Andy Roy wins International Masters

San Diego, CA (October 20, 2019) – The 2019 International Masters Regatta wrapped up today at San Diego Yacht Club, with Andy Roy (CAN) from Royal Canadian Yacht Club and team coming out on top. The team won the last race of the regatta to secure capturing the title.

On the first day of sailing in San Diego’s South Bay, the sailors and their crews were gifted an extra-long lunch break with a view. Just around 1200, the U.S. Navy rained down on the course during an air-drop exercise, presenting the sailors and spectators with a San Diego airshow.

Meanwhile, down on the water, 11 equally matched J/105’s skippered by seasoned sailors over the age of 60 were putting on their own show of fast, competitive and close racing. Finishing the first day of the IMR in the lead was Andy Roy with 12 points. Following Roy was Tad Lacey with 11 points in second and Gary Jobson with 15 points in third.

Roy proved all weekend that consistency is key in a successful regatta. Managing to stay fairly consistent with his scores, Roy never finished below fifth place on the first day of racing, slowly creeping his way to the top.

“We were over early in the first race which wasn’t a great way to start, but we made a pretty good come back towards the end. Staying in the lower, single digit numbers is what we were going for. Last year we did this race and stayed closer to the 8s and 9s. So far this year we kept our races clean, got a clear lane on the first windward leg, and had good speed up and down,” Roy explained.

Only one point behind Roy was Lacey, showing off his experience with two bullets; one in the second race and one in the third. Roy and Lacey often found themselves neck and neck today. In the second race, the two boats went head to head on their approach to the first weather mark. In the third race, Lacey finished only a foot or two ahead of Roy.

“Roy and I were really close in the third race but we stayed in front of them. The two of us were well out in front and the race was really between the two of us. That’s when we inched him out. He’s a great sailor. Now we’re going to get a good night’s sleep and do it again tomorrow,” Lacey commented after the racing on day one of the regatta.

After the second day of the regatta, there were some major position shifts in the results, but Andy Roy was still in first with 27 points. The master skippers and crew were greeted with light winds and glassy water as they headed down to South San Diego Bay to start the day. After a short AP to wait for the breezes to fill, teams were soon sailing in 10-13 knots.

Scott Harris also came ready to play today, especially in race seven when he was leading the fleet by about a minute. With Harris’ strong, unbeatable gain, the real race was for second place. Bill Peterson, who was standing mid-fleet before the start of the day, made an impressive comeback, fighting against Brigden-Snow in the race seven to take second place. Peterson was able to improve his position by a few places to fourth place.

The second day ended with a high-note for many. Andy Roy remained in first overall with 27 points, followed by Ted Lacey in second with 35 points. Close behind in third, Chuck Sinks finished day 2 with 37 points, in spite of a DSQ in race 5.

To celebrate wins and join in on friendly camaraderie, skippers, crews and their families were invited to the International Masters Regatta traditional Saturday night banquet. Each skipper was welcomed to the stage to recap their successes and roast their fellow sailors and crew.

On the third and final day of racing, Andy and his team won the last race of the regatta to secure capturing the title with 41 points. Scott Harris (USA) finished in second with 47 points. Chuck Sinks (USA) and his team rounded out the podium in third place with 49 points, breaking the tiebreaker with fourth place Ted Lacey.

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Source: Casey Alocco, SDYC