MISSA News

Sat: Beautiful breeze in the morning out of the east northeast at 9 knots as the 12 teams met for day one of the Toby Baker Trophy.  12 umpires and 24 boats with a change dock just to leeward of the start line made for quick rotations after the first start at 10:11.  By 1300 the breeze had dropped to 6-8 knots.  With a few clouds rolling in the direction oscillated throughout the day with a few persistent shifts forcing some changes to the course to maintain square beats and 10 minute races.  By mid afternoon the shifts were all velocity driven as the breeze ranged from 3-8 knots.  The 66 race first round was completed at about 1630 with undefeated Point Loma in first place.  Still there were three way ties for the fourth position in Gold Fleet and last two positions in Silver Fleet.  Gold Fleet ties were broken on wins and points when teams met, however after all tie breaks St. Thomas Aquinas, Lake Forest and Newport Harbor remained knotted, forcing a three way sail off.  St Thomas Aquinas and Newport Harbor advanced to Silver.

Sun: Breeze was lighter Sunday and slightly more northerly which made for very unstable conditions.  Many thanks to windwark mark boat and US Olympic Team Coach, Ian Lineberger and leeward mark boat, Bob Matherly for dragging marks around in response to the variations.  By 1330 the stage was set for Gold Race 12 between Antiles School and Point Loma.  After suffering their first defeat to Anitilles earlier in the Gold Round a second loss by Point Loma would hand the championship to Antilles on the tie break.  In nerve-rackingly light conditions the combinations changed at every mark rounding and on the final beat to the finish each team had lead boats turn back to try and manage unstable combinations.  A puff in the last 50 meters of the race launched Point Loma ahead for the Toby Baker Championship.  Antilles was second and Boadneck was third.