Etchells Atlantic Coast Championship at American Yacht Club - Overall
by American Yacht Club 20 May 2018 22:12 PDT
19-20 May 2018
2018 Etchells Atlantic Coast Championship - Final Day © Tim Wilkes /
www.timwilkes.com
What started out as a foggy, wet morning, turned into a glorious day on the Long Island Sound off the peninsula that American Yacht Club calls home. Peeks of sunshine and a light breeze that built throughout the day, gave the Etchells Atlantic Coast Championship competitors a wide range of conditions to test their skill.
The battle for the top slot was very close with lead changes after every race. In the end, Jose Fuentes of Annapolis Yacht Club and his crew, consisting of Luke Lawrence and Ian Coleman, proved their deft command of the fleet with a 2nd, 1st and 3rd to finish off the regatta and claim the Championship.
After the prize-giving, Jose reflected on the event, "The Etchells class is a phenomenal class. It's a great group of guys and ladies. Some of the top sailors in the world sail in this class. So we are absolutely stoked that we were able to win this event.... It's like going out to play golf with Tiger Woods. Right? Your sailing against the best that there is in the world and that's a great feeling."
Finishing second was William Douglass on Goombay Smash who finished yesterday with a bullet and started today with another one. Despite a well sailed regatta, four points still separated him from the champion. Scott Kaufman, who sat in first place yesterday, slipped to third. Finishing first Corinthian and fifth overall was Senet Bischoff and the crew of KGB.
The weekend showed that the local Etchells class is ripe with top sailors, both amateurs and professionals. US Youth Team sailor, Orrin Starr said, "Yesterday we started a race between Benj to leeward and Goombay to weather and it teaches you how to go fast quick when those guys are starting right next to you. So I think it's good to sail against the best sailors in the world. It's part of the appeal of the Etchells class."
The Atlantic Coast Championship marked the first in a series of five regattas that will be sailed throughout New England and the Long Island Sound. The next stop is the New England Championship hosted by Shelter Island Yacht Club and Etchells Fleet 15 on June 16th and 17th.
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