News

November 17, 2006

BROMBY Leads
Two boats up from the pin, Peter BROMBY and Bill MCNIVEN (BER) stole the start, had clear air all the way up the first beat, and rounded the first weather mark with a five boat length lead. They were followed by Matthias MILLER and Manuel VOIGT (GER), SCHEIDT and PRADA, James SPITHILL and Magnus LILJEDAHL (AUS), Augie DIAZ and Phil TRINTER (USA), Rick MERRIMAN and Eric MUNROE (USA), and Henry FILTER and Will WAGNER (USA).

The wind lightened on the run John DANE and Austin SPERRY (USA) took the lead away from BROMBY and MCNIVEN. A big left shift came through after the first couple of boats rounded the left gate. Luna Rossa helm SPITHILL, with local Olympic gold medal crew, LILIJEDAHL, capitalized on the shift and scooped the lead during the second beat. BROMBY and MCNIVEN, MERRIMAN and MUNROE were behind them.

Never giving up, DANE and SPERRY recaptured the lead on the run and rounded the right leeward gate 200 yards ahead of SCHEIDT and PRADA. The next dozen boats followed around the same gate before the downwind parade thinned out enough for boats to start to round the left gate. The wind continued to back and the fleet spent nearly the entire final leg on port.