2021 Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup at San Diego Yacht Club - Day 2

2021 Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup - Day 2 © Mark Albertazzi

Sailing is a sport that requires a whole lot of patience. As good a sailor as you may be or as experienced as you are, there's nothing you can do about Mother Nature on the racecourse. San Diego is well-known for being a venue with moderate wind. As frustrating as light wind can be (like today), it takes a truly skilled sailor to navigate in those conditions.

The second day of the Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup started with nearly an hour-long postponement while Race Committee waited for the breeze to fill in. Once the first race, Race 5, got started, the San Diego Yacht Club team picked up right where they left off. Skipper Tyler Sinks got in front of the fleet at the start and extended his lead throughout the race.

2021 Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup - Day 2 - photo © Mark Albertazzi

Before the second race of the day, the winds died back down, resulting in another postponement for just under an hour. The teams took the midday break to eat their lunches and work on their tans...we are in San Diego, after all. The break also gave the fleet time to work on strategy for the next race, which seemed to pay off for some.

The remaining two races of the day allowed for movement in the scoresheet. The course shifted from 215 degrees in the first race to 190 degrees in the second. Compared to the 315 degrees from yesterday, it was almost like an entirely new racecourse...just another exciting reason to sail in South San Diego Bay.

Race 6 was won by Newport Harbor Yacht Club (4th) and Race 7 by New York Yacht Club (2nd). Although sailing well and in the top five of the fleet on day one, Race 7 is NYYC's first win of the regatta. The team finished the day with a 4, 9, 1.

"The last race went very well for us. We had a good start finally. The first day we had four bad starts but still ended up ok. Today I listened to my team and collectively we've had good boat speed. It's been really hard to see upwind, so Taylor's job has been pretty difficult," said NYYC Skipper Jon Singsen.

2021 Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup - Day 2 - photo © Mark Albertazzi

Giving NYYC a run for their money is local team Coronado Yacht Club. Skipper Scott Harris has sailed an incredibly consistent regatta, placing in the top half of the fleet in every single race. Harris' practice for the Lipton Cup was last weekend's International Masters Regatta.

"I just listened to the tactician," started Harris. "Just take a look at my crew. They're some of the best sailors I've ever sailed with. We're thinking the trick tomorrow is to make sure SDYC drinks some tequila tonight," he joked.

NYYC and CorYC are currently sitting within one point of each other on the scoresheet, which is exactly how they finished after the first day. The current standings leave the teams with 32 and 33 points, 18 points behind SDYC in first. While the top three spots on the scoresheet remain the same today, there is still time for several yacht clubs to show off their skills and earn their place on the podium.

2021 Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup - Day 2 - photo © Mark Albertazzi

Sailors enjoyed a dock-side social today after the races. The final day of racing will resume tomorrow, Saturday, October 30.

Bring your vessels to South San Diego Bay to watch the races in person or follow the results online here.

Join us on Facebook live at 8 am tomorrow morning for more interviews with skippers, race officials, and volunteers, and watch this morning's interviews below. Follow us on Instagram for story updates and daily information.

Results after Day 2: