July 12
US Nationals Day 1 - Just a warm up day but the sun didn't quite make
it in. I suppose folks are wondering what to expect.
July 13
US Nationals Day 1.
Winds picked up by 11am to 15-20 knots, so the race committee started
on the juniors, prodigy, then the four groups of Formula, which raced
two groups together. This was done to enable the committee after 6 races
to split the fleet into gold and silver.
The juniors sailed 3 races, while 4 races were completed today for the other divisions. Devon Boulon, Micah both winning two races each in their divisons and getting a second and third each. McGain however was able to get 3 bullets and a third, to be leading the fleet and his Masters division. Sam Ireland is in 4th and Jimmy Diaz in 5th within the fleet.
During the first three 3 races, the port tack end of the line was favoured and to add, the outside of the course was also favoured, so a lot of races started on port. One notable incident was Charles Allen, the 58 year old from Texas, managed to squeeze between two capsized sailors where there seemed to be no room, got the start of his life and rounded the weather well ahead of his other competition.
Sailors were using between 9.0 and 11m sails, the course was windward leeward and by the afternoon the winds were up to 24 knots and the course was filled with whitewater, ferry’s and container ships, so there was plenty of obstacles to avoid during these windy races.
Other stand outs for the day was the junior fleet who completed 3 races, although there was a range skill evident in the junior fleet they all performance admirality with Charles Ivy on the beach cheering them in. These guys and gals are the future of American racing and look to be on the right track to international success.
More racing tomorrow, stay tuned.
US Nationals Day 2.
Buzianis takes command.
oh btw- it was 65 to 70 degree's today, but yesterday was a little chilli. But it's ok, the wind is up, so we warm up real quick.
Pumping winds rolled into San Francisco Bay today for the second day of the Nationals. By 12noon it was blowing 15-20 knots and the fleets got underway.
Devon Boulon and Micah Buzianis duked it out first heat, with Devon taking a win and Micah getting second and local Mike Z coming in third.
In the other heat, Sam Ireland, Jimmy Diaz and Phil McGain put on a tactical show. Sam taking control early in the heat followed by Diaz. McGain after round the windward mark in third, went outside on the down wind to round the bottom mark ahead of both of them. On the upwind, Ireland took over again with a brilliant tack inshore to find the right lift. McGain rounded second just ahead of Diaz. Both Ireland and McGain headed outside to catch the flood tied and more wind pressure, with McGain just rounding in front of Ireland at the bottom mark. Sam tacked inshore again and found the magic puff that took him to the finish line just ehead of McGain who came in on starboard tack.
In race 6, the first start saw Buzianis take off on port and crossed the fleet. McGain who started on starboard rounded the top mark a few board lengths behind Buzianis and just ahead of Boulon. With Boulon and McGain firing off downwind it was on for the race to the bottom mark, but Boulon’s harness blew up and was never seen again for the that race . Micah stretched his lead to finish a comfortable first, with McGain in second and Mike Z in third. Devon was back at the beach, didn’t want to get stretched out and race without a harness. Although I saw Robby Naish do it, many times. Pro’s aren’t like they used to be. Ha ha!
In the other heat, it was Jimmy Diaz and Sam Ireland going at it again. This time it was Diaz who showed the better control and superior speed in the overpowering conditions. Jimmy lead from start to finish, with Sam finishing close in second and Seth Besse back in third.
Now the fleet was split into Gold and Silver. The winds had also picked up to 20-30 knots and now all sailors were on their smallest rigs.
Buzianis got a clean start in the Gold fleet, but it wasn’t easy as McGain rounded 3 seconds behind with Diaz and Ireland all within 10 metres. Off downwind saw Micah stretch his lead, Diaz passed McGain and Ireland was pushing all three sailors infront of him. During the second upwind, Micah pushed hard to retain his lead, with McGain finally getting out from under Diaz, and forced Jimmy into a tack, which paid off for him. Micah rounded first, Jimmy just edged out Phil and Sam was close behind in 4th. Devon having a harder time in the strong winds was back in 5th place.
Buzianis won the race, Diaz second, McGain third, Ireland 4th and Boulon in 5th. 6th place was the best local Rob Hartman and Seth Besse came in 7th.
After 7 races.
Buzianis- 8
McGain- 10
Ireland- 12
Boulon- 13
Diaz- 15.
Tomorrow we expect at least 2 races and perhaps a long distance in the afternoon. Slalom seedings will be worked on tomorrow, so Friday could be the day for the most spectacular part of the event, downwind slalom.
July 15
US Nationals Day 3.
McGain snatches back the lead.
Again the winds of San Francisco piped into the Bay and the race began at 12.30pm.
In the Gold fleet the top dogs all got away clean, with the 5 top sailors all coming together at the weather mark, with McGain rounding in first, Diaz second and Buzianis in third. McGain pushed on down to the bottom mark and was able to hang onto the lead ahead of Buzianis and Diaz. Up the next weather leg the winds had picked up to 22 knots with McGain stretching out his lead over Micah at the weather mark. McGain went on to finish convincingly over Buzianis and Diaz coming in third.
