Team USA pushes past halfway mark of British Nationals – Dorr leads Seniors while 4 Americans fill the top ten in the Juniors

Downpours.  Sun.  Big consistent blasts of wind.  Light shifty summer breeze.  We had it all today in Largs for the fourth day of championship sailing as Team USA strengthened its position at the top of the Senior Fleet while an American remains a close 2nd in the Juniors.

Team USA's laid back dude Roger Dorr started the day tied for first, but by the end of racing today had put 10 points on second place GBR star Callum Airlie.  Dorr's secret weapon?  His super cool Amsterdam woollie hat.  While GBR sailors fill 7 of the top ten slots and with Spain in 5th, Team USA's hardest working guy Nathaniel Johansson ground back into the top ten again.  Team USA's USNT Top Gun Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick is just 2 places back in 12th, and Team USA's Ravi Parent absorbed a DSQ today that dropped him back to 21 - when another drop hits the board he will jump back up quickly.  Team USA's Jack Budill continues to impress with his steady improvement over the week and wrapped today's racing with a 12th, and Team USA's hard charging Seattle star Jack Toland will be addressing a "what the heck NYF?" score in the morning.  

Now that more than 6 races have been completed the Junior Fleet will be split into Gold and Silver divisions tomorrow - and every American will be solidly in the hunt at the top of Gold when racing begins again.   Jack Johansson, now up to 2nd, is stalking the IRL leader Peter McCann and Team USA's Adele Whitmyer is solidly in 4th after efficiently recovering from a "oops... I just capsized!" moment sailing downhill today.  Team USA's South Florida "twins" Ian MacDiarmid and Ben Kern continue to lurk in the top ten and reminded the leaders they are a dangerous duo by scoring a breakaway 1-2 in race 7A.  Team USA's Texas toughies Haddon Hughes and brother Parker easily qualified for Gold Fleet and have the clear talent to break back into the top ten in the final two days.

Team Dinner and bowling went late tonight so I'll have to sign off for now.  More pics will be coming, and check Mac's shots at his Picasa site (see link in a previous post), they are fabulous.

Standing by in the UK wondering why I ate haggis for lunch…