2025 Star North American Championship at Pass Christian Yacht Club - Day 1
by ISCYRA 10 Apr 2025 10:17 BST
April 8-12, 2025
The 2025 Star North American Championship got under way yesterday in Pass Christian, Mississippi, with two solid races completed in challenging but steadily improving conditions.
Hosted by the Pass Christian Yacht Club, the regatta welcomed 21 teams from the USA and Canada to the Gulf Coast for the first Continental Championship of the Star Class season.
Despite a forecast calling for light and unstable winds, the racecourse delivered better-than-expected conditions. By the time the Race Committee set the line, a manageable breeze had settled in, with conditions gradually stabilizing throughout the day.
Race 1 saw the fleet compete on a 1.0 nautical mile course. The wind fluctuated between 160 degrees and 180 degrees at 5-7 knots. Three boats were called OCS by the Vakaros RaceSense system but all returned and restarted cleanly. The race was tight, but 2009 Star World Champion George Szabo with Guy Avellon, light and shifty breeze experts, claimed the win, followed by Arthur Asonov with David Caesar and Benjamin Sternberg with Will Christenson. The fourth is the U30 Quinton Gallon with Riley Garvey.
For Race 2, the wind conditions improved, oscillating between 165 degrees and 190 degrees with speeds of 7-11 knots. Halfway through the final beat, the expected sea breeze filled in from 205 degrees-210 degrees at a steady 10-13 knots, giving the teams a strong finish to the day. All boats started cleanly, and the leaders were 1999 Star World Champion Eric Doyle with Payson Infelise, behind them George Szabo with Guy Avellon and Derek DeCouteau with Jamie Stewart.
Szabo and Avellon lead the provisional overall score table with the lowest numer of points, while consistency paid off for Will Stout with Danny Cayard and Jack Jannings with Pedro Trouche, who, despite not even a podium finish, are respectively second and third at the end of Day One.
The forecast for today looks promising, with stronger and more consistent sea breeze expected throughout the day, setting the stage for an exciting day of racing.
Racing continues daily through Saturday, April 12, when the 2025 Star North American Champions will be crowned.