The Fizz Cup opened at full throttle this past Friday with Round One of qualifying races at Fishers Island Yacht Club. Nearly 70 skippers signed up for the event, so the large race fleet was split into five separate groups that each competed at different times on the FY04 course. After a full day of racing, MayoldeLupe Schism held a slim lead over the large pack based on cumulative time scores, and Skipper Seiling came in close second.

There was no time to rest and celebrate however, since within a few hours of the final race in Plum Gut the whole process began again with Round Two. This time USS’s Nantucket Yacht Club hosted the competition on the Manning Strait Raceline, using the well-known Hotlaps 2008 Course.

As the final horn sounded the official end of Round Two on Sunday, a total of more than 50 separate qualifying races had completed, and the results of the two days proved remarkably similar.

Combining the official time scores accumulated to this point, Skipper Seiling has moved into first place ahead of MayoldeLupe Schism; however, the cup qualifying races are hardly just a duel between these two skippers. The competition is proving to be extremely tight, and there is an Armada of strong skippers right in the wake of the lead boats. Many of the races ended with true photo finishes, with a scant handful of seconds separating nearly the entire group as they crossed the Raceline.

Here is the present ranking based on completed races for Rounds One and Two:

1. Skipper Seiling
2. MayoldeLupe Schism
3. Yuu Nakamichi
4. Masahisa Greenwood
5. Kentrock Messmer
6. Liv Leigh
7. Max Starostin
8. Toru Bracken
9. Kei Cioc
10. Gemma Vuckovic
11. Odysseus Yiyuan
12. Joepie Korobase

Please note: Due to Grid issues and individual scheduling conflicts, some skippers were unable to finish their Round One and Two Qualifying Races. If that sounds like you, please contact Cup Director Bea Woodget. She is scheduling make-up times so sailors can catch up with the rest of the Qualifying Fleet.

Round Three will take off at 7:00AM this Friday, May 2 in Boogdolt. See you there!

Go Fizz!!