Mariorenzi, Sertl win in J/22 Racing
By Jeff Westcott

The enthusiasm created by another gorgeous day and a fleet swelled to nine boats was tempered only by the dying northerly that often confounds lower bay sailors in August. Race committee Vic Calabretta set a course of 13s, Zs. A generous line contributed to a smooth start with lots of choices given the light northerly and building ebb current.

Machbuster and Bad News were the leftmost at the start and gained early from current relief, but Blues eRacer starting from the middle took the early leaders' transoms when they tacked and managed to get to the bridge first.

The breeze was dying at that point, so getting around the can against the current became more difficult by the minute. Red Sky, with Greg Ferguson driving, and Bad News followed Blues eRacer around, while Paladin, the just-launched Besame, and Machbuster came next. For ten minutes those boats drifted under spinnaker towards the next mark before a fresh southerly sea breeze filled.

Blues eRacer, of course, got the new breeze first, sealing their first win of the series, while the always well-manned Besame, with Rob Salk driving, climbed back from fifth at the first windward mark to steal second from Red Sky. Bad News, Paladin, Machbuster, and Rhapsody were the remaining finishers. Good News and Chaos withdrew, victims of the dying northerly.

After a general recall, perhaps the first in fleet history, the course for the second race was reset as Zp, a simple windward leeward. The pin end was strongly favored and again it drew a crowd, as Bad News, Besame and Paladin aggressively fought for position, and rights alike.

The Marshalls were at Buzzards Bay this week, so Bad News was skippered by Cory Sertl, fresh from a second place at the Eastern Great Lakes Championship (51 J/22'S), with Peter Johnstone and one daughter each crewing. As the tightly-packed fleet approached the windward mark, it was Machbuster, with Jeff McDonough and daughter, Lauren, on board this week, trying to squeeze in ahead of Bad News for the lead. They were unable to pull off the risky move, and they tacked, jibed and watched half the fleet sail by.

Bad News was left free to lead the pretty parade of nine spinnakers to the finish, holding off Paladin, Besame, and Blues eRacer. Rhapsody, Machbuster, Red Sky, Good News, and Chaos were not far behind. Bad News now leads the series by eight points over FJ Ritt's Paladin. Last year's champ, Blues eRacer, has moved up to tie Machbuster for third.