Another race was started after the prodigy, juniors and Silver fleet had their races. The winds continued to kick in now up to 28 knots. A clear start, with McGain in the middle of the line, Buzianis just upwind of him, Sam Ireland going at full speed. Devon started on port to head out into the middle of the bay. When sailors tacked it was McGain in a commanding position and Sam Ireland close behind. At the weather mark McGain had a comfortable lead over Ireland, with Buzianis, Boulon and Diaz all within a stone’s throw of each other.
At the bottom mark McGain rounded well ahead of Ireland, with Buzianis in third. Half way up the weather some San Fran water traffic in the way of a dredge forced most the sailors to tack back onto starboard and head inshore to the inside layline. McGain being the first to tack, looked in control of the race. At the weather mark McGain rounded 50 seconds ahead of Buzianis who managed to pass Ireland on the upwind. Boulon was also now in the hunt for a top three finish, was close to Micah on the downwind. McGain finished well ahead of Buzianis, with Boulon catching up to finish in third.
After 9 races.
1. McGain
2. Buzianis
3. Ireland
4. Diaz
5. Boulon
Tomorrow long distance in the morning and hopefully Slalom in the afternoon.
July 16
Crissy field .......................&......................Treasure
Island sensors
US Nationals Day 4.
Long distance and Buzianis claims victory.
The long distance race started today at Crissy field around 1pm for both Silver and Gold fleets. A short upwind, then down to treasure Island which is about 6 miles, then back up to the Yacht club to finish.
Winds were around 15 knots at the start, but they were expected to increase as the sailors moved downwind. McGain got a flying start and rounded the weather mark in first place, but close behind was Buzianis, Ireland and Diaz. With a gate at the Yacht club not far from the weather mark, sailors continued to head inshore, but it soon became clear the wind was dropping in shore and it wasn’t the place to be. Diaz jibed out first as saw McGain and Buzianis becalmed. Finally Micah and Phil got moving but gave up a lot of ground. Diaz was first to go through the gate with McGain and Buzianis close behind.
Sailors continued downwind, with Buzianis taking over the lead from Diaz, McGain, Ireland and Boulon all close together heading to the downwind mark. Buzianis rounded in first well clear, with Diaz in second and close behind McGain, followed by Boulon and Ireland.
Buzianis who was in control now was covering Diaz, with McGain attempting to get passed him Jimmy, but Diaz had a good cover on McGain. Finally McGain decided to take a flyer back into Alcatraz, while Micah and Jimmy continued back into Fisherman’s wharf. It paid off for McGain, who crossed in front of Diaz and was closing the gap on the flying Buzianis. Finally Buzianis got inside and looked towards the finish, with McGain coming from the outside again and working against the flood tied, Buzianis caught the inside shift and got the lift he was looking for to take him over the finish line in first, McGain came in second with Diaz third, Boulon in fourth and Ireland in fifth.
One course race was held after the long distance in the increasing winds, which was now back up to 25 knots. Buzianis got a great start at the boat along with Ireland and Boulon. Ireland rounded in first followed by Buzianis and Boulon in third. McGain who started further down the line didn’t fair well at the weather mark, rounded in 4th with Diaz close behind in 5th.
Buzianis rounded the bottom mark in first place with Ireland now in second, and Boulon in third, Micah held his lead to the top mark and bottom mark and was able to close out the deal in first place, with Ireland in second, Boulon in third, Diaz passed McGain at the finish line to finish in fourth place.
After 10 races.
1. Buzianis
2. McGain
3. Boulon
4. Ireland
5. Diaz
US Nationals final day.
Buzianis takes the victory.
One course race was held today after the winds finally filled into The Bay. With a flood tied and a very light breeze inside it was going to be a very tricky race. Ireland and Boulon went inside and it paid off as they rounded the weather mark a good thirty seconds in front of McGain and Buzianis who faired ok from the outside.
At the bottom mark it was Ireland and Boulon very close, and Buzianis had picked up to third. At the weather mark the second time, Sam hit Devon on the back of the boom and put him in the water next to the mark. Ireland decided to do a 720 to clear himself, as he couldn’t afford anymore drops. While Ireland was doing the 720 Boulon had got himself around the mark and headed off in pursuit of Ireland. Buzianis rounded 4th just behind McGain. On the downwind, Ireland and Boulon were neck and neck, until the bottom mark, Ireland just got around infront of Boulon, but Devon was able to pick him back on the way up to the finish with Buzianis coming in third.
The racing was now finished and Micah was the US Nationals Champion. Phil McGain placed second overall and won the Masters division, Devon placed third overall.
The slalom was now due to start at 2.30pm as the winds started to pick up enough. There was an elimination which left the top 8 to compete in the best of 4 heats. McGain won the first heat from Buzianis, but this was short lived. Buzianis won the second heat, with Diaz in second and Ireland in third. The third heat was won by Sam, with Micah in second and Diaz in third. The final heat was again won by Micah, Diaz second and Ireland in third.
Micah became the US National Slalom Champion
with Diaz in second and Ireland in third