King of Spain Regatta - Marina Del Rey

Andy Horton and Brad Nichol, #29 USA, setting up for the gybe at the top mark, with Mark Reynolds and Hal Haenel, #04 USA close behind Chuck Lantz http://www.ChuckLantz.com

New World champions, Star Worlds 2007 Bruno Prada,(L)Robert Scheidt © Fried Elliott http://www.friedbits.com

The race committee was patient and let the storms clear and the thermal build before starting the first race in more standard Marina del Rey conditions. Mark Renolds and Hal Haenal got off to a good start by winning the first race followed closely by Team Corinthian (Eric Lidecis/Mike Marzahl) and Rick Merriman and Phil Trinter in third.

The second race continued to keep everyone on their toes with shifty conditions as the remnants of the storms cleared the bay. George Szabo and John MacCausland started at the pin end and held out to the left and never looked back as they were one-two all the way around the course. Current World Champions Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada (BRA) worked their way through the fleet to finish third.

As the third race of the day got under way the strongest sea breeze push came in bringing more consistent conditions and more wind. Andy Horton and Brad Nichol led the fleet around the course with Mark Mendleblatt / Magnus Liljedahl and Robert Scheidt / Bruno Prada right behind.

Day 2
For the second day of racing conditions reverted to the standard southern California sea breeze we have come to expect and appreciate. One benefit of the rain we had yesterday was that it cleared out the smog that usually hangs over LA and allowed us a nice view of the mountains around the LA basin. Unfortunately all of the dirt from the city went straight into the ocean.

Start of cancelled race 6. USA 8157 Leader MARK MENDELBLATT © Rolex/Daniel Forster http://www.regattanews.com

The first race was sailed on a four leg, windward leeward in conditions that built from barely hiking to fully hiking through the race. John Dane and Austin Sperry opened up a big lead on the last run and won the race followed by Mendelblatt/Liljedahl and Szabo/ Davidson.

The sea breeze continued to build for the second race building the waves and allowing the race committee to stretch the course a little longer for the final race. There was a tight battle at the front of the fleet making for interesting mark roundings and great tacking duels. In the end Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada won the race with Horton/Nichol second and Mendelblatt/Liljedahl close behind in third.

We now have less than two weeks until the start of the US Olympic Trials and the competition is getting very tough. All of the top teams are at the venue training hard every day. The 'Last Chance Qualifier' Regatta will be next weekend followed by measurement starting a week from Wednesday.