2023 International Masters Regatta at San Diego Yacht Club - Overall
by San Diego Yacht Club 23 Oct 2023 16:13 AEDT
October 20-22, 2023
As we headed in to the final day of racing at the International Masters Regatta, one thing was clear, everyone had tasted moments of victory and they all were salivating for more. There were several teams that had the potential to seize the title but no one was more determined than this year's overall winner, Scott Harris.
The third day of racing saw major shake ups from one mark rounding to the next while skippers moved wildly through the standings. Tad Lacey, Cory Sertl, and Gary Jobson were not about to go down without a fight.
A one hour postponement at the onset of the day only heightened the anticipation of racing as sailors and spectators alike waited for the wind to fill in. Skippers were aggressive at the start and Yon Belausteguigoitia captured his first win of the regatta. Belausteguigoitia went on to secure another bullet in race twelve, winning the day.
Race eleven showed just how eager the skippers were with a general recall at the first attempted start. Race Committee responded by displaying the "U" flag and everyone played it safe. Jobson, while hopeful to win the boat end, got squeezed out and started several boat lengths behind the fleet. Undettered, he fell off to the right side of the course early and sought out fresh air. Jobson took his own advice as he had shared with us earlier in the day about resiliency, "When you are out on the race course, just keep plugging and looking at things. It's pretty shifty out there and everybody has the same problems. So chip away at it and hopefully we can do better." This served him well as he coasted to his second first place finish of the regatta.
With all the action in races ten and eleven, everything hinged on the last race of the day. Harris had held onto his lead but Lacey and Sertl were hot on his heels. Lacey rounded the first weather mark in second and Harris was bringing up the rear in tenth. Harris dominated the downwind leg and by the time he returned for the second weather mark rounding he had gained seven boats. It was clear at that point that Harris's tenacity was enough to secure him the championship if he could just maintain his position.
As Harris crossed the finish line he was met with horns blasting and spectators cheering. It was a hard fought win, down to the very last race for Harris and his team including Chuck Sinks, Peter VanWaay, Justin Bingham, John Rogers and Seth Miller. They were consistent and steadfast, finishing nearly every race of the regatta in the top third of the fleet. Harris finished the regatta with 54 points overall followed by Lacey in second with 61, and Sertl in third with 64.
Congratulations to the 2023 International Masters Champion, Scott Harris!
Next up at the San Diego Yacht Club, twelve yacht club's from around the country send their best teams to vie for the Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup trophy in the same format of rotating J/105s in South San Diego Bay. Learn more here.