Lead tightens at U.S. Multihull Champs

Fort Walton Beach, FL (April 21, 2018) – The third day of the 2018 U.S. Multihull Championship attempted four races while getting three races completed on a day that began in 15-20 knots of breeze but steadily dropping to zero.

“It’s completely rare to start a race day with 20 knots of wind and big waves, and then end the day towing everyone back to the club in zero winds,” said Randy Smyth, US Sailing Hall of Famer, two-time Olympic Sailor and Coach.

West coast sailors, especially Jonathan Weston, accustom to high wind conditions really took off in the first two races but the winds died off and he and other ‘westies’ had to compete in the lighter wind conditions that really slowed everyone down.

Day two leader Smyth posted a 5-2-1 to maintain his lead, but Mike Krantz closed the margin by winning the day with a 2-1-2, and now trails by just one point.

The real story of this class and the ability to learn to sail a Weta is exemplified in 17 year old Fort Walton High School junior, Cam Farrah. She is sitting at 10th place overall. She is mixing it up with male sailors with National, International, and Olympic Championships under their belts on a day that a third of the fleet stayed onshore because of the conditions. Fort Walton Yacht Club is extremely proud of her standing in this competition.

The forecast for tomorrow includes a chance of showers and thunderstorms likely after 11am with southeast wind around 15 knots, with gusts as high as 25 knots. Race Committee will be looking to get at least 2 races.

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 Three Results (Top 10 of 34; 10 races, 1 discard)
1. 437, Randy Smyth[WETA SINGLE], 2-3-3-3-1-4-1-[5]-2-1- ; 20
2. 1193, Mike Krantz[WETA SINGLE], 1-2-1-4-[20]-1-7-2-1-2- ; 21
3. 1003, Robert Hodges[WETA SINGLE], 3-4-2-5-4-[14]-2-4-3-10- ; 37
4. 1190, Jonathan Weston[WETA SINGLE], 7-5-4-2-2-[10]-9-3-5-4- ; 41
5. 254, Keith Rice[WETA SINGLE], 5-6-7-6-3-2-6-[8]-6-3- ; 44
6. 1199, David Berntsen[WETA SINGLE], 10-1-5-1-12-21-[23]-1-4-9- ; 64
7. 622, Carey Jones[WETA SINGLE], 4-[15]-10-12-13-7-3-9-10-7- ; 75
8. 362, Richard Stephens[WETA SINGLE], 8-12-6-10-[18]-3-8-14-14-6- ; 81
9. 1197, David Bacci[WETA SINGLE], 9-10-8-7-24-13-[26]-11-7-5- ; 94
10. 007, Cam Farrah[WETA SINGLE], 14-19-[20]-16-7-11.5/TIE-4-10-8-8- ; 97.5

Event details – Results – Previous winners and results

Source: Bob Hodges