Guck Falls Behind in 3rd Race, But Ties it Up by the End of the Day

Winds for the second day of racing were much lighter.., around 7 to 8 knots but starting to die out. The RC was probably lucky to get in two races with the wind lightening up as it did. The Sis require a minimum amount of wind at each mark before a race can be started. The wind for the last race was not much above that minimum.
Needless to say, the huge, horrid chop had flattened out a bit, although it still could not be considers smooth sailing. And the worst thing today was the tremendous volume of kelp that kept snagging boards and rudders and slowing the boats. It is tough to clear that gunk off your rudders and boards while single-handing.
Races started on time with the throng of sailors spread down the slightly port favored line. In the pictures below you can see Glenn Ashby played the port line perfectly, hitting the favored end with speed and immediately taking a huge leap forward ahead of the entire fleet.

Check these pictures out -- a classic start by Glenn Ashby, number 03. Note in picture one how has had held the entire fleet up, allowing himself the ability to bear off to a close reach, gain speed to hit the line right on time.

Picture two, right after the start, he is in clear air and hauling bootie.., and backwinding the boat just off his hip

Picture three is walking away from the entire fleet with a big lead already.

After one time around Ashby held the lead at the first leeward gate, followed by Pease Glaser of USA and Pete Melvin. Mitch Booth and Lars Guck came through the gate in 4th and 5th place.
Melvin passed Glaser to weather and was right on Asby’s tail rounding the last weather mark.
Ashby held on to the lead, while Guck moved into 3rd spot.
After two races Ashby now held a one-point lead over Guck. Pete Melvin had moved into 3rd spot overall, but was 8 points back of the leaders. Mitch Booth held 4th spot. US sailors Matt Struble, Charlie Ogletree and Chad Atkins held down 6,7, & 8 positions.

Race two was started in the lighter winds. This time it was Lars Guck getting to the weather mark in the lead for the first time. Australia’s Scotty Anderson was in second and teammate Glenn Ashby in close 3rd spot.

Here is some good pictures of Lars Guch doing a roll tack with his A-Cat.., Hmmm! Almost a little too much. I think that might have shoot Lars up a bit.

Mitch Booth was in 4th place at that mark but was scored OCS for being over the starting line early and not returning to start correctly. This will cost him dearly until the number of races required to have a throwout of your worst race.

Here was another rolltack, but he rolled off side of the boat.., OOOPS!

Guck held on for the victory, with Ashby grabbing 2nd and Anderson in 3rd.
After four races Guck and Ashby are tied with 7 points each. Pete Melvin is strongly in 3rd place. Mitch Booth would have been in 4th, but his OCS took him out of that spot for the time being, leaving Luc Du Bois in 4th, followed by Matt Struble, Charlie Ogletree and Phil Kinder, all of USA.

The weather mark the first time around of the second race more or less resembled a tangle of wire coat hangers. It was pretty wild looking, although no damage was suffered. Take a look at these pictures.

Tomorrow’s races begin at 11AM, and we will be on the water reporting to magazine headquarters, where we will post regular information on the Forum at www.catsailor.com

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