Il Moro Trophy Regatta – Day 2

Race 2 – Short Course

RESULTS:
1st: ORACLE BMW Racing (USA 49), Larry Ellison
2nd: NZL 14, Roberto Ferrarese
3rd: NZL 20, David Thomson
4th: Il Moro (ITA-1), Peter Stoneberg
DNF: Stars & Stripes (USA 11), John Sweeney

A typical summer day on San Francisco Bay greeted the IACCSF this morning - cold, foggy and an early breeze building. An air of anticipation brewed as the IACCSF crews rallied for breakfast at the Sausalito Yacht Club, exchanging sailing stories, pulling foulies on, anxious to get out on the Bay for Day 2 of the Il Moro Trophy regatta. The start gun fired at 10:45am with Stars & Stripes first over the line, followed closely by NZL 14, ORACLE BMW, Il Moro and NZL 20. Racing in 15-18 knots, the yachts close hauled up to the Blackaller mark on the city side of the Bay with ORACLE BMW taking an early lead. Half way across the Bay, Stars & Stripes blew her main halyard and subsequently withdrew for the remainder of the day. ORACLE BMW rounded the first mark with NZL 14 and NZL 20 close behind. It was ORACLE BMW’s race from the outset, crossing the line almost four minutes ahead of NZL 14.

Race 3 – Short Course

RESULTS:
1st: ORACLE BMW Racing (USA 49), Larry Ellison
2nd: Il Moro (ITA-1), Peter Stoneberg
3rd: NZL 14, Roberto Ferrarese
4th: NZL 20, David Thomson
DNS: Stars & Stripes (USA 11), John Sweeney

In true San Francisco Bay summertime fashion, by the time the boats met at the start line for Race 3 the sun was out and the breeze had picked up to almost 20 knots – perfect conditions for IACC racing. These magnificent yachts looked awesome on the line, dwarfing the hundreds of spectator boats and other racing fleets out on the Bay. Another great start to starboard as the yachts reached off to the first mark, Yellowbluff. NZL 14 quickly flipped to port, with the others following. ORACLE BMW rounded first, with NZL 14 following by a minute and NZL 20 no more than a couple of seconds behind NZL 14. Ferrarese drove NZL 14 hard to position in front of NZL 20 and Il Moro as they approached Racoon Straits then blew her chute and quickly lost ground to NZL 20 and Il Moro. As NZL 14’s chute tore from the halyard, we couldn’t help that Sweeney was sitting on her bow so accordingly he takes boat jinxer of the day award. ORACLE BMW took another easy first, eight minutes ahead of Il Moro.

As I write this, it’s a beautiful day on the Bay and now nuking to 35 knots…good thing we start these races early! One of the great things about this regatta is its international flavor as we have Germans, Italians, Aussies, Kiwis, Brits and Canadians out there sailing with us. We’re heading back to the Sausalito Yacht Club for the post-race party. Keep posted for more race results from Day 3 tomorrow.

Michelle Slade