Photos by Dennis "Da-Woody" St. Onge
[Excerpt Sailing World] The wind kicks up on Day 2 at the Sperry Top-Sider San Diego NOOD, sending two sailors to the hospital and many others for a refresher course in heavy-air sailing.
[Excerpt Sailing World] The wind kicks up on Day 2 at the Sperry Top-Sider San Diego NOOD, sending two sailors to the hospital and many others for a refresher course in heavy-air sailing.
The racing was no less taxing out on the ocean. In fact, two sailors ended their day in an ambulance, one after dislocating his shoulder, the other after taking a dip in the chilly 60-degree Pacific Ocean. After called Friday's conditions some of the most challenging he's seen off San Diego, Chick Pyle said that Friday was a walk in the park compared to today. And Pyle won both races. He has six-point lead over Gary Tisdale and Don Finkle. But Pyle will likely need a new main trimmer tomorrow as his spent the evening at the hospital getting his shoulder reorganized.
In fact, Pyle's performance was part of a trend on the Far Ocean course as in four of five classes, the same boat won both races. Tim Hirsch took a commanding 7-point lead in the Flying Tiger 10M class while Steve Wright's French Toast won both races in the Beneteau 40.7. In the six-boat J/109 class, Thomas Brott's Electra won both. John Luan's J/120 Caper just missed, finishing with a first and a second. He has a one-point lead over Chuck Nichols' CC Rider.
In fact, Pyle's performance was part of a trend on the Far Ocean course as in four of five classes, the same boat won both races. Tim Hirsch took a commanding 7-point lead in the Flying Tiger 10M class while Steve Wright's French Toast won both races in the Beneteau 40.7. In the six-boat J/109 class, Thomas Brott's Electra won both. John Luan's J/120 Caper just missed, finishing with a first and a second. He has a one-point lead over Chuck Nichols' CC Rider.
Will Stout has got himself on quite a run in the Etchells class, winning the last four races. However, he's carrying a ninth from his first race and leads the class by a single point over Chris Busch, with Friday's lead Brian Camet in third four points back. Two other teams swept their three races on the Near Ocean Course. Ian Trotter won all three J/24 contests while Curt Johnson did the same in the J/80.
Racing in the 2008 Sperry Top-Sider San Diego NOOD will conclude tomorrow. More wind and rain is expected. - By Stuart Streuli
