Kennedy Cup
Intersectional
1 Division
Navy in Navy 44
http://scores.collegesailing.org/f13/kennedy-cup/
Sunday, November 10
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In perhaps the closest finish in Kennedy Cup history, the regatta
boiled down to the last 100 yards of the last beat to the finish of
the last race.
The day began with clear skies and a southwesterly breeze in the low
teens but with a forecast for a big increase and veer. Sure enough the
wind went right up the first leg and built. Crews who sensed the shift
capitalized. Michigan sniffed it out best and were out to a huge lead
while Navy jibe set to move up to second. However, Michigan badly
botched their spin drop and went from first to near last while Navy
snatched the lead and held on around the next lap for the win. Mass
Maritime and SUNY demonstrated their full potential to finish second
and third respectively. Michigan pulled another miraculous comeback to
take 4th while Cal Maritime was 5th. Going into the final race, Navy
now held a seemingly comfortable 5 point lead over Michigan and 6 over
Cal but with past regattas as a reminder, the regatta was not yet
over..
With the breeze now on a WNW axis and gusting in the upper 20s, PRO
Taran Teague designated course 5 to finish upwind and issued sail
limitations restricting teams to no genoas and no spinnakers. The race
got underway with 3 teams electing to reef their mains which looked to
be the right move in the big blasts. Cal (one of those who reefed),
was first at the top mark with SUNY, Michigan and Navy not too far
back. Cal rounded the bottom gate first and sailed off to the right
while SUNY and Navy tacked left for clear air. Michigan rounded in 4th
and also went left. The left paid off and at the second weather mark,
Michigan was up front followed by Navy then Cal. Despite the general
big pressure increase, there were sizable holes on the course which
wreaked havoc on the fleet and allowed for many place changes. At the
bottom of the second run, Michigan led Cal to the left gate (looking
upwind) while Navy opted right, all closely followed by the pack. With
the finish line tucked up under the lee of Tolly Point, the closer
boats got to the finish, the more erratic the wind became with 30
degree shifts and big puffs and lulls. Cal got by Michigan on the left
as they approached the finish and looked to have the race locked up.
But a huge right shift came in allowing Coast Guard to reach in from
the right to nip Cal at the line for the bullet. Cal took 2nd and
Michigan was 3rd. Meanwhile, Navy got caught trying to cover both
sides of the course and dropped to 8th opening the door for Cal and
Michigan. After the smoke cleared and scores were tallied, it was a
three way tie at 26 points for Cal, Navy and Michigan with Cal winning
the tiebreak over both Navy and Michigan, while Navy beat out Michigan
for second.
So, the Cal Maritime Keelhaulers are the 2013 Kennedy Cup
Intercollegiate Big Boat National Champions and have earned the right
to represent the US at the 2014 Student Yachting World Cup!
Special thanks to our PRO Taran Teague and her cadre of hardy NASS
race committee volunteers, Chief Judge Ric Crabbe and his panel of
jurors, NASS Fleet Captain Frieda Wildey and our cadre of NASS Safety
Officers, and to Joan Morin and her NASS social committee members who
put on a tasty BBQ for all regatta participants Saturday night.
Top 5
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Visit http://scores.collegesailing.org/f13/kennedy-cup/ for full
results.
# Team A TOT
==========================================
1 Cal Maritime Keelhaulers 26 26
2 Navy Midshipmen 26 26
3 Michigan Wolverines 26 26
4 NY Maritime Privateers 35 35
5 Mass Maritime Buccaneers 35 35
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