USA 1 Defends Title

Racing comes to a close at the Grey Goose ISAF Team Racing World Championship

With eight of the original 16 teams eliminated from contention, the competition format moved to the "first-to-three wins" for the final day of racing for the 2005 Grey Goose ISAF Team Racing World Championship.

The New York Yacht Club's Race Committee made short work of the quarterfinal rotation in the 10 knot southwesterly on Narragansett Bay, and by noon both Irish teams had been eliminated, followed by New Zealand 1 and Italy. Those teams then completed a sail off that determined their overall positions for the championship with IRL 2 coming in fifth, followed by IRL 1, ITA and NZL 1.

The results of the quarterfinals had also set the stage for a showdown between the two superpowers of team racing – Great Britain and the USA. The pairings for the semifinals put USA 1 against GBR 1, each sailing with team racing world champions, and USA 2 against GBR 2. Although the USA cleaned up in both pairings, with win-loss records of 3-0, Great Britain didn’t go down without a fight. The American teams had come into this regatta very well prepared, having spent a considerable amount of time training and competing in Vanguard 15s, the boat that was supplied for this championship.

In the end, the all USA final was a nail biter. USA 2, with Patrick Hogan (Newport Beach, Calif.), Carlos Lenz (Clearwater, Fla.), Pete Levesque (Portland, Maine), Liz Hall (Tiverton, R.I.), Colin Merrick (Portsmouth, R.I.) and Amanda Callahan (Canton, Mass.) was showing a little more speed. Team WHishbone, a.k.a. USA 1, the defending champions, with Tim Fallon (N. Falmouth, Mass.), Karen Renzulli (Needham, Mass), Mark Ivey (Hungtington Beach, Calif.), Matt Lindblad (Newport, R.I.), Tim Wadlow (Beverly, Mass.), and Ery Largay (Osterville, Mass.), demonstrated both composure and skill in the light to moderate breeze with decisive moves and back-to-back wins. USA 2 returned to win a thrilling race three, but USA 1 came back in the fourth race to clinch the championship.

In addition to title sponsor Grey Goose, supporting sponsors are North Sails, Vanguard Sailboats, Ribcraft Inc., Ronstan, Sailing World and Sentient Jet Membership. Suppliers are American Lighthouse Foundation, Bagel Boys, Barry Motors, Challenge Electronics, Conanicut Marine Services, Crystal Spring Water Company, Heineken, Hyatt Regency Newport Hotel and Spa, International Yacht and Athletic Club, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Jailhouse Inn, Jamestown Ferry, Newport Harbor Hotel, Newport Lobster Company, Newport Tent, North Flags, R.I. State Yachting Committee, Rolex Watch U.S.A., Sailing Foundation of New York, and Team One Newport. The organizing authority for the championship is NYYC, ISAF and US SAILING, the United States' Member National Authority (MNA) of ISAF.

Results:

1-USA 1
2-USA 2
3-Great Britain 1
4-Great Britain 2
5-Ireland 2
6-Ireland 1
7-Italy
8-New Zealand 1
9-US Virgin Islands
10-Australia 1
11-New Zealand 2
12-Japan 1
13-Australia 2
14-Czech Republic
15-Japan 2