Winter finale for Etchells Champions

The 2017-18 Etchells Biscayne Bay Series will be decided at the fourth and final event, the Midwinter Championship on March 2-4 in Miami, FL.

In what promises to be some great conditions, eight races are scheduled with 46 boats registered to race on beautiful Biscayne Bay under the auspices of Etchells Fleet 20 and Biscayne Bay Yacht Club.

The scoring for the overall series crown is comprised of a boat’s best two finish places in the first three regattas of the series plus her score in the Midwinter Championship Regatta. Going into the finale, three teams are separated by two points.

Jim Cunningham on Lifted is sitting on top of the overall with two points. British Olympic Medalist Lawrie Smith, on Alfie, is in second with three points. Reigning Etchells World Champion, Steve Benjamin on Scimitar sits in third position with four points. These three are sure to duke it out for the crown.

If any of those three should suffer a miss-step, ten other boas are within striking distance of the podium. Among them is Peter Duncan on Raging Rooster, the reigning J/70 World Champion and newly minted U.S. Sailing Yachtsman of the Year. He has former Etchells World Champ Jud Smith on board. Another contender, former Etchells World Champion Dirk Kneulman is teamed on Tiburon for the championship with Mark Watson and another former World Champion, Andy Beadsworth.

Series information – Event details – Entry list

Overall results… click here.

2017-18 Etchells Biscayne Bay Series:
Louis Piana Cup Regatta – December 9-10, 2017
Sidney Doren Memorial Regatta – January 6-7, 2018
Florida State Championship – February 3-4, 2018
Mid-Winter’s East Regatta – March 2-4, 2018

Source: John Payne