SAILING : Chayah Finishes Second, First to Lead by One at Long Beach

Despite giving handicap time to all but two boats in the fleet, the 50-foot Chayah, sailed by Oscar Krinsky and Neil Baker of Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, finished second and first in Saturday’s races to take the lead in IOR-A class of Long Beach Race Week.

With two races remaining today, Chayah held a one-point lead, 4.75 to 5.75, over defending champion Quintessence from Santa Barbara YC, sailed by Don Hughes and Dave Ullman.

There also was tight competition among the J-35s, sailing boat to boat without handicaps, where Dick Velthoen’s Rival from Ventura Sailing Club was three-quarters of a point ahead of Stan Yocum’s Juice from Cabrillo Beach YC, 7.75 to 8.5, with Steve Flam’s Flambouyant from the host Long Beach YC within striking distance at 10.

With winds settling to between 7 and 14 knots Saturday, Rick Dorfman of Del Rey YC sailed his Main Squeeze to two wins to take a commanding lead among the 19 Schock 35s.

In IOR-B, Michael Wooten of LBYC sailed his Andrews 39 Allegiance to first and second places to lead that fleet.

Places were shuffled early in Saturday’s first race because of a strong current at the windward mark, causing several boats to misjudge the layline and tack back to round.