Bay area sailors are having a great time in Block Island this week, strengthening (and in some cases solidifying) their positions in their classes.
We failed to mention the Navy entries in yesterday's post, and were thoughtfully corrected by Facebook readers. Ranger (Farr 40, PHRF 1) and Corsair (TP52, IRC 1) are both fully crewed by Midshipmen and are doing well in the regatta, with Ranger currently in second place with 30 points total (after an unfortunate 18th place/retirement during the 'Round the Island Race).
Just ahead of Ranger in PHRF 1 is Kevin McNeil's Seabiscut, the Farr 30 that could. Seabiscuit is just 4.5 points ahead of Ranger, who has been pulling in firsts and seconds throughout the whole regatta, so today is the deciding day. C'mon and show those kids who's boss, Kevin!
“The Navy boat is the boat to beat,” McNeil told BIRW officials. “The key to our week was a good race around the island. We were hauling the mail on the back side of the island. It’s hard in the windward/leeward races because we’re racing against boats that are much bigger. There’s not a lot of space on the start line so we have to get off the line cleanly and get out on our own.” McNeil sailed his first BIRW in the early 1970s.
In PHRF 2, Glenn Doncaster had a rough day and dropped to 8th place after finishing 12th in the final two races of the day. In the same class, Stephen Bowes's Apparition jumped forward with a second and third place finish, bringing him to fifth place in the 14-boat fleet.
Bill Sweetser's Rush had a solid day in the J/109 fleet, although the crew onboard Caminos are so far in the lead that they can practically start celebrating now. In the J/105 fleet, Andrew Kennedy's Bat IV is in fifth place and Don Santa's Santa's Reign, Dear is in ninth, separated by only 20 points.
In IRC 4, Ed Freitag and Molly Haley's Summit 40 Downtime is keeping her hands on first place. “Today was moving day,” said DownTime tactician and North Sails loft manager Jonathan Bartlett. “We wanted to be leading into tomorrow so we sailed conservatively today. Every day is different so we just have to sail our best tomorrow.”
Also in IRC4, Paul Milo's J/122 Orion is in eighth place.
Walt Thirion's Themis is still in first place in the C&C30 division, although today will be a deciding day with Angus Davis's Nuabinghi knocking on the door (don't answer!). In the Cruising-Spinnaker class, Ted Ruegg's Invictus is ready to move up from third place, while Earl Schubert's Azzurraa is also in a position to grab a podium spot.
Good luck to all crews, and remember to keep track of results here.
