Western Hemisphere & Orient Championship – Day 2

Szabo/Waterbury win the day, Diaz / Broton Retain Lead

Light winds greeted the fleet as they pushed off the dock and headed out to the race course, just a 30 minute sail from Cottage Park Yacht Club and adjacent to the runway of Boston’s Logan airport. After a 45 minute delay to wait for the wind, race 3 began but was quickly under AP to wait for the wind to settle. Race 3 began in 6 knots with puffs to 10 at times. Doug Hart/ Christina Persson (USA) led with a large margin at the weather mark and kept it until the second downwind gate. As the race progressed, a squall from the south formed and the wind shifted right with puffs to 23 knots at times. George Szabo / Dianna Waterbury (USA) were among those who went right capitalized on the increased breeze with rain and passed the leaders at the finish. Behind Szabo was Antonio Poncell & Carolina Martinez of Chile with John MacRae/ Linda Epstein (USA) in third.

Regatta co-chair Sue Hardy commented, “we were close to calling the race but knew from experience to be patient – and it ended up being a good race. Competitors got a bit of every condition during this race.”

After the squall, the fleet had to wait around for the wind to fill which it eventually did in 5-6 knots. Augie Diaz/Barbie Brotons (USA) led wire to wire in the light air race.

After 2 days, Diaz/Brotons (USA) lead with 11 points, Szabo/Waterbury (USA) in second with 17 points and Arthur Blodgett/Gracie Howie (USA) in third with 23 points.

Racing continues Thursday through Saturday with 9 races scheduled. Tomorrows forecasts looks promising with a deteriorating forecast for Friday.

Interview with George Szabo