results, competitor bios and photos of the action are available at the NYYC's website at www.nyyc.org