1998 Newport-Manhattan Series
Kostecki, illbruck-PINTA Win Around-the-Island Race and Build Three-Point Series Lead
NEWPORT, Rhode Island (May 31, 1998) — Racing in fog that at times reduced visibility to less than 100 yards, the One Design 48 illbruck-PINTA, skippered
by AmericaOne tactician John Kostecki, finished first in the 1D48 Class in the Around Coanicut Island Race on Narragansett Bay today. The victory gives illbruck-PINTA a three-point lead in the Newport Manhattan Series of the the 1D48 Class — part of Newport's annual Nantucket Gold Regatta.
After starting conservatively, helmsman Morgan Larson and skipper/tactician
Kostecki drove their 1D48 racer into the lead half way through the
race. Abracadabra, steered by America's Cup challenger John Kolius, led at
the first two marks until illbruck-PINTA overtook her.
The Nantucket Gold fleet started their annual race around the island today
off Jamestown in an 8- to 14-knot southeasterly breeze that veered to the
south as racing progressed. As they sailed out of Narragansett Bay, the
racers were enveloped in fog that at time reduced visibility to 100 yards or
less.
Abracadabra is leading the season championships points standing and is
illbruck-PINTA's closest rival for the Newport-Manhattan Series. Either yacht
can still win the event. There are only three points between them with the
overnight ocean race to Manhattan plus a three-race day on New York Harbor
still to be sailed.
Abracadabra grabbed the initiative at the starting gun today and sailed on
port tack into the Jamestown shore to take control of the race in the opening
minutes as the fleet sailed a short weather leg to Fort Adams.
illbruck-PINTA started in the middle of the line and immediately began to
work her way clear of surrounding boats.
"After being over early yesterday, we thought it more prudent to make a safe
clean start and rely on good crew work and tactics to put us in front," said
Kostecki.
illbruck-PINTA was fourth as the fleet sailed to the first mark but
overtook America's Cup challenger Dawn Riley sailing America True just
before the mark to round in third place behind Abracadabra and Windquest, sailed by Doug DeVos. Then she sailed through the lee of Windquest as the
boats were enveloped in fog approaching the second mark off Beavertail Point.
Halfway up the spinnaker run to the north end of Coanicut Island she passed
Abracadabra and took the lead despite a determined challenge from the red
boat at the turning mark.
Current standings:
1. illbruck-PINTA 1-1-1-3-4-1 11 points
2. Abracadabra 2-3-4-1-2-2 14
3. Windquest 5-2-5-4-1-5 22
4. Starlight 4-4-3-5-3-3 22
5. Sagamore 3-5-2-2-7-6 25
6. America True 7-7-7-6-6-4 40
7. Leading Edge 6-6-6-7-5-7 41
Read the earlier story, Kostecki and 1D48 illbruck-PINTA Continue to Lead Newport-Manhattan Series
