2019 Spring Series Regatta at American Yacht Club - Final Weekend
by American Yacht Club 5 May 2019 17:30 PDT
5-6 May 2019
2019 Spring Series Regatta Final Weekend © American Yacht Clu
The 2019 Spring Series Regatta concluded on Sunday the same way it started the previous weekend – with challenging weather that included little wind on Saturday and heavy rain on Sunday. This didn't prevent excellent performances, as determined sailors on over 70 boats from across the East Coast showed up ready to sail.
The AYC Race Committee did a fantastic job during the two-weekend regatta, which included nine separate boat classes – IRC, PHRF, J/44, J/109, J/88, J/105, J/70 and J/80.
On Saturday, "Wings" helmed by Mike Bruno placed first in the single J/88 division race and continued building on a hot streak that dates back to January with a win at the J/88 Mid-Winter Championship in St. Petersburg, FL.
Other key performances on Saturday included first-place finishes from "Loki" (J/109), "Solution" (J/105), "Chinook" (J/70), "Oakcliff Far 40 Blue" (PHRF), "Resolute" (J/44) and "Ticket to Ride" (IRC).
Although weather permitted only one race on Saturday, sailors enjoyed food, drinks and live music on the Flagpole Lawn at American Yacht Club, which featured beer sponsored by Doyle Sails, and free tastings of JNSQ Rosé Cru and 914 Bourbon Whiskey.
Sunday racing brought several close finishes to the regatta amongst the different classes. "Maxine" helmed by Past Commodore Ketcham held off "Resolute" to win the J/44 division by two points in the East Course and "Wings" edged out "Escape" to win the J/88 division in the South Course following a tie-breaker.
"Christopher Dragon" (IRC), "Wings" (J/88) and "Chinook" (J/70) finished first in both of Sunday's races along with "Avalanche" (PHRF).
Other division winners in the East Course following the final day of racing included "Ticket To Ride" (IRC), "Avalanche" (PHRF) and "Tenacity" (PHRF), while the South Course saw division wins from "Loki" (J/109), "loulou" (J/105) and "Bazinga!" (J/70).
Two great weekends of racing concluded with a wonderful awards ceremony inside AYC's Ballroom. After leading throughout both weekends of Spring Series, "Loki" took home the 1888 Trophy and Ticket To Ride won the Edward Richards Trophy. "Avalanche" won the Rampant Trophy after tallying 5 net points in 6 races over the two weekends, having dropped a 2nd in race 4.
American Yacht Club would like to thank the AYC Race Committee, Safety and Rescue and product sponsors Fiji, Doyle Sails, Justin Vineyards and Still The One Distillery.
Racing will continue at American Yacht Club later this May with the Robbie Pierce Regatta – a regatta for sailors with disabilities. The event will kick off on May 30th.
Full results available here.