Results from Lewmar Race Day, Day One of the 2002 Mumm 30 World Championship
25 September 2002

Racing has finally started for the Champagne Mumm 2002 Mumm 30 World Championship regatta in Annapolis, MD. Measurement requirements have been completed, registration is finished, the opening ceremony was held on a beautiful night last night with colors performed by the Annapolis Yacht Club promptly at sunset. Now, down to business for the 33 boats competing.

Race 1
The warning signal for the first race on Lewmar Race Day was fired promptly at 10:30 am under partly cloudy skies. Winds were 10-12 knots and from the northeast at the start with a forecast today for 10-15 knots. The course was set less than a half a mile north of Thomas Point Light with 4 legs, each 1 1/4 mile long with a heading of 060. Two boats were called over early at the start and had to go back with the rest of the fleet heading up to the first mark where an offset mark is being used. Printel Wind was the first boat to round followed by Steadfast, Alyssa Ashley, Mammy, Illusion and Off the Gauge in that order with the rest of the fleet following.

With a gate at the second mark, Printel Wind maintained their lead with a beautiful take down. They were followed by Alyssa Ashley, Steadfast and Off the Gauge. Unicredito Italiano snuck inside of three boats at the mark to round next followed by Foreign Affair and Mammy. We did not receive on the water reporting for the third mark rounding.

The finish took place under sunnier skies with the wind moderating and closer to 10 knots. A few more spectators showed up to catch the finish and see Printel Wind in a silver boat with the crew in bright orange shirts cross the line approximately 10 boat lengths in front of their next competitor. Steadfast jibed at the mark and crossed in second followed by Off the Gauge who came from behind to finish third. Alyssa Ashley snuck by Foreign Affair at the finish and beat them by 1/2 boat length to finish fourth with Foreign fifth. They were followed by Fuzzy Logic, Unicredito Italiano, Furry Creatures and Illusion in that order. The next four boats - Alina, Tramp, Mammy and Paydirt - crossed in a clump and were too close to call.

Race 2
The gun for the start of the second race went off a little before noon. The course stayed the same and the winds came back up to approximately 12 knots. Everyone stayed clear for this start with no boats over early. They all headed off on starboard tack with boats at the back of the fleet tacking over to port a little way up the course.

The breeze had again dropped a little by the time the first boats arrived at the Champagne Mumm mark. Printel Wind again rounded first followed by Alina, the 2001 World Champions. Steadfast came next with Enigma and Banca Finnat close behind.

Our on the water reporter missed the second mark rounding but was in a good position at the third. It is cloudier with the wind dropping to 8-10 knots. Printel Wind was the first to arrive at the mark and rounded the offset which the race committee moved prior to their arrival. Alina was second to the mark, 5-7 boat lengths behind the leaders. They were followed by Unicredito Italiano in third and Steadfast in fourth. Fuzzy Logic and Illusion were neck and neck heading up to the mark with Fuzzy Logic edging Illusion out. Enigma came next with Off the Gauge four boat lengths behind them.

The Italians swept the top three places for the finish of the second race. Printel Wind took the gun again with a huge lead. Alina jibed five boat lengths from the line and crossed in second 40 seconds behind the leaders. Unicredito Italiano was third followed by Steadfast in fourth place. Fuzzy Logic and Illusion were again battling as they approached the line with Fuzzy Logic in fifth followed by Illusion with Enigma coming in behind them.

Race 3
The final race of the day began shortly after 1:00 pm. The winds were getting lighter with the tropical storm system, Isidore, from the south pushing the high out and thickening the clouds causing the boats to shift from their medium to light jibs for this race. Race 3 is a five leg race with an upwind finish. Printel Wind, the leader after the first two races, made what appears to be their first mistake of the day by being the only boat over early at the start. The majority of the boats headed to the left side of the course, only four boats chose the right.

We don't have a report from the first mark rounding but the leaders were closer together by the time they reached the second mark with lots of jibing duals during this leg. The race committee moved the gate as the wind shifted more true north. Foreign Affair was first at the second mark, a good recovery for them as they shredded a spinnaker in the second race. Turbo Duck was second followed by Fuzzy Logic who is having a very consistant day so far. Illusion is next in fourth place with Banca Finnat close behind. Printel Wind made a great recovery themselves as they rounded next in sixth place and were the only boat over early at the start. Unicredito Italiano, Enigma and Alyssa Ashley bring up the tail end of the leaders with a gap between them and the rest of the fleet.

Turbo Duck moved into the lead as the boats rounded the third Champagne Mumm mark. Printel Wind continued their amazing recovery and moved into second although they were short of the layline and had to throw in an extra tack. Illusion was third followed by Banca Finnat and Fuzzy Logic who are battling for fourth with Banca on the outside in more breeze but they had to give room. Foreign Affair was next and then Unicredito Italiano, Alina, Enigma and Alyssa Ashley in that order.

The breeze dropped during the the fourth and fifth legs but came back up to 7 knots for the finish. Turbo Duck took the gun with a huge lead on the rest of the fleet. Printel Wind maintained their second place finish with a big lead over Banca Finnat who took third. Alina was next followed by Foreign Affair, Paydirt, Fuzzy Logic and Breakout in that order.

Overall Results

We'd like to thank the Boatyard Bar and Grill for letting us hitch a ride to provide you with on this water reporting. Don't forget to stop by this evening anytime after 7:30 pm to catch a video of today's action.