2000 Lightning North Americans
Daily Reports from Kate, Andy and Bill

Sunday - Qualifying Races #1 and #2
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Sunday August 13 

Kate Sheahan, Andy Horton and Bill Fastiggi (#14958) reporting from Annapolis (MD). 
So you thought it would be light in Annapolis in August... Sunday was the first day of qualifying for the Lightning North American Championship. A storm over New Jersey moved into the area blessing the fleet with 14-20 knots out of the north - about four times the breeze anyone expected. Ninety-two boats braved the unexpected wind and weather for some mixed results. 
The series begins with four qualifying races of which the best three count. The top 33 boats will tough it out Tuesday thru Thursday in the championship blue fleet. The rest of the fleet is split in half and will race hard in the green and yellow fleets.
Racing Sunday was dominated by shifty breeze and adverse current with the course crossing the shipping channel. Highlights included a few capsizes, one holed boat, a few bruised egos, but no broken masts or bones.
The big leader is Matt Fisher with a 2, 1. Other leaders are Ched Proctor with a 3, 1 and Jed Dodge with a 4, 1. OCS's plagued the fleet in race two; some of the victims included Bill Fastiggi (us), Brian Hayes, Phil Grotheer, Dave Peck, and Dave Watts. Hopefully we will get two more races Monday and these folks will get a throw-out. 
If the storm moves out and the weather clears up, we should have typical Annapolis conditions. Three time Lightning World Champion Tito Gonzales commented, "We did eh not have good a speed in the first race, but we hang in there." 
This is really what the qualifying series is all about - making it through to the championship series. The fleet will be divided Monday night, all scores will be discarded, and the scoring will start over in each of the three fleets.

Of course the other half of doing well at this regatta is moderating consumption. This is especially difficult with this year's ambitious social program. If you can't avoid the free beer everyday after sailing there is little doubt you will make it through the huge Millenium party Tuesday night at the Clipper. 

Quotes of the Day

"She said she was not ready and he did it anyway." Third wheel Larry Colantuono 

"Aeh #?!*, I brought my light crew for Annapolis, Aeh!" Alain Boucher of Montreal

"Not enough sun to hook anyone." The crew of "Thong Bait"

"If you don't make the blue fleet you have to come home."  Jon Schwartz's wife

"Lunch in the Park with Colin and Karen."  Will Jeffers, ultimate middle man

More to Come
Kate, Andy and Bill

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