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USA: Viper Take the podium at the F16 Global Challenge

Robie Daniels and Taylor Reiss have lead the VIPER charge at the Global Challenge in Gulf port Florida, The podium was completed with John (JC) Casey / Dalton Tebo and Greg Goodall / Kelly Krueger. VIPERS filled 7 of the top 10 positions in the final standings.

There were plenty of broken/fallen masts and wipeouts in the breezy conditions of Gulfport, Florida. It was one of those regattas where we sometimes had to completely stop concentrating on sailing and watch the show. Eric Witte and Tripp Burd had a couple good cartwheels. One was upwind when they were leading. The lead group overstood the top mark when they put on a stunning pitchpole display.

The first day of racing opened with a puffy, switchy South-Easterly rolling over what seemed like all of Florida before it went through our sails. To our west, Hurricane Ida was still threatening out in the Gulf of Mexico, which added to the tension of the racing, not to mention it brought great winds! Robbie Daniel and Taylor Reiss showed their incredible downwind speed straight away.The premium for the day was more about hitting shifts and pressure than boatspeed, which was expected in the small bay surrounded by large condos.

The next three days had crankin’ northwesterlies that frothed up the blue water bay. Small showers coasted by and the temperature dropped as a front moved in after Ida passed. When the wind was from the right the large condos on the north shore came into play and we sailed on what was coming down around them. Conditions were constantly changing. However, sometimes there was a train to the left to hit the pressure not impeded by the condos. For the last races these three days, the race committee, who did an excellent job all week, sent us on an extra lap.

For the last day, the pressure dropped as a high moved in and Ida passed to our northeast. Greg Goodall had a tight battle with Ollie Jason for third. Greg and Kelly needed two points to get on the podium. They were fighting all the way down the line with Greg using all the other boats as picks before we all landed on the pin end. With the pressure on, Greg and Kelly performed and ended up snatching the trophy with determined sailing.

JC ( http://www.johncaseyworldwide.com/)

Full Results Here