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'JOSS' Wins 1D35 Class at Big Boat Series
First 1D35 Class victory for this Texas-based team
San Francisco, CA - Owen Kratz' 'Joss' defeated six other rivals to win a highly-competitive 1D35 Class in the St. Francis YC's Big Boat Series. The 'Joss' team compiled an impressive string of consecutive victories in the last four races of the series to win the class by seven points. The regatta marked the first time the class has competed on the US West Coast, as well its final event in this year's Season Championship Series.The Big Boat Series is one of the world's great inshore regattas, featuring brisk seabreezes funneling through the picturesque Golden Gate, tidal currents which churn and swirl in San Francisco Bay, and fantastic competition drawn from throughout the US and abroad. This year's more moderate breezes and tide strengths helped keep the racing close, and the class made an impressive competitive debut with numerous close roundings, tacking duels, and lead changes throughout the seven-race series.
The 1D35's sailed four windward-leeward courses in the northern area of the Bay, and three with legs laid out along the City front, with marks positioned by race managers as well as fixed buoys. On the final day of competition, the class sailed on a long 'Bay tour' course, which featured long legs up both the Marin and City sides of the Bay, and a screaming reach over to the St. Francis YC from Sausalito, where boat speeds often met and exceeded 11 knots.
After two races in the first day, it was John Wylie and his team from San Diego, CA on 'Tabasco' that took an early lead in the standings, followed a day later by Bob Hughes of Holland, MI on 'Heartbreaker'. But due in part to tactical help provided from San Francisco ex-local John Bertrand, the 'Joss' team managed to peak in the final two days of racing, scoring three consecutive firsts and building a comfortable lead entering into the final race.
This was the first 1D35 class win for Kratz, who hails from Houston, TX, and the culmination of a long season of class racing which started in January at GMC Yukon/Yachting Key West Race Week. Since turning in a mediocre performance at this event, Kratz and crew have nonetheless shown a dogged persistance towards improvement, and along with runner-up Bob Hughes on 'Heartbreaker', the team has attended every 1D35 circuit event this year.
The 1D35 is a fast and affordable, amateur-driven design from Nelson/Marek Yacht Design of San Diego, CA, and built to exacting one design standards by Carroll Marine, Ltd. of Bristol, RI. For more information on the 1D35 dealer near you, contact Carroll Marine at ph 401-253-1264 or fax 401-253-5860.
For more information on the 1D35 Class, contact the class office at ph 410 263 4848, fax 410 263 0333, e-mail 1D35@compuserve.com, or visit the class' web site at http://www.1d35.com.
Final results:
1. Joss Owen Kratz 1 5 3 1 1 1 1 13 points 2. Heartbreaker Robert Hughes 4 2 1 3 5 3 2 20 3. Tabasco John Wylie 3 1 8 2 4 2 3 23 4. Smiling Bulldog Garth Dennis 2 4 4 4 3 6 4 27 5. KT's Choice Bud Stratton 5 5 2 6 2 5 6 31 6. Rigel Don Payan 6 6 5 5 6 4 5 37 7. Avanti Frank Schinco 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 56 