du Moulin Maintains Lead at International Masters

San Diego, CA (October 22, 2016) – The winds returned for the second day of San Diego Yacht Club’s International Masters Regatta, providing the twelve masters sailors conditions that were more typical of the City Front racing venue.

There was enough wind on the course to start racing shortly after noon, with the wind staying constant until about 3:00pm when it died down to about 4 knots in the middle of the last race. Despite the dying wind at the end of the day, the Race Committee was still able to hold all four scheduled races.

Jon Andron (St. Francis Yacht Club) started the day off strong and won the first race. Andron was the only skipper to start on the right side of the course and gained a lead that he was able to keep for the entirety of the race.

“I chose a good lane at the start,” Andron explained. “The starts are dangerous in the light, shifty wind. If you go an eighth of a knot slower, a guy will roll right over you before you get going.”

Bob Fisher (Royal Lymington Yacht Club) won the second race also by starting well and keeping that momentum going. “My strategy was getting a good start and going the right way. I want to keep plugging these bullets, having a good time, and meeting with old friends- that’s what this is all about.”

Bill Menninger (Newport Harbor Yacht Club) won the third race after passing Chuck Nichols (SDYC) on the downwind leg. “I go fast and try to get to the right a little bit,” Menninger shared. “We’re getting off the line better because there’s more wind.”

The conditions have proved difficult thus far, even for local San Diego sailors like Chuck Driscoll (SDYC). “It’s been challenging to say the least, especially using the different boats with the wheel steering, I’m used to a tiller on a J/105. The wind direction is also challenging. The second half of today went a little bit better. We got a third and then a second. So we’re happy with the way the day went.”

Richard du Moulin (Storm Trysail Club/Larchmont Yacht Club) won the last race of the day and is leading the regatta overall after the first six races. There are two points between the skippers in second through fourth places, so it will come down to how those skippers perform on the final day tomorrow.

Day Two Standings

Event details – Scoreboard – Team list – Facebook

Source: Emily Willhoft, SDYC