New course brings new leaders to the top

Though it was a quintessential day of San Diego sailing with beautiful skies and a solid breeze, there was no home water advantage for any of the local competitors. While both the top two positions after day one were held by San Diegans, the second day of sailing has brought a new bunch to the top of the scoreboard.

Race 3 and Race 4 took place on the open waters of the Pacific off of Coronado Island. The wind was from the west at 9 – 12 kts and was paired with a two foot swell and one foot of wind chop for great sailing conditions. The new course brought more than just a change of scenery, it also brought some serious competition.

Proving there was no need for strength in numbers, current regatta leaders from Puerto Rio were also the sole entrants from their country. Skipper Raul Rios and Fernando Monllor sailed fast and smart in order to climb their way up the ranks. “Today was more of a speed day,” Rios said of the racing conditions. “Yesterday, if you weren’t on the correct side then that was a big mistake. Today, if you were the fastest boat you were probably going to make top ten.”

Rios and Monllor proved just how fast they could be in Race 3, when at the start of the race they weren’t even among the first five boats to round the first weather mark. They quickly made up for lost time, stealing fourth place around the gate, third by the second weather mark and finally finishing the race in first. This was their second first-place finish of the regatta, and an overall total of 12 points left them sitting in the top spot after day 2.

In Race 4, Brazilians Breno Bianchi and Flavio de Castro stole the lead after rounding the first weather mark, holding on to their top spot all the way up to the finish for their first race win of the regatta. Their fast sailing in Race 4 secured them second place overall position at the end of day two. Skipper Luis Soubie and crew Diego Mini Lipszyc from Argentina are currently third, followed by the Alexandre duo of Tinoco and Niederauer from Brazil. United States competitors Augie Diaz and Aine McLean Fretwell rounded out the top five, pushing yesterday’s first place competitors Randy Lake and Kate Sheahan into sixth.

Racing is scheduled to begin again tomorrow at 1200, with the Organizing Authority announcing early in the day on which of the two courses the competition will take place.

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Race Photos (courtesy of John Payne and Bob Betancourt)
Regatta Results

A special thank you to our sponsors: Jackson Design & Remodeling, Sailing Supply/Downwind Marine, Ballast Point Brewing, North Sails, Quantum, SD Boatworks, Image Integration, Rodan Fields, Cafe Chloe, Aboard Catering, Bedford Boats, Chalone Vineyard, and Franciscan Estate Winery.