VISA Team Race Championship and Qualifier

Nine teams representing eight schools gathered today at Norfolk Yacht and Country Club for the VISA Team Race Championship on a partly cloudy typical 60 degree spring day. Four of the teams were competing to qualify for participation in MASSA Team Race events. To find the best wind, the course was initially set at the mouth of the Lafayette River. Early morning winds were northerly at 5mph gusting to 15mph. By about 10:30 vacillating winds dropped to unsailable. After a postponement, the course was moved up the river to SE of the Yacht Club where racing resumed with 5-8mph winds gusting to 12 (once to 20mph) vacillating from NW to SW to W and again NW. Sailors patiently waited through a few more short postponements during lulls, and course corrections due to shifts.

The fleet was divided into interwoven rounds of the top 5 and bottom 4 for the initial stage. Teams were then ranked and reseeded for the second and final stage which consisted of interwoven rounds of the top 3, middle 3, and bottom 3. Scores carried over for the top an bottom 3 only.

Christchurch School took first place in the event, followed by Norfolk Academy in second, and Norfolk Collegiate School in third place.

Thanks to the race committee for their patience and perseverance with difficult wind conditions, especially Levi Thomson, David Chase and Scott Robertson.