At the NESSA Singlehanded Sailing Championships, hosted by the Norwalk Yacht Club, Jack Parkin took first place, while teammate Alex Morgan finished eighth. Parkin, the recipient of the Healy Trophy for winning the event, advances to the national championship in Galveston, Texas, in late October.
Over the 10 race format, with each of the 26 initial competitors using similar Laser Radial crafts, scoring is based on finishing position. The better a boat finishes in each race, the lower the score for the competitor.
Parkin had five first-place finishes over the first nine races, building a commanding 15-point lead (20-35) over the second-place boat from St. George’s (R.I.) heading into the 10th and final race.
Adding some excitement for the spectators, the St. George’s boat, sailed by Alex Fasolo, took first place in the finale, while Parkin finished 11th after battling an unforseen wind shift on the course.
Holding the large lead, Parkin knew he did not need to take any extra risks during the final race. "By the last race, I had a pretty good idea of my lead over the other boats," Parkin noted. "So when I was slowed down a bit by the wind shift, I knew it would not have a big impact on the final results."
Parkin’s steady hand at the helm, especially in the final race, allowed him to capture the overall title. The 2016 Healy Trophy winner finished with 31 total points, compared to the runner up Fasolo’s 36 points.
Parkin’s Brunswick teammate. Alex Morgan sailed to eight top 10 finishes, tallying 89 points for eighth place overall.
Parkin, Fasolo and Nicholas Stefanoni from Hotchkiss will represent New England at the national championships at the Galveston (Texas) Community Sailing Center. The winner of the three-day event, beginning on October 28, will also hoist the Cressy Trophy, as the champion sailor.
For race results,
click here.