J/24 North American Championship - Mike extends lead into final day

by Chris Howell on 21 Mar 2014 American Helmsman Mike Ingham has opened up a 10-point advantage going into the final day of competition at the J/24 North American Championship in Mexico.

Sailing Digger with Tim Healy (current J/24 World Champion), Enrique Pirez-Cirera, Marianne Schoke and Max Holzer, Ingham absorbed his worst score so far—dropping an eight in race seven. Digger has totaled just 12 overall points in the seven races, leaving a line of one, two, three, one, four, one. Former J/24 World Champion Mauricio Santa Cruz of Brazil with his Bruschetta team is lurking in second place with 22 points. Ian Ilsley’s Jobbit of Monaco and Tony Parker’s Bangor Packet of the USA are also within striking distance.

Thirty-seven teams from Brazil, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Monaco, Peru, Sweden and the United States enjoyed another gorgeous day in the Riviera Nayarit. With its typical sunny skies and warm temperatures, breezes again began around six - eight knots, and Ingham again won the day’s opening race.

Fellow American Mark Laura on Baba Louie was positioned in second and Santa Cruz third. Winds grew to 10-12 in the next contest when Mexican Joaquin Bargallo earned the bullet, trailed by Parker and Alex Luiz’s Tango of Brazil.

Racing concludes Friday. This event is a 2015 Pan American Games country qualifier.

Complete regatta information may be found at website.