Larchmont YC. L-R: Cardwell Potts, Danny Pletsch, Clay Bishoff, Rebecca LigginsNEWPORT, RI, September 8, 2012 – If the previous days of sailing were any indication, all the skippers in this week's U.S. Qualifying Series knew today was going to be the toughest day. With a perfect 12- 17-knot sea breeze, the top seeded Gold fleet teams faltered from near capsizes to breakdowns and penalties allowing hope for the lurking pack close behind. In the end, the last qualifier for the Gold fleet, Larchmont, climbed to the top as Seattle and San Francisco yacht clubs held on to gain the final two spots and berths in the 2013 Invitational Cup presented by Rolex.

"We struggled in the qualifying round, but really started to feel comfortable finally today," said Danny Pletsch, skipper for Larchmont. "The left side of the course was heavily favored today so we started there, then began starting at the boat to be more conservative near the end."

In the Silver fleet, Southern Yacht Club was more than one minute late to one of today's starts, and that was just enough of a window for the consistent American Yacht Club to grab the overall win. Now American has secured a position in the 2014 U.S. Qualifying Series.

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2012 New York Yacht Club U.S. Qualifying Series
Selection for three U.S. yacht clubs to join the 2013 Invitational Cup

NEWPORT, RI, September 7, 2012 – After seven races in a brilliant sunlit sea breeze, preliminary scores show little light between the top seven teams in the Gold fleet vying for three Invitational Cup slots. Though Seattle and San Francisco yacht clubs had been distancing themselves from the group in the first five races, each swallowed a bottom half score in the last two races to allow the fleet to catch up. St. Francis had been tied for second until a DSQ in race five dropped them to fourth.

Beneficiaries of the top group's misfortune were Larchmont, the winners of the final race of the day moving them into third, and Texas Corinthian Yacht Club, a team that was finally on the positive side of the subtle shifts and strong current lines on Narragansett Bay Course ending with a 1,5,5 score line. There is no throwout for the Gold and Silver series, putting more pressure on each race.

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2012 New York Yacht Club U.S. Qualifying Series
Selection for three U.S. yacht clubs to join the 2013 Invitational Cup

At right: Larchmont YC team: Cardwell Potts, Clay Bischoff, Becca Liggins, Danny Pletsch. Click to enlarge.

NEWPORT, RI, September 6, 2012 - The story of day two at the U.S. Qualifying Series was not the dominant performances put in by The Florida Yacht Club and Seattle Yacht Club but more the way the last Championship series qualifiers clawed their way back from poor starts and bad breaks to maintain a chance at attending the 2013 Invitational Cup.

Today's results split the fleet into a Championship and Consolation series. When protests were resolved after sunset, the scores showed two points separating fourth through sixth in the red fleet. A third place in the last race of the day allowed Larchmont squeak into the Championship series after a day that typified the tooth-and-nail competition seen throughout both fleets.

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2012 New York Yacht Club U.S. Qualifying Series
Selection for three U.S. yacht clubs to join the 2013 NYYC Invitational Cup presented by Rolex

NEWPORT, RI, September 5, 2012 - What started with 15-18-knot planing conditions for the quick J/70s came to an end when the final rain squall killed the breeze by mid-afternoon. What did not change throughout the day at the U.S. Qualifying Series was Newport Harbor Yacht Clubís grasp on the top spot of the red fleet.

One point ahead of San Francisco and Seattle yacht clubs, Payson Infelise and his crew of Chris Raab and John Fuller have put up nearly all top-five finishes save a ninth in the sixth and final race of the day. The red fleet started the day in Sonars and swapped with the blue fleet after four races.

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After six races on a very, very rainy Wednesday -- the opening day of the New York Yacht Club US Qualifying Series – Newport Harbor (California) leads the Red fleet with a low-point total of 11 points. That includes two firsts. Continuing down the Red score card, San Francisco and Seattle are tied with 12 points, and Little Traverse (Michigan) has 20. The Red fleet had four races in the Sonars and two races in the J/70s. The top yacht club in the Blue Fleet today was Florida with 10 points. Next came Indian Harbor (Connecticut) with 12 points and Carolina with 15. In fourth was Eastern Y.C. The Blue Fleet had four races in the J/70s and two in the Sonars. Preliminary results (PDF). Later this evening there will be a press release and photos.