Porter Takes Over The Lead At Autonet Mobile US Nationals In San Francisco

Brian Porter on USA-749 Full Throttle improved his position today with a 1-1-[7] score to take the overall lead from Bruce Ayres on USA-747 Monsoon who has slipped the fourth. Porter is ahead by five points, leaving Dave Ullman on USA-505 Pegasus 505 in second and Vince Brun on USA-553 Bailout in third, dead even with 15 points a piece.

Day two of the 2009 Autonet Mobile Melges 24 U.S. National Championship was as exciting as the first with the maximum breeze around 15 knots and plentiful sunshine. In the end, there are some of the usual names on top as well as some new ones, in particular fleet new-comer Dan Kaseler on USA-379 pTeron.

Kaseler's great day on the water does not come as a shock as he has proved in the past that his team has what it takes to do well in the Melges 24 fleet. They are competing at Nationals for the first time ever and fresh off their win at the 2009 Seattle NOOD Regatta, they obviously bring a lot of positive energy to the Nationals field of competitors. His team consists of wife Jacqueline and Greg Halberg, Josh Larsen and Sean Halberg. They took second place to Porter in race one. Finishing third is another new name, Daniel Wilhelm with Richard Clarke calling tactics on USA-540 Wilco.

Porter also went on to win the second race of the day, with Ullman taking second and in third was Guy Mossman on USA-786 Battle Rhythm despite a strong lead early in the race. Brun was fourth and Kaseler was fifth.

Kaseler, from Port Madison, Wash. went on to conquered the fleet in race three taking the win just ahead of Ullman in second, then Ayres in third. Brun was fourth, and in fifth was Kristen Lane on USA-623 Brickhouse 623.

TOP TEN RESULTS (After three races)
1.) Brian Porter, Full Throttle
2.) Dave Ullman, Pegasus 505
3.) Vince Brun, Bailout
4.) Bruce Ayres, Monsoon
5.) Dan Kaseler, pTeron
6.) Guy Mossman, Battle Rhythm
7.) Matt MacGregor, Elwood
8.) Loren Colehan, Lounge Act
9.) Kristen Lane, Brickhouse 623
10.) Peter Lane, Brickhouse 539

CORINTHIAN HEAT
There is no change in the standings for the Corinthian division. Ayres continues his lead, fourth overall as does second Corinthian, Matt MacGregor on USA-401 Elwood from Seattle, Wash., seventh overall. Loren Colehan on USA-556 Lounge Act maintains third Corinthian, eighth overall.

TOP FIVE RESULTS (After three races)
1.) Bruce Ayres
2.) Matt MacGregor
3.) Loren Colehan
4.) Kevin Clark
5.) Christopher Farkas

Special thanks to Serge Zavarin, San Francisco based photographer for providing some great shots from today. View Photo Gallery

Full results are available at the Official Event Website for the 2009 Autonet Mobile Melges 24 U.S. National Championship.

LIVE REGATTA COVERAGE OF AUTONET MOBILE NATIONALS
Capture this link: http://www.autonetmobile.com/webcam/ and tune-in between the hours of 11:00 - 16:00 PDT, (14:00 - 19:00 EST and/or 13:00 - 18:00 CST)

If you missed today's action, visit http://www.autonetmobile.com/webcam/ to view some really great clips of racing on the bay at the 2009 Autonet Mobile Melges 24 U.S. Nationals.

The official apparel sponsor for the 2009 Autonet Mobile Melges 24 U.S. National Championship is SLAM. Latis Yachting Solutions is the official transportation and logistics supplier. Other sponsors supporting the Autonet Mobile Nationals are, based in San Francisco, BPM — Burr, Pilger and Mayer — the largest non-national accounting and business-consulting firm in the Bay Area, Velocitek, K&L Gates, KRT Marketing and Hutchinson Sports. Also supporting the event is the U.S. Melges 24 Class Association, San Francisco Melges 24 Fleet and the St. Francis Yacht Club.

Visit the official class websites of the International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA) and U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA). Also bookmark the Official Blog of the Melges 24. The Melges 24 can also be followed on Twitter at Melges24 and USMelges24.

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Autonet Mobile is the world’s first in-car internet service provider. Founded by a corporate executive and former race car driver and a leading network architect and designer, the company is dedicated to enhancing the in-car experience by bringing the power of the internet to the 200+ million cars on the road in the U.S. For more information about Autonet Mobile, visit www.autonetmobile.com.

Visit the official 2009 Autonet Mobile Melges 24 U.S. National Championship Website for more information. Also, visit the St. Francis Yacht Club online.

The Melges 24 is designed by Reichel Pugh and considered the most unique one design sportboat in the world as well as one of the fastest-growing classes of high performance yachts. For more information, visit the official class websites of the International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA) and U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA). Also bookmark the Official Blog of the Melges 24. The Melges 24 can also be followed on Twitter at Melges24 and USMelges24.

For more information or press photos, please contact:
Joy Dunigan
U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA)
2009 Autonet Mobile Melges 24 U.S. National Championship Press Officer
Class Communications Director | Executive Secretary
+1 (912) 398-5776
Skype: joysavannah