Pit row busy at Vintage Gold Cup

Richland, MI (October 3, 2019) – The third annual Vintage Gold Cup kicked off today with very challenging conditions that allowed for only one race won by Lars Grael (BRA) with Arnis Baltins (USA).

The Vintage Gold Cup features restored wooden Stars exclusively and even though the level of the competition is very high with teams hailing from seven different nations and seven Star World Champions in the fleet, the Committee has to play it safe on the 26-boat fleet, particularly on the first day of the series.

In 6 knot wind at the start, it picked up to 15 with gusts up to 18 by the end of the only race, and with the forecast calling for the breeze to build up with the progression of the day, the Committee decided to hoist the AP flag over A and send everyone ashore.

As it was, pit row will be busy with a lot of repair work to do for the shore team tonight.

Grael and Baltins overcame by a few inches and right on the finish line, the reigning Vintage Gold Cup champions Paul and Danny Cayard (USA), who were in the lead from the leeward gate until the finish.

It was so close that both Cayard and Grael thought the Americans had won it. Tomas Hornos and Jon Klerk (USA) finished third in a beautiful race that saw them rounding first at the first windward mark, they are the only non-Star World Champion among the first seven teams.

“We are here defending our title and started the event with a nice race in tough conditions,” said Danny Cayard. “It could have been a win, but it’s just the beginning of what looks like a promising event. Sailing these old boats make you appreciate the craftsmanship and the skill in order to sail well in these conditions and I have been looking forward to this regatta since last year.

“It’s a fantastic event managed by even more fantastic people and it embodies the class motto: honoring the past leading the future. Then nothing is better than sailing with my father, and even though we’re 50kg lighter we can be competitive and have a good time.”

Racing extends from October 3-5 for any wooden Star boat that has been restored to approximate original specifications with modern equipment that may include hiking straps and aluminum mast and boom. Also featured is a Classic Vintage Cup category for the boats that will include a wooden mast and boom.

Event information – Race details – Results – Facebook

Day One Results (Top 10 of 26; 1 race)
1. Star of the Sea, Lars Grael / Arnis Baltins , BRA
2. GEM, Paul Cayard / Danny Cayard , USA
3. Flapper, Tomas Hornos / Jon Klerk , USA
4. Dilly Dilly, Eivind Melleby / Joshua Revkin , NOR
5. Quantum, Mark Reynolds / Hal Haenel , USA
6. Zig Zag, John MacCausland / Rick Burgess , USA
7. Mya, Larry Whipple / Austin Sperry , USA
8. Cautious, Joe Londrigan / John Wysockey , USA
9. Whim, Gregory Smith DDS / Kelly Belco , USA
10. Hope, Mike Hecky / Michael Brundage , USA

Three races are scheduled on the first two days and two for the last one. The 2019 Vintage Gold Cup champions, skipper and crew, will be awarded the perpetual “Robert M. Boudeman Family Trophy” and the class honor of the gold wreath.

Source: Star Class