DeVos 1-2

Delta by a point at the Melges 32 US Nationals

The youngest helm in the fleet - Dalton DeVos aboard Delta, sailing with Jonathan McKee as tactician and a crew comprising Morgan Reeser, Zach Hurst, his father Doug, John Wallace, Linda Lindquist-Bishop and Cody Schlub have been crowned the new Melges 32 US National Champions. In second overall, one point behind is cousin Ryan DeVos on Volpe, while Double National Champion Jason Carroll aboard Argo completed the podium.

The final day of racing was a solid down-to-the-wire occasion. Prior to the start Volpe was ahead by three points with Delta in second and Argo in third. With two final races scheduled, the fight for the trophy was on.

In Race Seven of the eight race series, Richard Goransson's Inga From Sweden pulled to the front of the pack to lead the fleet around the track from start to finish. Goransson commented post racing, that in comparison to yesterday, they had great boat speed, hence why they excelled in the final two heats.

Right behind, a serious battle for position between Dalton DeVos, Rob Wilber on Cinghiale, John Kilroy on Samba Pa Ti and Carroll ensued. Dalton, right at the line took the second place spot from Wilber who finished third, and Carroll pulled up to finish fourth. Kilroy was fifth, Ryan took sixth and Chris Wientjes' Stormvogel had her best finish yet in seventh.

The set-up for the final race of the championship could not have been more intense. Dalton and Ryan DeVos now stood first and second tied on 13 points each. Just after 1300, teams went racing for the final time with Dalton getting a great start off the pin end with Wientjes and Kilroy alongside. Proving that the left side paid, Kilroy was first around the windward mark, followed by Dalton and Wientjes. At the gate, Dalton took over with Goransson in second, Kilroy third. Back upwind with a steady 10-15 knots of breeze, Kilroy regained the lead. Goransson was looking fast coming second when he rounded up on the hoist for a disastrous set for the final run to the finish. Kilroy was first across the line for his only race win of the series. Dalton won the championship coming second, followed by Ryan in third.

Awards were held post racing, publicly recognising the crowning of the new champion. "This was such a great weekend." commented Dalton DeVos. "This was one of the best events we've had. The racing conditions were great, the competition was intense and overall it was so much fun!"

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