2019 International Masters Regatta at San Diego Yacht Club - Day 1
by Casey Allocco 19 Oct 2019 16:43 AEDT
18-20 October 2019
2019 International Masters Regatta © Mark Albertazzi
The 2019 International Masters Regatta got off to an entertaining start today. After a slight course adjustment to the south and the first race of the weekend, the sailors and their crews were gifted an extra-long lunch break with a view. Just around 1200, the U.S. Navy rained down on the South Bay course during an air-drop exercise, presenting the sailors and spectators with another San Diego airshow.
Meanwhile, down on the water, 11 boats skippered by seasoned sailors over the age of 60 were putting on their own show of fast, competitive and close racing. Finishing the first day of the IMR in the lead is Andy Roy with 12 points. Following Roy is Tad Lacey with 11 points in second and Gary Jobson with 15 points in third.
Roy proved today that consistency is key in a successful regatta. Managing to stay fairly consistent with his scores, Roy never finished below fifth place. He slowly crept his way to the top, finishing the fourth and final race of the day in first.
"We were over early in the first race which wasn't a great way to start, but we made a pretty good come back towards the end. Staying in the lower, single digit numbers is what we were going for. Last year we did this race and stayed closer to the 8s and 9s. So far this year we kept our races clean, got a clear lane on the first windward leg, and had good speed up and down," Roy explained.
Only one point behind Roy was Lacey, showing off his experience with two bullets; one in the second race and one in the third. Roy and Lacey often found themselves neck and neck today. In the second race, the two boats went head to head on their approach to the first weather mark. In the third race, Lacey finished only a foot or two ahead of Roy.
"Roy and I were really close in the third race but we stayed in front of them. The two of us were well out in front and the race was really between the two of us. That's when we inched him out. He's a great sailor. Now we're going to get a good night's sleep and do it again tomorrow," Lacey commented.
It was the perfect fall day in San Diego to impress our out-of-towners from the East Coast and Canada. The conditions saw a breeze of 12 to 15 knots and not a cloud in the sky.
Several sailors today deserve notable mentions for their outstanding performances in today's races. Jobson (3rd) started off race four with an OSC and managed to pull himself back into fourth place by the end of the race. Chuck Sinks (4th) took a hard turn in race two, finishing 8th, but kept their spirits high to finish with a second and third and the final two races. Bill Peterson and Scott Harris both kept their name on the top half of the score sheet, moving in and out of the top of the fleet throughout the day.
It's to go without saying that SDYC's International Masters Regatta brings some of the best to San Diego and that was easy to see with the incredibly close racing and skillful tactics out on the water. Despite the distractions and visitors to the course, each one of them proved that they belonged there with the rest.
Tonight, these talented sailors will gather for a dockside social at the San Diego Yacht Club where they will return tomorrow for breakfast and another great day of sailing. Following the sailing, participants and their families will attend the traditional (and much anticipated) Saturday night banquet where skipper's get their time on stage to roast old friends and mingle with their fellow competitors.
Full results available here.