Brotherly Love

The one and only Mr Clean brings us his update from day one of the US Nationals in Zenda - Just under forty Melges 24s packed into a mile-wide stretch of Lake Geneva in winds from 12 to 25 knots made the scene an interesting one on Day One of the 2011 US Nationals.  Plenty of carnage yet only one retirement – this is a fleet with some excellent sailors from bottom to top.

The drama unfolding is the intrafamily battle happening between Conor Clarke’s Embar (with Olympic Gold Medalist Nate Wilmot at the helm) and New England Ropes (with Jeremy “Troll” Wilmot calling tactics).  You might remember the 2009 Melges 32 Worlds (Porto Cervo, ITA) when the pair won the title on Bliksem, with Troll on tactics and Nate on main.  They haven’t sailed together much since then.  “Any time life hands you a situation where the right move is tacking on your brother’s air, you take it,” Troll told me with a smile.  After 4 races, Gulari leads by just two points.

The teams at the top are loaded down with talent, though the fleet is much more low key than in years past.  There are no curfews at this Nationals, at least judging by the entire fleet’s presence at the world-famous Chuck’s Bar in Fontana last night.  Gulari and crew were out in force, and Bora seems mellow despite the pressure that he’s already feeling; M24 Nationals is one title that’s eluded him for years.  Bora led the 2008 Nationals in Charleston from start to just before the final finish (as tactician aboard Simplicity USA757), but the final beat in the final race, he let Brian Porter and another boat split and lost it.  But that was Charleston, and this is a tiny lake full of massively frustrating shifts – where Gulari has won the Lake Geneva regatta twice.  There are only three professional grade drivers here, and odds would tell you that one of them will win; Gulari, a Cat 1 who drives better than most Cat 3s, Wilmot, and Harry Melges III at the helm of Henry Colie’s BABS (who might be winning right now if not for an uncleared OCS in the last race).

The throwout comes in today and everything changes, and you can follow along in the thread or on Facebook as well as the official USMCA site.  We’ll also be doing a very special live Cocktail Hour talk show on the web tonight after racing – stay tuned to the thread for more details.

Meredith Block photo of Jeremy Wilmot yelling at his brother, with more here. Online Gallery.  Order ‘em here.