BRIAN PORTER LEADS DAY ONE 2002 KING'S DAY REGATTA

The King’s Day Regatta called it a short day due to lots of rain from a front pushing through north Florida (expected to bring much cooler weather for Sunday’s races). It managed to hold off long enough to squeeze in and complete two races. Both races got off to great starts with winds moving between 12-16 knots allowing for clean, competitive racing.

In race one, Brian Porter (USA-549 “Full Throttle”) pulled ahead of the pack and was first to round the top mark. Porter maintained the lead during the course of the race chased by Argyle Campbell (USA-524 “Rock n’ Roll”), Doug Clark helming for Paula Zubryzyki (USA-495 “First Crush”) and by Melges 24 Class newcomer Sheldon Ecklund (USA-553). After several periodic rain showers and with the wind diminishing, Brian Porter landed first place, Campbell in second and Ecklund in third.

As the second race pressed on the weather continued to deteriorate. The rain was now constant between light to moderate and the wind began to build. Again Brian Porter and his crew established a substantial lead from the beginning going on to capture the top spot. Campbell and Ecklund continued to battle it out, this time Ecklund taking second place and Campbell winding up in third. Further back in the pack competitive racing was the name of the game. Jeffery Todd (USA-58 “Hot Toddy”) came from behind for a surprising fourth place finish, Doug Clark in fifth, Jeff Jones (USA-497 “Kilroy”) in sixth, Wayne Pignolet (USA-174 “Pumbaa”) in seventh, and Doug Fisher (“Iocane”) with Morgan Reeser on board finishing in eighth.

As we head into tomorrow with much cooler and hopefully drier racing we have Brian Porter in the overall lead. Argyle Campbell and Sheldon Ecklund are tied for second place with Doug Clark following in fourth.

FINAL RESULTS

01 • BRIAN PORTER – Full Throttle
02 • SHELDON ECKLUND
02 • ARGLYE CAMPBELL – Rock N’ Roll
04 • PAULA ZUBRZYCKI – First Crush
05 • JEFFERY TODD – Hot Toddy
06 • WAYNE PIGNOLET – Pumbaa
07 • JEFF JONES – Kilroy
08 • DOUG FISCHER – Iocane
09 • TERRY GIBSON & DOUG FOLSETTER – Boobytrap
10 • ROSS GRIFFITH – Moving Target