Decent starts and good speed

NEWPORT, R.I. (Sept. 22, 1999) – “Decent starts and good speed” helped Pat Connerney (Middletown, R.I.) and her all-Rhode Island J/24 team win today’s two races at US SAILING’s Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship off Newport, R.I. The victories seemed as cool as the 8-12 knot northerly, which rolled in under a gray sky, replacing yesterday’s barely-there breeze that caused officials to abandon racing.

“There were big holes and lulls,” said Connerney of the conditions on Narragansett Bay, which tactically challenged the 28 teams of six women each, “so there was a lot of shifting gears. We had our lead established at the first mark in each race, however, and maintained it from there.”

Taking second in both races, always five to six boat lengths behind Connerney’s team, was a Massachusetts team skippered by Elaine Parshall (Charlestown). “We were happy with second,” said Parshall. “I wasn’t trying to catch Pat. I was trying to stay ahead of the rest of the fleet.”

Both Connerney and Parshall have a history with this biennial regatta, which is in its eighth running. Connerney has sailed in every Rolex Women’s event since 1985, winning as crew in 1987 and skippering to sixth in 1993. Parshall skippered to tenth at the last event in ’97. Competing this year are teams from the Cayman Islands, Canada, France and Japan as well as the U.S., which has 16 states represented. Racing continues through Saturday, September 25, with ten races scheduled.

For complete results, visit the official web site.

Top-15 Results
Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship Results

Sept. 22, 1999 – Top 15 after two races
1. Pat Connerney, Middletown, R.I., U.S.A., 1, 1; 2.
2. Elaine Parshall, Charlestown, Mass., U.S.A,. 2, 2; 4.
3. Karen Lynch, Scituate, Mass., U.S.A., 5, 3; 8.
4. Vicki Sodaro, Tiburon, Calif., U.S.A., 7, 4; 11.
5. Nancy Stark Zangerle, Chardon, Ohio, U.S.A., 3, 11; 14.
6. Amanda Clark, Shelter Island, N.Y., U.S.A., 6, 11(P05); 17.
7. Felicity Clarke, Toronto, Ontario, CAN, 13, 5; 18.
8. Susan Reddaway, Flowery Branch, Ga., U.S.A., 4, 15; 19.
9. Judy Woellner, Minnetonka, Minn., U.S.A., 14, 7; 21.
10. Kathryn Connell, Blauvelt, N.Y., U.S.A., 12, 10; 22
11. Christine Briand, La Rochelle, FRANCE, 9, 14; 23.
12. Jane Lumbers, Oakville, Ontario, CANADA, 11, 13; 24.
13. Liz Hjorth, Marina del Ray, Calif., U.S.A., 16, 8; 24.
14. Yumiko Takano, Fukuoka, JAPAN, 15, 9; 24.
15. Anne Marie Shewfelt, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA, 8, 18; 26.