New leader at J/70 Midwinters

Miami, FL (February 24, 2018) – Another picture-perfect day on Biscayne Bay was clouded for several of the 61 teams at the J/70 Midwinter Championship who bore Black Flag penalties. Bruce Golison’s Midlife Crisis survived to take over the top spot after six races of the planned nine-race series.

By way of a 3,1,5 today, the California-based skipper and his team of Steve Hunt, Jeff Reynolds, and Erik Shampain tallied all top-five finishes and therefore able to drop a 5 for just 14 net points. Joel Ronning’s Catapult, the day one leader, dropped to second overall after adding a 15,9,2. Tossing the 15 leaves Catapult with 18 net points.

Also in the mix heading into the final race day tomorrow is US Sailing’s 2017 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Peter Duncan’s Relative Obscurity who moved up to third with 22 net points. Andrew & Melissa Fisher’s Button Fly leads the 23-boat Corinthian division.

With sunny skies and warm temperatures, the winds were again in the mid-teens for the Championship hosted by Coral Reef Yacht Club. Black Flag penalties were scattered through the fleet in each of today’s races.

The BFDs didn’t hamper Duncan who kicked off his solid day with a victory in the opening battle, trailed by John & Molly Baxter’s Team Vineyard Vines and Golison. It was Golison earning his second bullet of the event in the next race, ahead of Brian Keane’s Savasana and Duncan. Jud Smith’s Africa took a turn in the lead position in race 6, as Ronning and Jack Franco’s 3BallJT completed the top three.

This regatta is the final opportunity for teams to qualify for the 2018 J/70 World Championship in Marblehead, MA, with four Open and two Corinthian spots available. Racing continues through February 25.

Event details – Results – Facebook

Day Two Results (Top 10 of 61; 6 races, 1 discard)
1. Midlife Crisis, USA26, Bruce Golison – 4 -[5] -1 -3 -1 -5 ; 14
2. Catapult, USA180, Joel Ronning – 1 -3 -3 -[15] -9 -2 ; 18
3. Relative Obscurity, USA49, Peter Duncan – 6 -[12] -8 -1 -3 -4 ; 22
4. 3 Ball JT, USA3, Jack Franco – 2 -4 -7 -[62] -8 -3 ; 24
5. USA 167, USA167, James Prendergast – 3 -2 -11 -14 -4 -[29] ; 34
6. Savasana, USA96, Brian Keane – 8 -[15] -6 -4 -2 -15 ; 35
7. Stampede, USA839, bruno Pasquinelli – 22 -1 -2 -13 -[62] -14 ; 52
8. Bottle Rocket, USA538, David Schumann – 12 -20 -4 -[62] -7 -17 ; 60
9. Team Vineyard Vines, USA901, John & Molly Baxter – 9 -16 -[26] -2 -11 -23 ; 61
10. Cloud Nine, USA403, Phil Haegler – 7 -13 -5 -[19] -17 -19 ; 61

Source: J/70 class