NEWPORT, RI (Nov. 7, 2011) - Sail Newport’s first annual Fall Match Race Series concluded this past weekend with a finals duel between Newport sailors Anthony Kotoun and Mark Kroening.

After three round-robins were held October 15-16, Kotoun entered the weekend as the number one seed in the double-elimination bracket.  Cruising past his first round opponent 2-0, Kotoun faced Mark Kroening (filling in for Charlie Enright of Bristol, RI) in a best of three series to determine the first finalist.  The two local stars battled in fierce pre-starts and close tacking duels with a pair of fouls canceling one another out in Race Two.  In the third and final match, Kotoun and Kroening were tied but is was Kroening’s speed that led him around the course in front, beating Kotoun by four seconds and winning a slot in the finals.

Kotoun continued to hunt a finals slot with a best of three series against Ben Quatromoni (Newport, RI).  Although Quatromoni took advantage multiple times in each pre-start, Koutoun dominated each leg of the race course and grasped a 2-0 victory and a slot in the finals against Kroening.

On Sunday, November 6, Kotoun and Kroening met for a best of seven finals and the series championship.  In Race One, Kroening took an early lead around the first mark and dominated the race until a boat handling error landed a crew member in the drink and the race win with Kotoun’s.  Kroening continued to threaten during the starts, but Kotoun won the next four races and the championship.

Designed to be what one competitor described as “match racing with the feel of a Kobe Bryant pickup game,” the series took place in stunningly sunny and brisk Newport sailing weather.

INTERESTED IN MATCH RACING - SPRING 2012?
email Race Manager Anderson Reggio

FIRST WEEKEND REPORT

Sunday saw windier conditions than Saturday and again, the call was made early to race without spinnakers.  Proof of that being the correct call was demonstrated early with a complete capsize by Carson Turowski in his first pre-start.  The Race Committee did a phenomenal job pushing out a lot of racing getting in two full round robins and everyone to the dock with time to spare before the locally important Patriots kickoff.  Charlie Enright took his match against Anthony Kotoun by drawing a penalty on the final leg to take a half point lead after RR2 atop the leader board.  They came back at one another early in the pre-start of their match in RR3 knowing full well that the winner of that match would early the top seed in the bracket to come.  At the gun, Charlie found himself forced over early and had to turn back, never to threaten Anthony who took the win and the top seed moving forward.  The seedings are now set for Stage Two of the Sail Newport Fall Match Race Series to be held November 5 – 6.

Charlie Enright and Anthony Kotoun battle hard on Sunday.