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Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. It was an exciting event all together . Here is a day to day recap of the events that took place in this magnificent event.
Day One Winds from 8 to 10 knots shifted across Banderas Bay on the first day of the 2007 World's, resulting in three general recalls at the start of Race One before the Race Committee put up the Black Flag. Race Two had a clean start and the afternoon breeze filled in for some close results.
A flurry of activity in the Protest Room tonight means that these are Preliminary Results only. Brazil's Mauricio Santacruz and Bruschetta lead, followed by USA's Mike Ingham and Brain Cramp, with Ryan Cox, USA 3324 in third. Mexico's 2007 National Champion Kenneth Porter scored an impressive 6th place in this first day of racing.
Day Two: Although Tuesday was a day of big shifts in the J/24 World's Championship, Mauricio Santacruz from Brazil ( 3-3-8-1) held onto his first place position with a win in the second race. He was chased over the line by USA's Chris Snow(8-4-5-2) on Bogus and Canadian Rossi Milev (10-19-19\SCP-3) sailing ING DIRECT. Just moments before the start of the first race of the day, the wind shifted almost 40 degrees - the race course was reset and the delay gave time for the breeze to build to 18 knots. Wataru Sakamoto(21-20-1-7) from Japan sailed Siesta in his best race yet, trading lead with Reloaded from Chile, driven by Per vib Appen (33-15-2-17) , and chased closely by Juan Ignacio Grimaldi and Domingo Contessi driving Argentina's Tag Heuer.
After Day Two, Brazilian boat Bruschetta is still being chased by the Americans Snow(8-4-5-2) and Cox (4-6-4-18), with Ingham (7-2-16-11) sharing forth spot with Argentinian entry Tag Heuer driven by Grimaldi/Contessi (16-5-3-12). Mexico's Kenneth Porter (5-9-18-25) on S sits in 12th place. Day Three Mid-way through the 2007 World Championship Brazil's Mauricio Santacruz (3-3-8-1-7) and his Bruschetta team are still firmly in first place, with Chris Snow's Bogus (8-4-5-2-36-6) from the USA right at his heels. USA continues to hold 3 of the top 5 spots, with Mark Hillman (18-1-25-4-2-3) on WIP and Mike Ingham's Brain Cramp (7-2-16-11-8-2) claiming third and fourth place. Argentina's Tag Heuer, driven by the team of Grimaldi and Contessi (16-5-3-12-25-5) dropped are in fifth position. Day Three's first race started with light air and flat seas. Great Britain's Imarsat Hedgehog (50-12-15-9-1-18) helmed by Ian Southworth and Chris McLaughlin took a strong early lead and held it to the finish, followed by Chris Snow on Bogus, and Argentina's Tag Heuer in third place.
The big wind shifts of yesterday repeated themselves today as the wind clocked south just before the start of the second race. The Race Committee reset the course quickly, and the fleet had one of the best starts of the regatta so far, with only 3 over the line early. 18 knot winds forced the quickest boats on the first windward leg to change to small jib, but by the turn, the big sails were up again. In oscillating winds Mauricio Santacruz on Bruschetta and Chris Snow battled for position, while Canadian John Polglase (71-11-57-16-41-1) on Fragata sailed to a first place finish. 2006 and 2007 Mexican National Champion Kenneth Porter on S finished the day in 13th place. Off the water, Sponsor Village continues to be the post-race Happy Hour spot - top notch local restaurants have been offering gourmet specialties and the cerveza has been very very cold. Wednesday's Fiesta on the Beach features a traditional Mexican buffet - time to loosen your belts, sailors. Day Four A full day of racing at the J/24 World Championships and the top four boats of Day Three are still firmly on top of the rankings. Mauricio Santacruz, 2006 World Champion, maintains his number one position with one day to go despite a 13-4 finish today. Brazil's Santacruz driving Bruschetta (3-3-8-1-7-7-13 -4) is still being chased by three American entries - in second place, Bogus, driven by Chris Snow (8-4-5-2-36-6-14-9), Mark Hillman's WIP in third (18-1-25-4-2-3-9-19) and in fourth place, Mike Ingham (7-2-16-11-8-2-15-16) helming Brain Cramp. The big move came from the middle of the fleet. Great Britain's Inmarsat Hedgehog driven by Southworth and McLaughlin (50-12-15-9-1-17-7-1) had their second bullet of the week, moving them up to fifth place, nudging Argentina's team of Grimaldi and Contessi (16-5-3-12-25-5-2-20) on Tag Heuer into sixth. Host country Mexico had its best finish today when Julian Fernandez sailing Crocs (15-36-DQ-38-44-28-3-35) held onto third place throughout Race One. He crossed the line after first place Sebago driven by Chile's Dag von Appen (26-35-21-8-21-71-1-24) closely followed by second place finisher Tag Heuer.
It was a Dark and Stormy Night in Sponsor Village Thursday evening when the Bermuda team were the generous hosts of their sixth annual World Championship Gosling Rum and Ginger Beer Party. A few Dark and Stormy nights, a costume competition, a giant paella, and Mexico's 2007 World Championship continues to be "The Best Worlds Ever!" Day Five Brazil's Mauricio SantaCruz and his team on Bruschetta are the 2007 J/24 World Champions. Bruschetta led the boat parade through Nuevo Vallarta Harbour to cheers and horns on the final day of what everyone is calling "The Best Worlds Ever." Sitting in top spot all week, SantaCruz went into the final day needing only to hold off the three USA boats that have been chasing him since Day One. Mike Ingham's Brain Cramp (12-7) finished in second place with Mark Hillman (28-4) driving WIP in third. Chris Snow on Bogus, who was in the top four most of the week, dropped to 8th place after 36-8 finishes today. SantaCruz retired after the first race ,the Championship in hand after his 18th place finish. Japan's Cerezo (14-16 -11-5-10-4-12-(18)-5-12) driven by Yasutaka Funazawa had consistent finishes and beat out Siesta helmed by 2006 second place finisher at the Melbourne Worlds, Wataru Sakamoto, who had both a BFD and a second place finish today. This last day saw some of the best racing of the week with10 knot winds and mostly flat seas. USA's Tundra Rose had its best finishes of the week with two bullets. Mexico's Kenneth Porter sailing S, who has been in the top 15 all week, maintained his third place through all legs, with Argentina's Chimera driven by the team of Alejo/Gonzales working their way up through the fleet to challenge Tundra Rose at the finish.
In Race Two, Siesta led around all the marks, followed closely by Tundra Rose and Argentina's Tag Heuer driven by Grimaldi/Contessi. In a tight finish, USA's Tundra Rose edged out Japan's Siesta to finish the Championship in 39th place. Tonight's Awards Presentations are the final official event of the 2007 J/24 UBS World Championship Vallarta.
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