J/105 North American Championship at American Yacht Club - Day 2
by Julie & Christopher Howell 7 Oct 2023 09:20 NZDT
October 3-8, 2023
Conditions at the J/105 North American Championship hosted by American Yacht Club in Rye, NY turned overcast on Friday, but not for Randy Hecht's Niuhi. The current J/105 North American Champion posted scores of 1,2,2 on the day to ascend into second place overall with 21 points.
Bill Zartler's Deja Voodoo continued with their consistent performance to preserve first place with 18 points. Ray Wulff's Patriot kept hold on third place at 31 points. There are no discards in the series for the 31 J/105s, who have now completed five of the scheduled 11 races.
Friday's opening contest was delayed slightly due to low visibility but got under way in breeze of about 10 knots. Hecht's Niuhi notched his second consecutive bullet of the Championship, while Zartler's Deja Voodoo and Wulff's Patriot stayed hot. The Usual Suspects of the Suspect Syndicate took line honors in NAC race four, ahead of Hecht's Niuhi and Bruce Stone and Nicole Breault's Arbitrade. A brief but heavy rain squall soaked the fleet before getting the day's final battle under way, won by Ben duPont's Warbride, and including Hecht and Damian Emery's Warlock in the top three.
Racing continues through Sunday. Full results available here.