Bermuda International Invitational Race Week - Day Six
by Talbot Wilson 5 May 2001 10:43 BST
Except for one day when the wind gods took a flier, Bermuda International Invitational Race Week… sponsored by Bacardi and supported by the Bermuda Department of Tourism and run by the members of Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and Spanish Point Boat Club… could not have been better. All week Bermuda's Great Sound was sparkling with sunshine and the breeze was fine. Race Week 2001 was Bermuda at her best.
170 sailors (and one all woman crew) sailed 61 boats in 41 races over 5 days. In the 41 races, 25 different skippers and crews finished 1st in at least one race. The competition was close, and the final results show some classes with clear leaders, but others with only one or two points between the top three boats. In the last two races Friday, leaders in the J-24 Class and the IOD class were bumped from 1st to 2nd. In the Etchells Class one boat moved from 4th to 2nd.
The Bermuda J-24 class showed their usual spirit today as they paraded past the committee boat to salute the committee in "imitation" Race committee "white hat" regalia.
Keelboat: Course Alpha
In the International Etchells Class, Peter Bromby finished their six race series with a 2nd Friday and a total of 8.25 points to take home the K.F. Trimingham Trophy. With a first in the final race, Andreas Lewin jumped from 4th to 2nd with 16.75 points. John Kenerson dropped to 3rd with 17 points.
In the J-24 the change was more dramatic. Sean McDermott had been leading all week with four 1st places under his belt. Friday he lost his touch and came 9th and 10th. With one race to drop that allowed Don Wagoner who had a 2nd and 11th Friday to take the lead and the J-24 Gripper Trophy with 21.75 points. McDermott, finishing with 23 points, said he was trying to protect his lead and just got out of phase. Wagoner said going into Friday racing nothing short of a catastrophe could stop McDermott. And that's what happened. It was Wagoner's first International Race Week. He said, "Racing in Bermuda was terrific in itself. But winning, too. Wagoner's goal was to sail clean and consistent. And he did just that to win. Stuart Jardine, just .75 behind McDermott, was 3rd with 23.75 points.
IOD racing was a matter of a few points in the top three positions. Their racing is divided into the 5-race "A" Series, the four-race "B" Series and the nine-race Race Week Championship for the Vrengen Gold Cup. Racing was very close all week with six different teams winning races and the races "dropped" told the story. Tuesday Bruce Dyson won the "A" series with 9.75 points over Courtenay Jenkins at 10.75. Friday Rich Pearce took the "B" series with 6 points over Jenkins with 6.75 points and Dyson was third with 6.75 also. Dyson came back out on top in the total series beating out Jenkins 16.5 points to 17.5 points. Charlie Van Voorhis came third with 19.75. Dyson and Jenkins were 1-3 and 3-1 today, but Dyson could drop 13 points while Jenkins could only drop 9 points.
Dingy: Course Bravo
The 505's scooted around the dingy course again today. Ali Meller continued to dominate but broke his perfect run of bullets with a 3rd in the last race. With a drop he takes the International Race Week Trophy with a perfect 3.75 points. Chuck Millican took a first Friday and ended in 2nd with 8.75. Doug DeCouto was 3rd with 14 points
The Lasers were aggressive in their last race and had two general recalls. The committee hoisted the "I" and "Z" flags and they finally got a clean start. Brett Wright won the Laser International Race Week Trophy with 9.5 points followed by Todd Olson with 10.25 and Ted Wood with 18.75. Olson and Wood both picked up wins in Friday racing.
Malcolm Smith took the Donald P. Martinborough Trophy with 5.75 points. He was followed by Donnie Martinborough, the donor of the trophy, who came second with 10.75 and Martin by Vezina with 15.75. Smith and Vezina both took a 1st on Friday.
Snipe sailor Ian Brown took first in the last three races but he was one win short of beating Stevie Dickinson who won the Snipe class and wins the 350th Anniversary trophy. Dickinson dropped a 5 and finished with 7 points while Brown could only drop a 3 and ended with 8.25. Bill Welch came a distant 3rd with 21 points.
Race Week culminates Saturday with a day of relaxation to enjoy Bermuda and a gala Bacardi sponsored prizegiving at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.
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