Summer Invitational B regatta at CMRC - Day 1

by Laura Muma on 21 Jul 2013 On the first day of the Summer Invitational B regatta the light four-seven knot conditions favored good starters. Ten teams from the USA, Bermuda, and Sweden are here for two days of racing at this ISAF Grade three event.

The light northeast breeze coming in off the lake meant the direction was more steady than yesterday's shifty offshore winds, but this also meant fewer passing opportunities for those teams that fell behind after the start in each flight. Teams starting particularly well were those led by David Storrs, who amassed a six-1one record, Lance Fraser from Bermuda, who also earned a six-one record, and local Steven Lowery, who went undefeated on a six-zero score.

Just as yesterday's Summer Invitational A regatta winner Don Wilson had some on-board help from a skipper on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, so did Storrs, with CMRC Sailing Director Taylor Canfield coming into the team as his tactician. According to fellow crew member Maggie Shea, their team did well off the line, but also had great speed.

'There were only a couple starts we did not control, so it was really important to be fast,' said Shea, who often works at CMRC as the Organizing Authority but for this event has put down the radio and picked up her sailing gloves. 'The day went best for those with good timing, teamwork and speed.'

Racing in the Summer Invitational B regatta resumes tomorrow at 9:00 AM on the lakefront just north of the entrance to Belmont Harbor. Two and a half flights remain in the single Round Robin, and then the top eight go to Quarter Finals, with winners going to Semi-Finals, followed by Finals. The exact number of matches in each stage will be determined tomorrow by the OA, who for this event is being run by two CMRC interns, Tim Coltman and Walker Banks, with supervisory help from CMRC Director Tod Reynolds.