FROM THE RACE COURSE BY ERIC WULFF
The first race of the 2005 Corum Melges 24 World Championship at Ocean Reef Club got off to a slow start today but ended with a bang. The first race was delayed because of fickle winds ranging from 3-5 knots and cycling between 270 and 355 degrees. Just after 1100 the winds picked up to over 7 knots and the first race got underway with a five-leg course posted. Initially the right was favored but soon after the start the wind backed left and increased in strength and the boats at the pin took an early lead. Don Jesberg of San Francisco, CA, got clear after the start and had about a 10 second lead at the first mark. Jesberg held his lead on the first downwind leg and it looked like he was going to extend on the second upwind leg. However, Italy’s Nicola Celon and Morgan Reeser of Ft Lauderdale, FL, played the left side of the course at the top of the second beat and came in on the port layline with pressure and speed to close the gap on Jesberg, tacking in behind him at the windward mark. With the time limit approaching the race committee shortened the course and finished the fleet to leeward. Downwind Celon and Reeser stayed on the right side of the course as you look downwind and were able to pass Jesberg on the bottom half of the run to the finish. Australian James Spithill and his Luna Rossa crew came fourth just ahead of Dave Ullman of Newport Beach, CA. Jesberg showed that the Melges 24 Corinthian (all amateur) sailors have what it takes to compete with the top professionals racing here this week.
The second race looked to have more breeze with winds in the 10-12 knot range and a course initially set for 280 degrees. During the pre-start sequence, the wind shifted hard to the left and the fleet was stacking up at the pin so the Race Committee decided postponed and reset the course. During the reset, the winds clocked back right and they set up a new course for 305 degrees. The fleet anxious to get off a race in the stronger breezes pushed both ends of the line and the result was a general recall. The restart saw a handful of boats over early with the majority lined up beautifully on the line. Up the first beat the majority of the fleet worked the right and at the windward mark Germany’s Alba Batzill led the pack followed by San Franciscan Philippe Kahn, and Gabriele Benussi of Italy, Sean Scarborough of Gibbsboro, NJ, and Brian Porter of Chicago, IL. The top 10 boats traded spots on each of the following 4 legs and at the finish, Benussi took line honors followed by Porter, Samuel “Shark” Kahn of San Francisco, CA, Henry Filter of Annapolis, MD, and Batzill.