(Rye, New York)- The classic fall offshore sailing series on Long Island
Sound got off to a spectacular start this past weekend. The American
YC Race Committee took full advantage of the sunny skies, beautiful
breeze with skies punctuated by "torn cotton" clouds scudding across the
horizon, by running five great races for the fleet of ninety boats
sailing in the western reaches of the Sound. Sailing were fleets of IRC
& PHRF handicap classes as well as one-design classes of J/105s,
J/109s and J/44s. J/Teams comprised well over 50% of the fleet with 49
J's participating in the event, by far the dominant brand sailing in the
AYC Fall Series.Starting with the handicap classes, PHRF A class has three J/111s sailing and Paul Strauch's crew on ANDIAMO are continuing their great performance this summer at Storm Trysail's Block Island Race Week. ANDIAMO's crew sailed well to finish 3-5-3-4-5 for 15 pts to hold third overall after the first weekend. Just one point back is PARTNERSHIP sailed by David and Maryellen Tortorello with scores of 6-3-4-3-7 for 16 pts.
With a Saturday forecast for light Northeast winds filling in behind a large Low pressure system going out to sea, the fleet will be challenged to make the most of 4-8 kts breezes against the strong Long Island Sound tides and currents. Sunday's forecast shows some improvement with southeasterly breezes in the 6-12 kts range. Sailing photo credits- Tom Young/ American YC For more American YC Fall Series sailing information
