The 37th Etchells World Championship started today in San Diego off of the Coronado Roads, approximately 2.5 miles southeast of San Diego Harbor. After a shortened practice race yesterday, the racing began today in earnest for 81 boats from 11 countries and four continents. Bill Hardesty, sailing "Line Honors" with crew Craig Leweck, Mandi Markee and Steve Hunt dominated the two races of the day with two bullets (first place finishes). In a perfect "chamber of commerce" day with clear skies and winds shifting between 270 and 280, 7-15 knots, Hardesty took the first two races in winds which started at 7-8 knots from 280 and finished with the wind shifting between 280 and 295.
With the winds building and clocking, Hardesty continued his winning streak from the ORCA Bowl / Pre-Worlds regatta, which Hardesty won both races of the final day in extremely shifty and difficult conditions. Going into Tuesday’s racing, Hardesty and his crew have won four straight races in conditions from light and shifty to 15 knots. The regatta has 81 boats competing; as a result, the lay-line for the first weather leg was predictably crowded with a mistake costing a boat thirty spots at the first mark.
The finishes for the first race were Hardesty (1), Andrew Wills (2), Vince Brun (3), Chris Busch (4) and Peter Vessella (5). For the second race, in winds which started at 10 knots and increased to 14, the finishes were Hardesty (1), Michael Hiatt (2), Craig Healy (3), Vince Brun (4) and Dennis Conner (5).
Vince Brun, a San Diego local and 2000 Etchells World Champion, currently lies in second place with 7 points, having sailed a very consistent day with third and fourth place finishes, respectively. Peter Vessella, from Santa Cruz, also sailed quite well, finishing with fifth and seventh place finishes for 12 points. Craig Healy, also from Northern California, is immediately behind Vessella with 13 points, having finished with a tenth and a third place finish. Sailing icon Dennis Conner finished the second race with a fifth place to bring him into fifth place with 20 points, ahead of Michael Hiatt from Australia, who took a second in race two to rebound from a 20th in race one.
The Etchells is a racing sailboat designed in 1966 by Skip Etchells. The boat weighs a minimum f 1508 kilos, and is crewed by a crew of three or four with a maximum combined crew weight of 285 kilos or 628.3 pounds. Known for its strong adherence to one design rules, the class has grown from approximately six boats in 1967 to almost 1400 boats worldwide.
The 2011 Etchells World Championship is being hosted by SDYC from June 6-11. The Etchells is a proving ground for professional sailors worldwide, with many going onto or participating in the America’s Cup. For more information for to www.etchellsworlds2011.com or call SDYC 011.619.221.8400 or Bill Pascoe 011.619.9557646.