It was ‘game on’ for sailors in the Melges 24, Melges 20, Viper 640 and J/24 classes as they headed out to Biscayne Bay for their first day of competition at the 2011 BACARDI Miami Sailing Week presented by EFG Bank. Unfortunately, action for the Star teams competing in the 84th edition of the BACARDI Cup was curtailed today after a severe thunderstorm threat was issued by the National Weather Service. While the course utilized by the Stars was further offshore, the other classes were competing on two circles closer to shore where the overall conditions delivered water that was surprisingly smoother than yesterday when there had been high chop due to a strong south-southeasterly wind.
“We’ve got a front coming in that went through Orlando and we’ve got a feeling that this is all going to turn nasty real quick,” said skipper Andrew Campbell (San Diego, Calif.) after the Stars were cancelled. “Obviously, a lot of sailors are disappointed and want to go out. Ultimately, we understand the decision from the race committee which is concerned for the safety of the fleet, especially if lightning and other things become a factor out there. The next couple days of Star sailing are going to be big moving days for a lot of people, so we’re going to get out there, stay focused, and do our best.”
Sharing one course, the two Melges fleets were up first, with the Viper 640s and J/24s sharing racing on a second course. Breeze from the south around 15 knots greeted the fleets, along with a sharp drop in temperature as a cold front made its way across the bay.
In the 35-boat Melges 24 class, the first win of the series went to Lorenzo Bressani (Milan, Italy). Alan Field (Los Angeles, Calif.) sailing with tactician Steve Hunt (San Diego) and crew Sarah Curran, Jeff Reynolds and Erik Shampain placed second, with Riccardo Simoneschi (Milan, Italy) taking third.
In the Melges 20 class Paul Reilly (Chicago, Ill.), with tactician Andy Burdick (Zenda, Wisc.) and Mike Kuschner, took the day one win in the 27-strong fleet. Dario Levi (Milan, Italy), sailing with tactician Andrea Casale and Stefano Lagi, was second, followed by Mary Anne Ward (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) with tactician Sam Rogers and bowman Peter Keck in third.
In the Viper 640 fleet, the Brits went one-two as Glyn Locke (Isle of Wight), with crew David Chapman and Ian Nicholson, finished first in the 17-boat fleet, followed by Justin Scott, Peter Beardsley and Ched Proctor in second. Dan Tucker (Marblehead, Mass.), sailing with John Powell and Jason Hill, placed third.
“Unfortunately, with the front that came through, we only got one race off,” said Tucker who was very happy to be in Miami after having to chip ice off the boat to get there. “We were fortunate to have good downwind speed and capitalize on some opportunities which let us get up to the front on the first leg.”
In the all-American fleet of eight J/24s, Florida teams captured the top-three spots: Brian Kamilar (Miami) with Fran Bellocchio, Fabio Galarce, Mauricio Galarce and Enrique Quintero placed first; Patricia Walker (Vero Beach) with Richard Jarchow, Bill Scheureman, Gary Sprague and Thomas Wenzel were second; and Robert Pincus (Miami) with Patricia Amaducci, Eammon Delisser and JB Slater placed third.
Racing at BACARDI Miami Sailing Week presented by EFG Bank resumes Friday, March 11, and continues through Saturday, March 12. For photos, results and additional information please visit www.BACARDICup.com and www.MiamiSailingWeek.com
Results, 10 March 2011, 2011 BACARDI Miami Sailing Week presented by EFG Bank:
Melges 20 (One Design – 27 Boats)
1. Red Sky, Audi Melges 20, Paul Reilly , Chicago, Il, USA, 1;1
2. Fremito D’Aria, Audi Melges 20, Dario Levi , Milano, ITA, 2;2
3. M&M Racing Team, Audi Melges 20, Mary Anne Ward , Cocoa Beach, FL, USA, 3;3
4. Elevation Racing, Audi Melges 20, Anthony Tabb , Chicago, IL, USA, 4;4
5. Mach Schnell, Audi Melges 20, Kent Haeger , Lake Forest, IL, USA, 5;5
6. Black Sheep, Audi Melges 20, Jon Messenger , Mississuaga, Ont, CAN, 6;6
7. STIG, Audi Melges 20, Alessandro Rombelli , Milan, MI, italy, 7;7
8. Flyer, Audi Melges 20, Chuck Holzman , Farmington Hills, MI, USA, 8;8
9. FU, Audi Melges 20, Marc Hollerbach , Grosse Pointe Park, MI, USA, 9;9
10. Big Booty, Audi Melges 20, Pat Eudy , Charleston, SC, USA, 10;10
11. Vaya Con Dios, Audi Melges 20, Erik Post , Winnetka, IL, USA, 11;11
