Under the command of Principal Race Officer, John Busch racers completed the first round robin series and dipped into the second today of match racing's Congressional Cup. Long Beach continued to deliver stiff and steady westerly breezes: with more forecast in the days ahead.
Earlier today Pearson Potts (USA) won his first match of the event and picked up the pace from there. "You make the smallest mistake, and you know the guy on the other side will capitalize on it." Harry Price (AUS) also started to get up to speed, after a long gap in racing forced by the pandemic.
At the end of 12 flights, defending champion Taylor Canfield (USA) had continued full steam ahead to the top of the leaderboard at 10 - 2, but not without a pack of hungry rivals on his caboose: Ian Williams (GBR), Johnie Berntsson (SWE) and Chris Poole (USA) all at 8 - 4.
And it was a day of thumps and thrills as the ten teams warmed up, and the action heated up. Chief Umpire Russell Green noted 21 penalty flags in today's six flights, with combative competitors colliding, clipping the Race Committee boat, tangling with each other - and the pin end of the line.
As Nick Egnot-Jones (NZL) put it, "There were lots of flags flying, boats colliding, and a real spectacle. It was high calibre competition."
Skipper - Nation - Results after 12 flights
- Taylor Canfield - USA - 10
- Ian Williams - GBR - 8
- Johnie Berntsson - SWE - 8
- Chris Poole - USA - 8
- Nick Egnot-Johnson - NZL - 6
- Emil Kjaer - DEN - 5
- Jeppe Borch - DEN - 5
- Harry Price - AUS - 4
- Pearson Potts - USA - 4
- Dave Hood - USA - 3