Gilliland Wins 3 Races, Takes Lead in Midwinters

Mark Gilliland of San Diego won all three of his races to take the lead in the Championship Flight after the first day of the three-day Thistle Midwinters West regatta on Sail Bay.

Gilliland, representing the host Mission Bay Yacht Club, scored 2 points to lead the field. A race winner is awarded three quarters of a point, while the remainder of the field receives points corresponding to their finish in each race.

Jack Christiansen of Seattle is second with 7 points and Tacoma’s Matt Burcar is third with 7 3/4. Christiansen won D Flight and Burcar won A Flight. Rob Spring of Ohio captured C flight.

The field has been split into two groups--Championship Flight and B Flight--for the remaining races. Three races on the open ocean will be today and two more races on Sail Bay will be run on the final day.