First, just to get caught up, Bad News’s quest for an undefeated season was finally scuttled in the first race on July 26th. Machbuster, skippered by Cory Sertl, and crewed by husband Mark and two other Rolex IWKC rock stars, had set her sights on the Marshall boys in a match-up better suited for the J/22 Worlds than Fleet 12. And indeed the All-Stars on Machbuster proceeded to win the first race in a very closely fought battle with the college boys on Bad News. But pride often goeth before the fall, and in the next race the overpowering Machbuster team mis-read the course board for the leeward mark (the pin, and not Mark 3), and in her haste to correct the error, fouled Bad News which led to her eventual withdrawal after losing a shouting match held during the following beat. Meanwhile Bill Porter’s Conundrum took advantage of the Bad News/Machbuster dog fight and sailed away to a win in race two. On August 2nd, Bad News and Conundrum each had a bullet while Machbuster, skippered by young Nick Sertl, had two seconds in a light easterly breeze.

The August 9th races were sailed under slate gray skies in a 12 knot southerly and an ebb tide. Race Committee Winston and Judy Knight quickly regretted trying to use their own yacht as the committee boat, accidentally fouling the pin tackle on their rudder. While they were being rescued by the CYC launch, Machbuster’s personal photo/chase boat was enlisted to start race #1, Rp (Clingstone Bell), finish. Happy to see their “old man” buried at the favored pin as the gun sounded, the impromptu committee took more pictures rather than recall several possibly early starters. Conundrum “won” the start and did a good job controlling the five boat fleet on the windward leg. Good News kept chase, while Bad News, USA 1575, and Machbuster mixed it up in the back. Shifts, puffs, and the balanced beat to Clingstone, allowed Machuster to climb back to third by the Bell. Bad News, sailed today by owner Roger Marshall and his able crew Jim Mattingly (while the boys were at Buzzards Bay), used all of their not inconsiderable tactical guile to track down Machbuster on the run to the finish, but came up a boat length short after trying both the high and the low side to no avail. USA 1575 was fifth.

The race #2 course was lengthened to Rp, 13p, finish, and the start was a bit more even, with Good News arguably getting the best jump, while Machbuster was on the line this time but in the least favored position. Good News, showing her ability to run with the big dogs, kept her initial lead throughout the windward leg to lead safely at R. Conundrum, Machbuster, Bad News, and USA 1575 followed closely in that order, setting the stage for a long, jibe-less broad reach to the can under the bridge. The whole fleet compressed on the way to the bridge, but Good News still led. Then, as the fleet passed under the bridge, Conundrum, Machbuster, and Bad News all rolled over Good News. And as they approached the can, Machbuster even achieved a momentary overlap inside Conundrum. Bad News also had a shot at the inside line but wisely bailed out with only two aboard, in very crowded conditions. USA 1575 was just behind this knot of J’s and had a great view of all the jockeying for position during the most competitive leeward rounding of the season. With only the dreaded fetch to the finish remaining, Conundrum and Machbuster were a lock for first and second. But in a case of good theory foiled by practical reality, Bad News and Good News both tacked for clear air rather than suffering in the leaders’ wake with the ebb tide lifting the leaders higher all the time. All this did, however, was to open the door for a grateful USA 1575 who did not hesitate to grab a well-sailed third place, while poor Good News went from first to last during a disastrous five minutes after dominating the windward leg.

The wily veterans on Bad News this week put in a game performance, but the Marshalls slip back to a tie with Conundrum for the season series lead. Machbuster remains in third, but now trails by nine points with only 6 races to go, and no more rock star crew lined up.