Navy’s Ledbetter Wins First Two Races in Olympic Classes Regatta

Football’s Napoleon McCallum and basketball’s David Robinson should have it as easy as Lt.(j.g.) Brian Ledbetter, another graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who is putting in his time on the water and enjoying it, too.

“As long as you’re an amateur, I guess it’s OK,” said Ledbetter, of San Diego, who is America’s leading contender in the Olympic Finn class.

Ledbetter won the first two races of the 28th Olympic Classes Regatta off Long Beach Friday.

Bert Rice, 17, of Pensacola, Fla., won both sailboard races.

Because of conflicting events elsewhere, there is no Flying Dutchman class, while the Star and 470 fleets are thin. The light winds prevented the Stars, Solings and Tornado catamarans from finishing more than one race.

Fourth and eighth places on Friday’s second day of the U.S. Yacht Club Challenge off Newport Beach were enough to lift Balboa YC, skippered by Tom Willson, into first place with today’s race remaining.