28 May Webster Wins grade 4
OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK (May 19, 2019) – For most of the six teams in Oakcliff’s May Grade 4 Regatta, it was the first match race regatta of the season so the teams who came out on top were the ones who shook off the dust the quickest. If the light and shifty conditions on the first day didn’t do it, the big breeze on the second day certainly did. “We were here a month ago at the David Storrs Memorial Qualifier Regatta,” said Jim McNally who took third, his highest finish in a grade match race regatta. “That warm-up really gave us an edge over the competition this weekend, especially dialing in our crew work in the heavy wind today.”
Switching gears in the rapidly changing conditions was key for getting ahead and staying ahead in the knockout rounds on the second day. “My crew did an amazing job of shifting gears,” said Derek Webster who opened his sixth season at Oakcliff with a first place finish. “There were never more than ten seconds, especially on the upwinds, when we weren’t adjusting something. It was really important to depower in the puffs and power back up in the lulls. I know my main trimmer is going to be very sore tomorrow.”
1st: Derek Webster
2nd: Doug Shannon
3rd: Jim McNally
4th: Alexis Gesualdo
5th: Alex Lulewicz
6th: John Lubrano