An incredible event came to an end yesterday, seeing Sean Farley (MEX) and Sandy Parker (USA) on top after 20 races in winds averaging 30 knots.
Sean Farley seemed the man to beat at these first official North American Course Racing Championships, but the battle was full on for the places 2-5 between Damien Leroy, Jesse Richman, Sky Solbach and Chip Wasson.
Solbach was clearly in second after the first races of the event, holding down 2008 KPWT Racing Champion Jesse Richman and Damien Leroy. Chip Wasson and Abel Lago battling for 5th and 6th. With more races during the 4 day event Damien made more pace up to the top, winning some races agains Farley and making his way up to the second place. It came down to the last day of racing, when the race committee scheduled “only” another four races, with 5 points between places 2 and 5. Richman had a good start, while Solbach struggled on this final day and lost the pace. The decision for second and third had to be taken in the very last race between Leroy and Richman, where finally Leroy had the better and and defeated Richman by only three points after 20 races. With only one discard allowed there was no room for mistakes, and so this event will be memorized for a long time.
In the womens fleet, it was a close battle between Melissa Gil (PUE) and Sandy Parker (USA), with the better end for Sandy. After 20 races, only 3 points separated the first three women, with Melissa and Kristin Boese (GER) tied in points but due to the higher number of better results for Melissa Kristin “only” third in the end.
Together with the results from the European Championships in Douarnenez all eyes are set now for the Course Racing world championships in San Francisco later in the season.
for complete results, click here