Alter Cup 2009 -- Oct 22nd Update

CLEARWATER, FL – The standings are tight in the 2009 Alter Cup after three days of racing. Although it seems like the only name race officials on the beach are calling is “JC” for John Casey and his crew John Williams, the second place team of Michael Easton and Tripp Burd is only three points behind. The division of points is much wider from second place to the back of the fleet.

In third is the team of US Olympic coach Leandro Spina and seasoned distance racer Jamie Livingston. Although they are 10 points behind the next racer, they must stay vigilant to stay in the top three. John Tomko and his crew Paige Railey, a Laser World Champion and Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, are only six points away.

The wind has been steady for the past two days around 12-15 knots from the east with shifts and puffs from the north. The Gulf has also been friendly, as the outgoing tide and easterly breeze make for calm, flat water. For the majority of racers, it’s been all about boat speed for the final days of racing.

The fastest guys were dominating the results until yesterday. There had only been three teams to win races until John Casey and John Williams slipped to the back of the pack during a late A Fleet race and opened up the leader position to Easton and Burd. Today, the two lead teams are the only ones to have avoided being flushed to B Fleet.

Spectators on the beach were surprised to see that JC and John Williams were in dead last during one race yesterday, and they were even more surprised to see them make up seven positions in a single leg.

“That was the one that saved the championship right there,” said John Williams. “I never thought we were going to lose the race, but I was nervous for a second there.”

Although they made their way back to fourth, the event leaders couldn’t get out from behind the Miami Yacht Club youth team of Julian Roots and Taylor Palmer.

“The boys made a nice move,” said Casey.

This year’s championship is stacked, as usual, with many of the best catamaran racers in the country. But there are also a lot of young faces in the mix. In addition to the boys from Miami, the future of catamaran racing is represented by Taylor Reiss, a promising 15-year-old crew who is sailing with Chris Batchelor. Eric Witte is sailing with his son Eric Jr, and last year’s National Champion, Nigel Pitt, is sailing with his 11-year-old daughter Emilee.

The ladies have also made their presence known. Besides the Newberry sisters, Emilee Pitt, and Paige Railey, female sailors include Kelly Jason, Susan Korzeniewski, Tina Pastoor, Kathy Ingram and Beth Bonifant.

With such wide variety of sailing represented this year, it’s clear that hanging with the fastest catamaran sailors in the country is not just for the big boys. In fact, it’s not even just for boys.