12. Tramp, Audi Melges 20, Thomas Ritter , Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA, 12;12
13. Funner, Audi Melges 20, Sid Gorham , Belvedere, CA, USA, 13;13
14. A Little Wicked, Audi Melges 20, George Gamble , Pensacola, FL, USA, 14;14
15. Lift Ticket, Audi Melges 20, Joe Williams , Mercer Island, WA, USA, 15;15
16. Argo, Audi Melges 20, Jason Carroll , New York, NY, USA, 16;16
17. Bohica, Audi Melges 20, Erwyn Naidoo , Toronto, ON, CAN, 17;17
18. Bacio, Audi Melges 20, Michael Kiss , Holland, MI, USA, 18;18
19. Atlas, Audi Melges 20, Brian Hill , Toronto, ON, CAN, 19;19
20. Batteries Not Required, Audi Melges 20, Rhonda Joyce , Mississauga, ON, USA, 20;20
21. Cinghiale, Audi Melges 20, Robert Wilber , Branford, CT, USA, 21;21
22. US 102, Audi Melges 20, Heather Gregg Earl , Boston, MA, USA, 22;22
23. Diesel, Audi Melges 20, Tate Russack , Annapolis, MD, USA, 23;23
24. Kuai, Audi Melges 20, Daniel Thielman , Tiburon, CA, USA, 24;24
25. CAN 142, Audi Melges 20, David Pollock , Mississauga, Ont, CAN, 25;25
26. It’s Madness, Audi Melges 20, John Heaton , Markham, Ont, CAN, 26;26
Melges 24 (One Design – 35 Boats)
1. UKA UKA Racing , Melges 24, Lorenzo Bressani , Milano, ITA, 1;1
2. WTF, Melges 24, Alan Field , Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2;2
3. Audi, Melges 24, Riccardo Simoneschi , Milano, ITA, 3;3
4. Full Throttle, Melges 24, Brian Porter , Winnetka, IL, USA, 4;4
5. Hedgehog, Melges 24, Alec Cutler , Pembroke, BER, 5;5
6. Air Force 1 , Melges 24, Bora Gulari , Detroit, MI, USA, 6;6
7. Blu Moon, Melges 24, Franco Rossini , Chiasso, SUI, 7;7
8. Blur – Pacific Energy Ventures, Melges 24, Steve Kopf , Isle of Palms, SC, USA, 8;8
9. Convexity, Melges 24, Donald Wilson , Chicago, IL, USA, 9;9
10. Papa B, Melges 24, Steve Suddath , Jacksonville, FL, USA, 10;10
11. Brick House 812, Melges 24, Kristen Lane , Tiburon, CA, USA, 11;11
12. Rocksteady, Melges 24, Cary Siegler , Newport, RI, USA, 12;12
13. Brick House 623, Melges 24, Peter Lane , Tiburon, CA, USA, 13;13
14. Battle Rhythm, Melges 24, Guy Mossman , Mt Pleasant, SC, USA, 14;14
15. Monsoon, Melges 24, Bruce Ayres , Costa Mesa, CA, USA, 15;15
16. Windhover, Melges 24, Elizabeth Harned C , New York, NY, USA, 16;16
17. Bretwalda , Melges 24, Bob Pethick , Orchard Lake, MI, USA, 17;17
18. 12happythoughts, Melges 24, David Brede , Seattle, WA, USA, 18;18
19. Obsession, Melges 24, Gary Schwarting C , Naples, FL, USA, 19;19
20. USA 616, Melges 24, George Haynie C , Tampa, FL, USA, 20;20
21. Goux Get Mama, Melges 24, james Whatmore , Sarasota, FL, USA, 21;21
22. USA 626, Melges 24, Warren Keull , Fairview , NC, USA, 22;22
23. Wee Jaggie, Melges 24, Andrew Walford , Edmond, OK, USA, 23;23
24. Skia, Melges 24, James Tudor C , Marietta, GA, USA, 24;24
25. The Beaver, Melges 24, Rob Butler C , Collingwood, Ont, CAN, 25;25
26. Tom Slick, Melges 24, Jeff Wittenberg , Palos Park, IL, USA, 26;26
27. Speedemon, Melges 24, Richard Mallinson C , Norman, OK, USA, 27;27
28. Relentless, Melges 24, Scott Foxman , Linwood, NJ, USA, 28;28
29. Just Add Water, Melges 24, Roger Counihan , Atlanta, GA, USA, 29;29
30. USA 106, Melges 24, Nate Duer , Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH, USA, 30;30
Viper 640 (One Design – 17 Boats)
1. Fer de Lance, Viper 640, Glyn Locke , Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, GBR, 1;1
2. Mambo Kings, Viper 640, Justin Scott , Greenwich, Ct, USA, 2;2
3. Rattler, Viper 640, Dan Tucker , Marblehead, MA, USA, 3;3
4. Ultra Violet, Viper 640, Cliff Clark , Winter Park, FL, USA, 4;4
5. Celeritas, Viper 640, Malcolm Gefter , Lincoln, MA, USA, 5;5
6. USA 56, Viper 640, Olaf Bleck , Chelsea, MA, USA, 6;6
7. USA 94, Viper 640, Jonathan Nye , Old Greenwich, CT, USA, 7;7
8. Slitherin, Viper 640, Michael Meissner , Mt. Airy, MD, USA, 8;8
9. Live Wire, Viper 640, Joseph E Healey , Stormville, NY, USA, 9;9
10. Maverick, Viper 640, Roland Van der Meer , Menlo Park, CA, USA, 10;10
11. White Snake, Viper 640, David Furna , Newport, NC, USA, 18/DNC;18
J 24 (One Design – 8 Boats)
1. Shadowplay , J 24, Brian Kamilar , Miami, FL, USA, 1;1
2. Scout’s Pride, J 24, Patricia Walker , Vero Beach, FL, USA, 2;2
3. Scouts’ Honor, J 24, Robert Pincus , Miami, FL, USA, 3;3
4. Fred from Jupiter, J 24, Kris Werner , Rochester, NY, USA, 4;4
5. Summertime, J 24, Gerd Petersen , Pembroke Pines, FL, USA, 5;5
6. Blitzkrieg, J 24, Kerry Gruson , Miami, FL, USA, 6;6