Smyth now leads U.S. Multihull Champs

Fort Walton Beach, FL (April 20, 2018) – The second day of the 2018 U.S. Multihull Championship was true to the weather forecast with three races completed in 4-7 knots of breeze.

The first race started in a dying northeasterly and was shortened by one leg due to the breeze steadily dropping in strength. After about an hour wait, racing resumed with the wind shifting to the southeast and holding steady at 5-7 knots.

Randy Smyth showed he knows the way around Choctawhatchee Bay the best and had a great 1-4-1 for the day and now leads the series. Previous series leader Mike Krantz had a stumble in the first race of the day with a 20th but finished the day with a 1-6 to hold on to 2nd in the regatta. Bob Hodges is in third and had a 4-14-2 for the day.

The forecast for the tomorrow has a decent easterly gradient setting up in the morning and dropping off in strength from mid-day on so it could be a mix. The forecast for Sunday (Day 4) is for 12-18 knots of wind but with rain and possible thunder so the race committee will be looking to get at least three races tomorrow in case the weather is not safe for racing on the final day of the championship.

Racing is planned for April 19-22 on Choctawhatchee Bay. Sailors compete in the Weta trimaran as either singlehanded or doublehanded teams for the US Sailing title.

The perpetual trophy was presented and named the Alter Trophy in 1986 in honor of Hobie Alter, Sr. and his extraordinary promotion of one-design multihull sailing and racing programs. The Championship rotates in discipline each year to showcase the depth of classes in multihull racing in the United States.

Day Two Results (Top 10 of 34; 7 races, 1 discard)
1. 437, Randy Smyth[WETA SINGLE], 2-3-3-3-1-[4]-1- ; 13
2. 1193, Mike Krantz[WETA SINGLE], 1-2-1-4-[20]-1-7- ; 16
3. 1003, Robert Hodges[WETA SINGLE], 3-4-2-5-4-[14]-2- ; 20
4. 254, Keith Rice[WETA SINGLE], 5-6-[7]-6-3-2-6- ; 28
5. 1190, Jonathan Weston[WETA SINGLE], 7-5-4-2-2-[10]-9- ; 29
6. 362, Richard Stephens[WETA SINGLE], 8-12-6-10-[18]-3-8- ; 47
7. 622, Carey Jones[WETA SINGLE], 4-[15]-10-12-13-7-3- ; 49
8. 1199, David Berntsen[WETA SINGLE], 10-1-5-1-12-21-[23]- ; 50
9. 1007, Randy Mulligan[WETA SINGLE], [19]-7-9-8-8-17-5- ; 54
10. 527, Norm Hansen[WETA SINGLE], 11-9-16-[18]-6-5-10- ; 57

Event details – Results – Previous winners and results

Source: Bob Hodges