Mike Martin and Jeff Nelson (2-1-1-1-2-[DNS], 7.0 pts) needed one more race to clinch the title on the last day of the 2009 5O5 North American Championships.  Regional favorites considered by many to be the best heavy weather sailors in the class, Martin and Nelson dominated throughout the week securing the title after finishing second in the fifth race of the series.

“The Bay is a great place to compete and this week did not disappoint,” commented 2009 505 North American Champion Mike Martin.  “We’ve been looking forward to this since we won in 2004.”

Carter Jackson and Peter Holden got off to a strong start in the first race of the day and held a slight lead over fellow Australians Peter Chappell and Ian Davidson at the first gate while Martin and Nelson were neck-and-neck with Mike Holt and Carl Smit (6-2-2-2-1-[DNS], 13.0 pts) less than 20 seconds behind.  By the second lap, Holt and Smit had opened up a 23 second lead and ended up taking the gun.  Current World Champions Ian Pinnell and Carl Gibbon who started the race as the pathfinder boat finished third.

“Its been a great week but the long days tire you out and you can make mistakes,” commented Mike Holt. “It was a bit lighter today so it made for a fantastic day. That, and knowing we didn’t have to go out for the last race,” he jokingly added.

In the final race of the series Howie Hamlin and Ian Mitchell (7-8-9-[4]-7-1, 27.0 pts) held off Tyler Moore and Geoff Ewenson to take first and secure third place overall in the regatta.  Pinnell/Gibbon (8-7-7-[10]-3-4, 29.0 pts) ended up fourth in both the race and the regatta while Moore/Ewenson (1-[DNS]-6-11-18-2, 38.0 pts) finished 5th in the final standings.

Race Three and Four of the 5O5 North American Championships began with cloudy skies and 12-14 knot winds out on the San Francisco’s Olympic Circle. Following Race Three and Four, yesterday’s overall leader Mike Martin/Jeff Nelson USA ([2]-1-1-1, 3.0 pts) continues to dominate while Mike Holt/Carl Smit ([6]-2-2-2, 6.0 pts.)USA, winners of Race Two yesterday, are close on their heels. In third place following today’s racing are Nick Adamson/Steve Bourdow USA (3-[DNS]-5-3, 11.0 pts), followed by Jens Findel/Johannes Tellen GER (5-6-3-[DNS], 14.0 pts) finishing fourth and Tyler Moore/Geoff Ewenson USA(1-[DNS]-6-11, 18.0 pts).

“We’ve been looking forward to these races for a long time,” said Mike Martin. “The Bay is a great place to compete – heavy winds and strong currents make for an ideal setting. The St. Francis Yacht Club, as always , has done a great job on the course – it’s the right length, square to the wind and the reaches are on the right angles.”

While winds abated somewhat from Races One and Two, continued choppy seas provided for exciting racing out on the bay. First off the start in Race Three were Carter Jackson/Peter Holden USA who finished 11th. Mike Martin/Jeff Nelson continued their overall lead overall throughout the majority of the race, while Mike Holt/Carl Smit kept hold on the second spot as in Race Two yesterday. Jens Findel/Johannes Tellen were third.

“I felt like George Foreman in the ring with Muhammad Ali,” said Mike Holt. “The conditions today were challenging.”

In Race Four, Katherine Long/Stephen Long USA led off the start while finishing 20th. Mike Martin/Jeff Nelson and Mike Holt/Carl Smit continued their strong performance as first and second, while the reigning champions of Nick Adamson/Steve Bourdow USA were back for another third in the series in Race Four.

“Today’s races showed clear dominance by a couple of the most experienced teams,” said 2009 5O5 North American Regatta Chair, Peter Szasz. “Our current leaders Mike Martin and Jeff Nelson have been sailing together for a long time and they just don’t make many mistakes. With the final day of North Americans tomorrow and Worlds right on the horizon for next week, we’re expecting a strong finish out on the Circle.”

Day One of the 5O5 North American Championships kicked off today with two action-packed races on the Olympic Circle of San Francisco Bay. West Coast favorites Mike Martin/Jeff Nelson (2nd, 1st – 3.0 pts) and Mike Holt/Carl Smit (6th, 2nd – 8.0 pts.) sit atop the leader board followed closely by the German team of Jens Findel/Johannes Tellen (5th, 6th – 11.0 pts).

Strong winds and choppy seas provided for plenty of excitement as reigning champions Nick Adamson/ Steve Bourdow who got off to a strong start with a 3rd in the first race of the day were among a number of competitors – including Tyler Moore/Geoff Ewenson who took the bullet in the first race – who did not complete the second race.

“The winds started off strong and picked up throughout the day with winds reaching 22 kts steadily and gusts up to 26,” according to Pip Pearson, International 5O5 Class President. “San Francisco was chosen for its complex and demanding conditions and we got what we wanted with full trapezing weather right from the start. We’re looking forward to a great week of racing for the North Americans in San Francisco.”

“The competitors hit the Bay hard today and the first day results are indicative of the strength of the field,” commented SAP 2009 5O5 Regatta Chair, Peter Szasz. “We were pleased to have more than 80 boats on the starting line representing 8 countries from around the world and including past and present champions. We want to thank all of the competitors for their efforts and wish them luck tomorrow.”