U.S. Olympic Star, Soling Trials : Cayard Regains Second Place After Review

Paul Cayard of San Diego, the 1988 world champion in the Star class, has been reinstated to second place in Saturday’s race of the U.S. Olympic yachting trials, regatta officials announced Sunday.

Cayard was among seven sailors cited for crossing the starting line too soon in the 5th of 10 Star races off Point Loma. He finished the race in second place but was dropped to last place and received 35 points.

After reviewing a videotape of the start and hearing Cayard’s appeal, a jury overruled the race committee and placed Cayard second.

Cayard said the video showed several boats over the starting line, but his was not visible.

He also said another sailor testified at the protest hearing that Cayard was behind the line.

“Two officials called his (sail) number over the line, but the jury gave him the benefit of the doubt,” said John Folting, chairman of the race committee.

The reinstatement moved Cayard from 13th overall to fourth with 52.7 points.

The protest had no impact on San Diego’s Mark Reynolds, who holds a commanding overall lead with 5.7 points in the low-score point system.

Vince Brun of San Diego is second with 45.4 points, followed by John MacCausland of Cherry Hill, N.J. (50.7), Cayard and Andrew Menkart of Haddonfield, N.J. (62).

In a separate case, the jury reinstated Soling skipper Harry Melges of Zenda, Wis., to fifth place in Tuesday’s second race of the trials.

Melges had been disqualified for failing to yield right of way while rounding a mark.

After reviewing new testimony, the jury found in Melges’ favor. As a result he moved from ninth overall to sixth with 53.7 points.

John Kostecki of San Francisco leads the Soling trials with 22.4 points, followed by Gerard Coleman of Newport, R.I., with 24.7.

Sailing resumes Tuesday at 1 p.m. about 3 miles off Point Loma and continues through Saturday.