1998 Big Boat Report

Blustery San Francisco Winds Create Tight Racing

Windquest holds slim lead after first day of racing

Photo courtesy of Daniel Forster SAN FRANCISCO, CA, SEPTEMBER 24 - AmericaOne Tactician John Kostecki and Skipper Paul Cayard faced tough, competitive conditions aboard the One-Design 48 ("1D48") illbruck-PINTA in the first day of racing at the 1998 Saint Francis Yacht Club Big Boat Series. The four-day series boasts 89 entries in classes ranging from the Maxi yacht Sayonara to nineteen J-105s.

In the eight-boat 1D48 class, Windquest, helmed by new AmericaOne team member, Terry Hutchinson is leading the section with a second and fourth place. The winning skipper of the 1995 America’s Cup, Russell Coutts helmed Numbers into first place during the series’ first race, and San Francisco native John Bertrand lead Starlight into first in the second race. The racing was characteristically close, with just seconds between the eight boat fleet despite the long bay-wide courses.

"We had a decent first race, with tight battles with Windquest and Abracadabra for the entire race," noted Cayard. "In the second race, we were too far left in the first beat, but we were able to pass the Kiwis and Sagamore downwind. On the last upwind leg, we lost the Kiwis at the last minute. This is going to be a tough regatta, but conditions are classic San Francisco. Whoever gets in the best position for the first leg controls the rest of the race – it can be a one-way track sometimes."

New AmericaOne team member Terry Hutchinson was on the helm of Windquest. "Terry did great – he sailed really well in both races," noted Cayard. America One has had a busy week, announcing four new team members plus their third official sponsor on Thursday morning.

America One is dedicated to recapturing the America’s Cup by applying U.S. technology in computer equipment, aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, sail design, naval architecture and structural engineering to America's Cup sailboat design. In addition to SAIC/Bellcore, technology partners include HP and Exponent. The AmericaOne team is comprised of forty-three professionals, including 30 members of the design team actively working on the research and design of its sailboats. Operating since June 1, 1996, AmericaOne is the challenger on behalf of San Francisco’s St. Francis Yacht Club. To learn more about AmericaOne visit: www.ac2000.org.

Preliminary Big Boat Results for :

Place	Yacht	Race 1	Race 2	Totals
1	Windquest	2	4	6
2	Numbers	1	6	7
3	Starlight	6	1	7
4	America True	5	3	8
5	Abracadabra	4	5	9
6	illbruck-PINTA	3	7	10
7	Leading Edge	8	2	10
8	Sagamore	7	8	15

Read more about St. Francis Yacht Club Big Boat Series. For live race reports, go to the 1D48 site, then click on the "live race reports" button. For more 1998 Big Boat reports, click here. For additional information on AmericaOne, contact: Gina Von Esmarch E-mail: gvonesmarch@americaone.org Phone: 415-474-3425 Fax: 415-474-3571

HOME PORT | NEWSLINE