the win
Star and Finn sailor Phil Toth files this report…
Sunday concluded the 2010 Star North Americans. George Szabo and Frithjof Kleen ran out the winners by 7 points over Georges boss at the Quantum Loft in San Diego, Mark Reynolds who was sailing with his long time and Olympic Gold medalist crew Hal Haenel. This is the second win in as many weeks for German crew Frithjof “Frito” Kleen at a major regatta. Since splitting with his long time helm Alexander Schlonsky, Mr. Kleen has won the gold medal at the ISAF World Cup Weymouth Sail for Gold event then a week later the Star North Americans.
Both George and Mark were sailing the P-Star. The P-Star is the new kid on the block amongst the other established Star builders. Occupying the top two spots at the North Americans as well as the top spot at the 2010 Star Spring Championship in the Nassau, Bahamas. The big concern was that the new P-Star was a bit sticky in the light and lumpy stuff but having George Szabo who won the 2009 Star World Championship in exactly those conditions went a long way to proving that this is no longer a concern.
Racing ran from Thursday through Sunday. It was one of those regattas that had all the locals scratching their heads and saying "I have never seen that before, the wind never does that around here”. It was actually a disadvantage to be a local, many sailors who traveled to Marina Del Rey that found that they were doing quite well because they have no pre conceived notions about what the conditions will do. Despite it all George and Frithjof managed to rally back after a bad leg or a missed shift…they would find themselves deep midfleet and start charging back picking off 5-6 boats on each leg before long they would be back up with the top contenders fighting for the lead. It was an education on how to sail a tricky regatta and how to rally back after a bad leg during a race. Congratulations to George and Frithjof…a job well done! Results.
