Detroit's Paul Hulsey Leads the 2008 St. Pete's NOOD
From the USMCA - St. Petersburg, Fla. - Paul Hulsey from Detroit, Michigan on 'USA-615 Hoodlum' leads the 49-strong Melges 24 fleet after one day of racing at the 2008 Sperry Top-Sider St. Petersburg NOOD Regatta. Seated in second place overall is Geoffery Pierini on 'USA-551 Gazoo' from Bernardsville, New Jersey and fleet newcomer Billy Gooderman from Port Credit, Ontario Canada on 'CAN-446 Zingara' is third.
The first day of racing in St. Petersburg spawned beautiful, almost springtime like weather, but conditions that were anything but ideal for sportboat racing. The teams cleared out the final weigh-ins on Friday morning in under twenty minutes, rushing down to the docks for a 9:30 gun. Going out to the course the breeze was nice, but it didn't stick around for long. It hung in for the first start and beat with the fleet favoring the pin end, then with a shift a little more than half way up the course to the right.
At the top mark, Pierini's bright blue spinnaker was the first to hoist. Following closely in second — there's nothing better than the sight of the 'D' — Corinthian player Paul Hulsey was determined to get out front. Chris Schoendorf from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin on 'USA-458 Taz' rounded third, then George Haynie from Tampa, Florida on 'USA-687 Firewater' in fourth. Downwind, with the wind quickly fading, Hulsey aggressively moved into the lead position with Pierini trying to hold his own. At the finish, racing was a real challenge. The air had turned painfully light, practically non-existent as Hulsey crossed the finish line for the win.
The fleet then waited another couple of hours for suitable air as the race committee desired to get at least one more race in, but it just wasn't meant to be. All other races for the day were canceled at 3 o'clock.
Saturday's races and conditions are slated to be somewhat similar with Sunday expected to deliver a little bit more 'breeze on.'
TOP TEN OVERALL RESULTS (Preliminary)
1.) Paul Hulsey, Hoodlum
2.) Geoffery Pierini, Gazoo
3.) Billy Gooderham/Richard Reid, Zingara
4.) George Haynie, Firewater
5.) Chris Schoendorf, Taz
6.) Alex Shafer, Sweaty Betty
7.) Kristen Lane, Outhouse
8.) John Podmajersky, USA-511
9.) Alan Field, WTF
10.) John Hamilton, Mustang
CORINTHIAN HEAT
Twenty-five teams out of 49 Melges 24s qualified for the 2008 Sperry Top-Sider Corinthian St. Petersburg NOOD division. Equally impressive is the fact that four Corinthian teams also populate the top ten overall results, and those four occupy spots within the top six. Not only did Paul Hulsey top the overalls for the day, he also captured the top Corinthian spot as well. Hulsey's crew is no stranger to the Melges 24 fleet — Rychee Vetor, Todd Jones, Geoff Speilman and Mike Hoey.
FULL CORINTHIAN
RESULTS
1.) Paul Hulsey, Hoodlum Racing
2.) Billy Gooderham/Richard Reid, Zingara
3.) George Haynie, Firewater
4.) Alex Shafer, Sweaty Betty
5.) Jack Kern, Devil Dog
6.) Justin Chambers, Liberty 5
7.) August Hernandez, High Voltage
8.) Marc Hollerbach, Fu
9.) Joe Blouin, Wicked Witch
10.) Tom Single, Juggling Act
11.) Kelly Gough/Shawn Grisham, Bulls Eye
12.) J. A. Booker, Carmelita
13.) Gary Schwarting, Obsession
14.) Charlie Clifton, John's Boat
15.) Steve Jones/Eric Andrews, Sick Puppy
16.) Scott Baste, Room 444 Improvement
17.) Tom Wyman, Hot Seat
18.) Tom Carter, Trust Me
19.) Richard Mallinson, Speedemon
20.) Jim Gunderson, BIG SKY
21.) Sean O'Conner, Just Add Water
22.) James Whatmore, Goux Get Moma
23.) Tony Stanley, Hermes
24.) Chris Franszek, Chappy
25.) Jerry Creasman, Aiemef