Davies-McKee ahead after day one

Three races held on the opening day of the Audi Melges 20 Winter Regatta in Miami

The first day of racing in Miami at the Audi Melges 20 Winter Regatta featured three races in light, yet steady 8-10 knots of breeze. Coming out on top, officially seated first overall is reigning/defending Miami Winter Series Champion Richard Davies on Section 16. Tied with equal points in second is arch rival Michael Kiss on Bacio. John Kilroy's Samba Pa Ti is third, three points further back.

After a brief onland postponement, the 35 strong Audi Melges 20 fleet went racing with Russ Lucas on Shimmer taking the first bullet of the day. With the breeze just barely reaching 8 knots, Lucas hammered the win with Davies on his heels landing second. Cesar Gomez Neto's Portobello representing Brazil, closed out the top three.

Tony Tabb had a great Race Two with his Yolo Audi Melges 20, assuming an unprecedented lead for the win. Alexis Michas on Midnight Blue proved that his team had speed claiming second, Kilroy was third.

The last and final race saw the breeze pick-up for the start, settle in for the duration and slowly start to diminish for the finish as thunder clouds approached the course area. Alessandro Rombelli's Stig took top honours in race three, Kiss came second and Davies finished third.

In the Corinthian division, Frank McLaughlin's CAN-254 has the all-amateur lead. Lake Geneva's Mike Keefe on Flannel is running second, and John Brown's Blind Squirrel is third.

Racing concludes on Sunday with an awards ceremony immediately following racing at Shake-A-Leg Miami.

Top 10 results (after three races)
1.) Richard Davies/Charlie McKee, Section 16; 2-6-3 = 11
2.) Michael Kiss/Jeremy Wilmot, Bacio; 4-5-2 = 11
3.) John Kilroy/Paul Goodison, Samba Pa Ti; 5-3-6 = 14
4.) Alessandro Rombelli/Terry Hutchinson, STIG; 6-8-1 = 15
5.) Tony Tabb/Michael Buckley, YOLO; 10-1-7 = 18
6.) Russ Lucas/Harry Melges III, Shimmer; 1-11-10 = 22
7.) Alexis Michas/Mark Mendleblatt, Midnight Blue; 7-2-13 = 22
8.) Cesar Gomes Neto, Portobello; 3-19-4 = 26
9.) Robert Hughes/Morgan Reeser, Heartbreaker; 8-14-5 = 26
10.) Tom Kassberg/Patrick Whimarsh, Flygfisk; 16-4-9 = 27

Corinthian results (after three races)
1.) Frank McLaughlin, CAN-254 = 62
2.) Mike Keefe, Flannel = 65
3.) John Brown, Blind Squirrel = 72
4.) Paul Currie, Wild Deuces = 74
5.) Eric Wynsma, Superfly = 80
6.) Jim Pearson, Slippery = 85