CONGRESSIONAL CUP : Protests Mar First Round of Sailing

The 28th Congressional Cup opened like an off-Broadway version of the America’s Cup Monday, with boats colliding in a blizzard of protest flags.

When the spray settled, five sailors--Robbie Haines of Huntington Beach, Chris Law of England, Bertrand Pace of France, John Kostecki of San Francisco and Terry Hutchinson of Traverse City, Mich.--were at 2-1, the other five at 1-2.

Despite the use of on-water umpires, Kostecki carried a protest ashore claiming that Hutchinson, a 23-year-old newcomer to the world-class match-racing game, should be disqualified for colliding with him and Larry Klein of San Diego, who was in a different race.

Both incidents were green-flagged by the umpires, who Kostecki said “weren’t in position” to see the incidents.

Hutchinson acknowledged: “We were using Larry as a pick to get John off our tail.”

The jury also dismissed Kostecki’s protest.

Sailing Notes

The races are visible from Bluff Park at Ocean Boulevard and Junipero, east of the Long Beach Art Museum.

Racing continues today through Thursday.