12:11 AM Tue 27 Apr 2010 GMT
Bermuda's five-time World Champion Eugene "Penny" Simmons took it to the IOD fleet again Monday. He made the best of the strong winds and led the fleet from start to finish in the only race of the day. He rounded the last weather mark more than a dozen boat lengths ahead of Giles Peckham of Alton, UK. Simmons has 5 points in four races and Peckham now has 15 points on the board.
Sailing with Penny are his wife Sacha Simmons, Steven King, Steven King, Steve Mohr and D'Arcey Betschart. Peckham's crew includes Christopher Sharples, Jane Peckham and Andy Taylor.
The IOD teams sail in different boats each day based on a draw that was held at Sunday morning's skippers meeting. The locals drew first so they would not be assigned a rotation that included their own boat. Today Simmons sailed Privateer (IOD 15) and now has a score of 2,1,1,1. He leads in the IOD "A" Series and in the overall competition for the Vrengen Gold Cup.
Meanwhile in the J24's, Scott Snyder continued to show his stern to the rest of the class. He got an excellent start at the committee boat in winds gusting to 26knts. Then he trailed Bermuda's Trevor Boyce much of the race, but came back to pass him on the final downwind leg to win again. Snyder has 1,1,1 for 3 points while Boyce has 4,2,2 for 8 points. Peter Rich of the Severn Sailing association in Annapolis Maryland climbed into third place with 3,6,3 for 12 points.
Malcolm Smith marches on in the Laser Class. Today he took two second places, one behind Brett Wright and in the second race today he came second to Rockal Evans. Smith is first with 1,5,1,2,2 for 11 points, Evans is second with 5,1,4,3,1 for 14 points and Wright is third with 6,4,2,1,5 for 18 points.
In the Etchells Class, Bermudian Martin Vezina moved into a first place tie with Malcolm Graham-Taylor. Vezina with 4,3,1,1 and Graham-Taylor with 3,2,2,2 both have 9 points, but Vezina gets the lead on tie breaker points at this time. Tim Patton is in striking distance on third with 2,1,5,3 for 11 points.
The J105 class frolicked in the high winds and Glenn Astwood, skipper of Not Mine for the day came in second but held on to the first place slot. Not Mine has scored 4,1,1,2 for 8 points. Chuck Millican took first today and moved into the second slot with races of 2,4,2,1 for 9 points. James MacDonald now has scores 1,2,3,4 for 10 points. With these close scores it is still anybody's regatta to win.
High winds are expected for Bermuda on Monday and Tuesday. Forcasters predict gusts of 35-40kts each day so racing may be delayed and the racers may have to use the time off scheduled for Wednesday for Racing.
Details, entry lists, results and photos will be posted on the RBYC web site:
www.biirw.bm/
Racing starts at 1100hrs on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for both courses.
Competitors and Bermudians alike are invited to the New 'Rock on the Dock' party on Tuesday night. Live music by "Outta Bounds" at 7:00 pm with BBQ dinner for $40 per person and includes a Bacardi? Dragon Berry Cocktail 'Rock on the Dock' is a perfect lead in to a 'No Race' day on Wednesday, just right for international guests to enjoy the beach, the sights and the great non-sailing activities of Bermuda.
The Prize Giving Party at RBYC concludes Race Week on Friday the 30th of April. In addition to the fantastic sailing competition, the week is sprinkled with fleet parties.
www.biirw.bm
by Talbot Wilson
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