San Diego (CA), September 4, 2013 -
Once again, the winner of the day is French skipper Xavier
Rohart and crew Serge Pulfer. Race 4 was equally as challenging as the
previous day’s race, but not because of the weather. Rohart and Pulfer
fought inch by inch with John MacCausland and Phil Trinter from the
moment the starting gun was fired until the last couple of seconds at
the finish. With each day the competition among the
Star fleet at the Qualcomm 2013 Star World Championship grows more
intense.
The fleet began the day with a starting sequence on time at
1230 hrs, but three minutes into the sequence the Race Committee
postponed the race to adjust the starting line to avoid another general
recall. Shortly after, the Race Committee attempted another start, but
was forced to order a general recall when the majority of the fleet was
over the starting line before the gun.
Finally on the third attempt, the fleet was
all clear at the start but two of the Stars in particular stood out
instantly. Xavier Rohart with crew Serge Pulfer and John MacCausland and
Phil Trinter were the first two boats off the starting line at the gun
with the best boat speed and position on the course. At this moment
Rohart and MacCausland began leading the fleet up the right side of the
course and their duel to win the race.
Rohart immediately took the controlling
position over MacCausland and the two boats started to put some distance
between themselves and the fleet. At the first windward mark rounding,
Rohart rounded in first with MacCausland following closely behind. On
the downwind leg, MacCausland and Rohart engaged in a one-on-one battle
for the best position to round the leeward mark and gain the advantage
of being the first boat to the favored side of the course.
As both teams approached the mark, Rohart
was able to barely squeeze by MacCausland and round the left leeward
gate mark in first. During the second windward leg, Rohart’s main focus
was to protect his position on the course between the MacCausland, the
rest of the fleet, and the next mark. At this point in the race, there
was very little distance between the two leading boats, and MacCausland
was waiting for his chance to take first place.
MacCausland and Rohart continued their duel
throughout the last downwind leg, onto the final upwind leg to the
finish. Despite the constant fight between the two, Rohart maintained
his lead for the entire race and beat MacCausland to the finish by a
mere 00:21 seconds.
Although Xavier Rohart and Serge Pulfer won
Race 4 of the Qualcomm 2013 Star World Championship Series, John
MacCausland and Phil Trinter’s second place finish in today’s race
earned them the overall leading position in the regatta.
Provisional results after 4 races:
1) J. MacCausland-P. Trinter, USA, 17 pts.
2) B. Ledbetter-G. Morton, USA, 19 pts.
3) G. Szabo-C. Moss, USA, 22 pts.
4) X. Rohart-S. Pulfer, FRA, 24 pts.
5) A. Campbell-J. von Schwarz, USA, 48 pts
6) A. Diaz-A. Baltins, USA, 57 pts.
7) C. Buchan-J. Buchan, USA, 61 pts.
8) V. Brun-B. Terhaar, USA, 62 pts.
9) H. Merkelbach-G. Bartel, GER, 62 pts.
10) E. Doyle-P. Infelise, USA, 65 pts.
1) J. MacCausland-P. Trinter, USA, 17 pts.
2) B. Ledbetter-G. Morton, USA, 19 pts.
3) G. Szabo-C. Moss, USA, 22 pts.
4) X. Rohart-S. Pulfer, FRA, 24 pts.
5) A. Campbell-J. von Schwarz, USA, 48 pts
6) A. Diaz-A. Baltins, USA, 57 pts.
7) C. Buchan-J. Buchan, USA, 61 pts.
8) V. Brun-B. Terhaar, USA, 62 pts.
9) H. Merkelbach-G. Bartel, GER, 62 pts.
10) E. Doyle-P. Infelise, USA, 65 pts.
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