Audi Melges 20 North Americans - Kilroy continues to lead in Toronto

by International Audi Melges 20 Class Association on 15 Sep 2013 At the 2013 Audi Melges 20 North American Championship, hosted by the Port Credit Yacht Club in Toronto, Canada, John Kilroy's Samba Pa Ti continues to lead with now six races complete.

Michael Kiss on Bacio improved his position overall to second, and John Taylor's Ninkasi moves into third. Daniel Thielman on Kuai and Richard Davies on Section 16 are fourth and fifth.

After a breezy first day, Day Two dawned bright and sunny with a lighter northwesterly that was predicted to hold for the morning then fade and come back from the south. PRO Taran Teague tried to get racing going, but the breeze dropped to near zero and failed to meet class limits for racing. Based on weather reports from around the lake, which were showing the predicted building southerly, the Race Committee held the competitors on the water and the wait was rewarded with a building southerly.

Race five was started just after 1 o'clock in seven to nine knots of breeze from the south. Action at the weather mark was hot and heavy although no one snagged the mark as Brian Hill's Atlas had on Day One (winning a special award at the post race party for their efforts!). Mark roundings were made even more difficult by the current which was unexpected by many of the competitors on a lake.

Tight racing continued through Race six, also sailed in the six to nine knot southerly, with all boats rounding in a close two or three minute span and nail biter finish with Hill edging out Kilroy and Kiss for the win. Kilroy's close crossing of Kiss at the finish iced Samba's five-point lead going into tomorrow's final two races with breeze ON expected.

Top ten results (After Six Races, With A Discard)
1.) John Kilroy, Samba Pa Ti; 1-2-3-[4]-1-2 = 9
2.) Michael Kiss, Bacio; [6]-1-1-5-4-3 = 14
3.) John Taylor, Ninkasi; [7]-5-2-1-3-4 = 15
4.) Daniel Thielman, Kuai; 2-3-4-3-6-[10] = 18
5.) Richard Davies, Section 16; 4-10-5-2-2-[12] = 23
6.) Brian Hill, Atlas; 9-6-[12]-6-10-1 = 32
7.) Jon Messenger, Black Sheep; 8-4-[11]-7-8-6 = 33
8.) Erwyn Naidoo, Bohica; 5-7-9-[16]-9-7 = 37
9.) Hiroshi Kurokawa, Spray; 10-[16]-6-9-13-5 = 43
10.) David Pollock, dp; 3-[12]-10-8-12-11 = View Full Event website