Lucky Dog ahead

Audi Melges 20 World Championship sets sail in Miami

Opening day of the 2013 Audi Melges 20 World Championship, hosted by the Ocean Reef Club in full coordination with the International Audi Melges 20 Class Association, Coconut Grove Sailing Club and Melges USA ushered in three great races leaving Travis Weisleder, tactician Scott Nixon and bowman John Bowden aboard Lucky Dog/Gill Race Team in first overall. Weisleder played a fine game of consistency, ultimately giving him a healthy advantage over the 52-strong World Championship fleet.

"We had a great day. We've spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to make the boat go fast. We found some clear lanes that helped us keep the boat moving forward. That was really what kept us going. We had awesome starts. Our practice paid off." commented Weisleder post racing.

Under sunny skies, warm temps and choppy seas, PRO Bruce Golison fired off three heats resulting in three different race winners. John Taylor's Ninkasi blasted out of the gate turning the top mark first to win Race One. Jason Michas at the helm of Midnight Blue came on strong early then extended to win Race Two. Tony Tabb's YOLO had a spectacular day to win Race Three. Each of the race winners took home bottles of champagne for their efforts, but it was Weisleder's impressive consistency that awarded him the big daily prize - a Pusser's Rum Survival Kit, courtesy of World Championship sponsor Pusser's Rum.

In the Corinthian Division, Marcus Eagan on Cajun Underwriting with his father Marc and brother Andrew occupies the top spot, followed by John Brown's Blind Squirrel in second. Frank McLaughlin's CAN-254 rounds out the top three amateur teams.

Top 10 results:

1.) Travis Weisleder/Scott Nixon, Lucky Dog/Gill Race Team; 2-9-4 = 15
2.) Tony Tabb/Mike Buckley, YOLO; 5-17-1 = 23
3.) Jason Michas/Mark Mendelblatt, Midnight Blue; 4-1-20 = 25
4.) Bob Hughes/Morgan Reeser, Heartbreaker; 16-6-10 = 32
5.) Richard Davies/Charlie McKee, Section 16; 20-15-2 = 37
6.) Alessandro Rombelli/Paul Goodison, STIG; 29-4-6 = 39
7.) Jim Richardson/Terry Hutchinson, Barking Mad; 15-5-19 = 39
8.) Cesar Gomes Neto/Andre Fonseca, Portobello; 14-21-7
9.) Michael Kiss/Chris Rast, Bacio; 11-14-17 = 42
10.) John Taylor/Bill Hardesty, Ninkasi; 1-11-31 = 43

Top three Corinthian results:
1.) Marcus Eagan, Cajun Underwriting
2.) John Brown, Blind Squirrel
3.) Frank McLaughlin, CAN-254