The coveted Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup trophy is leaving San Diego Yacht Club and heading north to the home of this year’s winners: Newport Harbor Yacht Club! After three days of intense, close racing, skipper Justin Law and his seasoned crew earned their bragging rights by winning four of eleven races and staying in the top half of the fleet for almost every other race this weekend.

"It was super stressful. We just really played ball that last race. We had to stay five boats within Chicago and the team just did enough. Winning the first race made the tension go away and it was a great way to start the day. It set us up for a successful final two races," commented Law.

‘Stay out of the pack… and preferably in the front’ was the goal of today’s current first place skipper Will Holz of Chicago Yacht Club. On day two of the Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup, Holz and his crew were able to do just that, showing their competitors just how skilled they are in their home-town like winds.

The breeze was stronger than typical San Diego conditions today, seeing southerly winds with speeds in the range of 16-18 knots for the majority of the races. Teams were thrilled to be sailing faster and harder than on day one, especially Chicago Yacht Club, St. Francis Yacht Club and San Francisco Yacht Club who all came to Southern California from the some of the breeziest cities in the country. Holz (CYC) was able to use the breeze to his advantage and make his way from third place to first place in four races.

The 2019 Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup began today (Friday) at the San Diego Yacht Club, and it seems to be picking up right where it left off last year in 2018. All eleven participating yacht club teams are returning from last year, many of them being skippered by the same men and women at the helm. Shane Young and his Long Beach Yacht Club team were one team that really came back ready for a rematch.

Racing began around 1225 while the race committee waited for the breeze to fill in. This gave the teams time to get accustomed to the J/105s and the South San Diego Bay venue. In four races, competitors saw shifty breezes averaging 8 knots through the day. Temperatures hit the high 80’s and as usual, the Bay was covered with bright, sunny skies.

Currently standing in first place is Shane Young (Long Beach Yacht Club) with 15 points, tied with Tyler Sinks (San Diego Yacht Club) in second, also with 15 points. In third place stands Will Holz (Chicago Yacht Club) with 20 points.

NOOD organizers announce their 2020 regattas schedule

With the last remaining event of the Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta about to get underway with Sunsail in the British Virgin Islands for the season championship, NOOD organizers announced the dates of their 2020 regattas, the 32nd edition of the national series, which kicks off in February with the warm winter winds of St. Petersburg. One important date change for the Annapolis NOOD finds the regatta one week later, allowing for early season boat launching, prep and race team training.

St. Petersburg, Feb 14-16, Venue: St. Petersburg Yacht Club
San Diego March 20-22 Venue: San Diego Yacht Club & Coronado Yacht Club
Annapolis May 15-17 Venue: Annapolis Yacht Club
Chicago June 12-14 Venue: Chicago Yacht Club
Marblehead 23-26 Venue: Corinthian Yacht Club
British Virgin Islands (NOOD Caribbean Championship), October 25-30 (subject to change)

The only international team at the 2019 International Masters Regatta (IMR) is heading back north with the win after three days of tough, competitive racing. Andy Roy and his Canadian team grabbed the lead after the first day of the regatta and wouldn’t budge for the remainder of the weekend. The win, Roy attests, is due to clean starts and even better crew work.

“It was all Andy!” the team cheered on their way back up the Bay after the win.

“We didn’t start off the day great, but we got our act together just in time and had a great third race. We knew it was time for a good start. We just had to pull it off and get off the line. We had an opportunity to get underneath out biggest competitor [Chuck Sinks] at the start line and forced them to go up high,” Roy explained.

It was moving day at the 2019 International Masters Regatta and the skippers are getting more comfortable making their homes on the scoresheet and moving in on their competitors. After the second day of the regatta, there have been some major position shifts in the results.

After today’s (Saturday) races, Andy Roy is still in first with 27 points, with Chuck Sinks moving up to second with 29 points, and Tad Lacey holding on to third with 37 points.