World Championship of the World

Update:The SA ISAF was a success! We had beautiful sailing conditions – 10-12, 80 degrees and 10 races. Howie Hamlin won the 505’s, Chis Winnard won the Vipers, The Ed won the FT 10’s, The Thompson 650 won Sportboat B, The Melges 30 won Sportboat A. Full race reports, pics and the low down all coming to you asap…

70 boats on two courses kept things busy in San Diego’s South Bay today, but the low-key attitude and great weather made it all just fine at the first day of the Sailing Anarchy ISAF World Championship of the World regatta. 

8-10 knots and 80 degrees kept the racing extremely tight, with constant traffic, busy starts and roundings, and different designs frequently crossing the finish line 1-2-3 in the mixed fleets .  The Melges 30 ‘Nemesis’ has a slim lead over the J/125 ‘Resolute’, just a couple of points ahead of ‘Anarchy’, while Ben Landon’s sexy Thompson 650 ‘Flight Risk’ owns the Sportboat B fleet with a string of solid results, frequently crossing the line ahead of faster-rated designs.  In fact, in three of four races, the top 3 in the Sportboat B fleet were different designs – exactly the kind of tight racing this regatta was intended to foster.

Meanwhile, 18 international 5O5’s are duking it out on the flat water of the South Bay, with superstar hi-po sailor Howie Hamlin strangling down on the fleet. Moth US National Champ Adam Lowry stayed on top in the Moths over a small fleet, while WETA rep Dave Bertsen leads the Weta fleet, who seems to be having a ball.  One skipper even has his young son aboard the ostensible singlehander, and he might’ve been the happiest sailor out there!

Be sure to join the nearly 10,000 unique viewers that watched the live video feed on Saturday – it’s relaxed, fun stuff that is more focused on the interesting designs and how they’re sailed than the strict competition.  Be sure to check the thread for some great pictures and more information.  Full Results are here.

And don’t forget to tune in to the live racing action Sunday at 1200 PST.  You can check out the archived clips here.