Lightning North American’s Kick Off

Published on August 16th, 2016

Rochester, NY (August 16, 2016) – Qualifying racing kicked off at the Rochester Yacht Club for the 2016 Samson North American Championship today. After a postponement ashore this morning, the 76 boat fleet headed out in 7-8 knots from the Southeast. RC set the mark at 125, 1.2 miles and called for course 4. Those on the right benefited from breeze filling in.

Ched Proctor from Cedar Point Yacht Club in CT won the Blue Qualifying Fleet Race sailing with his son Charlie and Meredith Killion. The Gonzalez Family from Chile with Tito, daughter Trinidad and son Alberto, Jr. won the Green Qualifying Fleet race. Local James Barnash sailing with Geoff Becker and John Mastrandrea took the bullet in the Yellow Qualifying Race. Becker won the 2015 World Championship with Barnash as crew, this year their roles are reversed.

A second set of races were started. The breeze shifted left and died prompting the RC to shorten and shift the second windward mark. This proved to be the calm before the storm and PRO Hank Stewart abandoned races and the fleet was forced to sail in.

Teams Proctor, Barnash and Gonzalez are currently tied for first, pending protests.

Qualifying racing will continue into Wednesday. Once the Qualifying Series is concluded the Fleets will be split up into Championship, President’s and Governor’s Cup Divisions. Racing is scheduled through Friday.

Event Website – Results

Source: Laura Jeffers, International Lightning Class Association