IODA North American Championship - Lados saves his best for last

by IODA North Americans on 8 Jul 2011
IODA North American Championship was sailed in Los Angeles, from June 29 to July 6 2011.

Tito Lados from Uruguay sailed to his very best today, finishing the last two races of the event in first and second places respectively and becoming the overall champion of the regatta.

Peter Janezic from Slovenia, who had been leading the fleet for the first two days, and who seemed to have secured the lead after Tito's premature start in one of yesterday's races, had a second and a fourth, missing the top by one point.

In the closed event Russell Clarida, a member of the USA team that will sail the Worlds in New Zealand, also sailed consistently during the whole regatta, throwing a 16th and a seventh, and ending up just three points behind Janezic.

Congratulations to Russell, North American Champion 2011!

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July 5
Three more races were completed today, totaling up to nine races and consolidating Peter Janezic's lead.

The temperature and wind conditions were the same as had been during the previous two days - light winds in the morning, picking up to 15-20 knots as the day progressed, however, one of the variables was different: the current, usually downwind, today was upwind, pushing the sailors towards the course side and forcing the RC to do two or three starts per race. The consequence was a large number of OCS, especially in the three flights of the first race.

Team Racing Events - July 3

The day started early in the morning with the Coaches' meeting at 9:00, after which the coaches informed the RC what sailors would be members of each of the teams. After a few last minute changes and being the RC satisfied that the wind was strong enough to start the races, Delta flag went down and the sailors set sails. The racing took place in the harbour, on flat waters and winds that were blowing 4-5 knots in the beginning, and gradually picked up, reaching +15 knots during the last flights. Both courses had to be adjusted once or twice due to windshifs but with no major delays between races.

In the Nations Cup Argentina 1 arrived at the finals undefeated, while Uruguay had to sail three extra races after they had lost to Argentina 2. Both the first two races of the finals were also won by Argentina, who then became the Nations Cup Champions. Uruguay finished second and Ecuador 1 third.

In the North American Team Race it was Puerto Rico who made it to the finals undefeted. USA 2 went to the 'loser's side' after being beaten by Puerto Rico in Race 23 and arrived at the finals after winning Race 29 against their fellow team USA 1. However, it was USA 2 who won the fist two races of the finals, becoming the North American Team Race Champions 2011. Puerto Rico were runner ups and USA 1 third.

Congratulations to all the teams, especially to the winners, and to the RC and the number of volunteers that made the excellent races possible.

IODA North American Championship website