SAILING : Bertrand Wins the Hard Way

John Bertrand of Newport Beach sailed from last place for his second victory in a wild and windy race of the U.S. Formula One World Yachting Grand Prix on Saturday.

Bertrand can win the $40,000 first prize by placing third in the five-boat fleet of custom 52-foot sloops today. Only France’s Marc Pajot can overtake him.

There were three collisions and one man overboard in Saturday’s 20-plus knots of wind.

Uncertain whether he was over the starting line early, Bertrand returned to restart, then did a penalty turn after bumping Dennis Conner’s boat and took up the chase well behind. Actually, Britain’s Chris Law was recalled, but he failed to return.

Conner was hot on Law’s stern when the Briton suddenly turned, snagging Conner’s bow with his backstay. When the boats were unlocked, Conner’s bowman, Greg Prussia, was pitched into the bay.

Law’s spinnaker split as he veered out of control, and by the time he did a penalty turn he had gone from first to last. Conner fell to fourth when he circled to retrieve Prussia, as Bertrand surged into the lead and won by 35 seconds.