American Yacht Club Fall Series Regatta

The 2017 American Yacht Club Fall Series Regatta, which spans September 23-24 and September 30-October 1, ended in splendid fashion for the 100 teams competing in the IRC, PHRF, and one design fleets.

Saturday racing was met with an anticipated fall feel as temperatures hovered below 60 degrees with oscillating winds ranging from 15-20 knots. The higher than forecasted breeze velocities created some epic sailing conditions and top speed records for certain boats. Towards the end of Saturday, several boats set personal speed records both upwind and downwind. Eight classes of boats embraced the chilly weather to compete on the Long Island Sound.

On the South Course, several One Design classes competed from across the northeast including the J/70, J/109, J/44, J/88, and J/105 classes. The J/70 class had a strong showing of over 20 boats with Any Colour (AYC), skippered by Scott and Alex Furnary, finishing first. The duo came into the weekend leading the J/70 class and finished Sunday with a commanding lead. Scott and Alex took home the Zilph Trophy for the second time in three years–an outstanding accomplishment. Trevor Roach who skippered the Semi Charmed (CPYC) finished second in J/70 division.

The past two weekends provided an incredible training opportunity for the J/70 class. Many sailors saw the Fall Series as ideal preparation for the J/70 North American Championships which will be held in two weeks at American Yacht Club.

The competition was fierce in the J/105 class. A tiebreaker for first place left Good Trade (StFYC) skippered by Bruce Stone and Nicole Breault winning the class and Eclipse (MSSA) skippered by Damian Emery finishing in second place. Yonder (NYYC) took the J/88 class skippered by Douglas Newhouse with Escape finishing second skippered by Elizabeth Barry (NYYC).

David Rosow’s Loki (PYC) won the J/109 class. David and his crew had also come into the weekend leading the J/109 class and were awarded the Roger Sherman Memorial Trophy for outstanding performances in both the 2017 Spring Series and 2017 Fall Series Regattas.

On the East Course, American Yacht Club claimed the top three places in the J/44 class. Commodore William Ketcham’s Maxine placed first, followed by James D. Bishop’s Gold Digger which took second and Leonard Sitar’s VAMP who placed third.

Skippering Lir (AYC), John McNamara secured the IRC class and was awarded the Cynosure Trophy. Andrew & Linda Weiss, who skippered Christopher Dragon (LYC), finished second in the IRC class.

The PHRF 1 class was won by a relatively new team Muskoka (AYC) skippered by Neil Hindle. In the PHRF 2 class, Partnership (BRYC) skippered by David and Maryellen Tortorello, finished first. In the PHRF 3 class, Whirlwind (CIYC) skippered by William Purdy finished first.

Event details – Results

Source: AYC