On the CMRC August Grade 2 Invitational second day another perfect sunny day in Chicago greeted racers and spectators alike. The unexpected 10-14 knot seabreeze conditions were a bonus to the day, allowing for all but two flights of the second Round Robin to be completed, and setting the stage for a showdown tomorrow to determine the Final Four among the 11 teams assembled here for this first event of the US Grand Slam series.
With the Chicago Air and Water Show under way two million+ Chicagoans on Lake Michigan, series leader Taylor Canfield from the US Virgin Islands and his team continued their winning ways, but on 16 points they have only a one point lead over the Danish team led by Nicolai Sehested. And even with some matches lost due to unforced errors, Jordan Reece and his team from Sydney, Australia still sit in third place on 13 points.
But the real showdown lurking in tomorrow's two remaining flights lies between David Gilmour from Perth, Australia, Don Wilson from Chicago, and Josh Junior from New Zealand, who are all vying for the fourth remaining slot to complete the Final Four. Some of this drama will come in the third match of the first flight in the morning when Wilson meets Gilmour. Gilmour has 10.5 points, and Wilson has 11, so the winner will break any ties between them.
And sitting at 12 points, Junior will meet Reece in the second match: if he loses, this may set up more tie break scenarios to capture that fourth place slot. Furthermore, Gilmour also races in the last flight against Sehested, which if he loses may bring in yet another possible scenario to determine the fourth slot.
So, it's all to play for tomorrow, and even among those who do not make it to the Final Four there will be first-to-two point knock out series to determine the fifth, seventh, and ninth place positions.
Round Robin racing will resume at 09:00 tomorrow, with the intent to finish these first before starting the consolation series and Semi-Final and Final rounds.
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