Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series 2013 - Too close to call

by Joy Dunigan on 11 Feb 2013 The 2013 Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series, hosted by Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC), named Marc Hollerbach aboard Fu with tactician Jonathan McKee and crew member Ben Allen overall champion for Event No. 2 of the series. Hollerbach, a former International Class Chairman, had a great weekend in Miami finishing day one second overall. On day two, Fu finished fifth in race four. His final race of the day was discarded, ultimately knocking off overnight leader Paul Reilly on Red Sky Sailing Team by one point who finished second overall respectively followed by Richard Davies' Section 16 in third.

Race one of the day and four in the series, went to Mark Plaxton's Intac. Plaxton had a great start and lead rounding the first mark. Plaxton was able to build momentum extending to gain a huge win with major separation from the rest of the fleet. Tony Tabb's Elevation Racing punched the line for a great start and was able to get out early finishing second. Rob Wilber's Cinghiale was in the middle of the fleet for the majority of the race but was able to find a good line downwind and land a third place finish.

John Kilroy's Samba Pi Ti took the final race honors despite a course change and inclement weather with dark clouds and patches of rain. Michael Kiss and crew sailing Bacio excelled this weekend coming in second for the last race of the series, putting up an impressive fourth place finish overall. Kent Haeger on Mach Schnell found his way on the podium for the last race rounding out the top three.

Additional congratulations are in order for John Brown's Blind Squirrel with crew members Will and George Demand as they are 2013 Audi Melges 20 Corinthian Miami Winter Regatta Championship. Brown had a great weekend finishing fourth in race three which helped the team in the standings. Tied with equal points is the second place Corinthian team Black Sheep owned by Jon Messenger with crew members Jeremy Edwards and Mark Goodyear. Andy Rasdal's Valkyrie with Michael Anderson-Miterling and Greg Helias rounded out the top three for the Corinthians.

Top Ten Results (Final - After Five Races)

1.) Marc Hollerbach, Fu; 2-6-7-5-[19]=20
2.) Paul Reilly, Red Sky Sailing Team; 6-4-3-8-[25]=21
3.) Richard Davies, Section 16; 4-[16]-1-4-13=23
4.) Michael Kiss, Bacio; 15-1-5-[28]-2=23
5. ) Rob Wilber, Cinghiale; 1-10-1[7]-3-9=23
6.) James Wilson, Oleander; 8-[25]-2-10-5=25
7.) John Kilroy Jr., Samba Pa Ti; [18]-2-8-15-1=26
8.) Travis Weisleder, Lucky Dog/Gill Race Team; 5-8-10-[13]-4=27
9.) Marcus Eagan, Cajun Underwriting; 11-5-6-7-[16]=29
10.) Ryan DeVos, Volpe; 3-3-20-[48/DNF]-17=43

Top Five Corinthian (Final - After Five Races)

1.) John Brown, Blind Squirrel; 21-30-4=55
2.) Jon Messenger, Black Sheep; 26-18-[33]-11-14=69
3.) Andy Rasdal, Valkyrie; 31-15-[36]-19-15=80
4.) John Arendshorst, Blink 20/20; 20-13-28-20-[44]=91
5.) Ryan Pesch, Atlas; 2013 Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series