2014 Melges 32 U.S. National Championship - Day 1

by Melges 32 on 16 Aug 2014 2014 Melges 32 U.S. National Championship - The racing conditions for the start of the 2014 Melges 32 U.S. National Championship was phenomenal and exceeded every owners expectation. When the clock struck 11:15, it was as if a switch had been moved from the off to on position. A shift delayed the start by 15 minutes, but past that, the breeze filled in better than any team would have ever imagined.

A pleasant and perfectly-suited 15-18 knots kicked in for the start of Race One with an aggressive entrance by reigning National Champion Jason Carroll on Argo. He guarded the pin end for the start, launching out in front of the fleet for the lead. Overnight leader Ryan DeVos on Volpe was called OCS only to wind up fifth overall, while Carroll led the fleet around the track for a solid win. John Kilroy's Samba Pa Ti came on strong to take second followed by Richard Goransson's Inga From Sweden in third.

Race Two was by far the most exciting and with the breeze settling in nicely to the twenty+ knot range, it was Ryan who found the perfect groove to win Races Two and Three. With these two wins, DeVos now sits first place overall, tied with Carroll.

For Kilroy, Race Two opened as a strong one, however after losing a crew member overboard at the final top mark, disappointment ensued as Goransson and Ryan zoomed right past. By the time Kilroy had his boat in order, Carroll was rounding in tandem with speed. Kilroy recovered to finish sixth.

The last race of the day featured family-rivals Ryan and Dalton DeVos commanding the top two positions. Ryan won, Dalton took second. Rob Wilber on Cinghiale took a proud and powerful third.

Overall, Ryan and Carroll are tied first and second with seven points each going into Day Two. Dalton and Goransson are respectively third and fourth with eleven points each. Kilroy rounds out the top ten overall with twelve

Top Five Results
(After Three Races)

1.) Ryan DeVos/James Spithill, Volpe; 5-1-1 = 7
2.) Jason Carroll/Anthony Kotoun, Argo; 1-2-4 = 7
3.) Dalton DeVos/Jonthan McKee, Delta; 4-5-2 = 11
4.) Richard Goransson/Morgan Larson, Inga From Sweden; 3-3-5 = 11
5.) John Kilroy/Paul Goodison, Samba Pa Ti; 2-4-6 = 12

 2014 Melges 32 U.S. National Championship Preliminary Cumulative Results: