Wind picks up late for sailing

By By Robby Atkinson / staff writer
June 6, 2004
Mother nature can be very friendly or it can be very fierce when it comes to the sport of sailing. Participants of the sailing event in the State Games of Mississippi found out that statement is very true on Saturday at Okatibbee Lake.
Leo Potvin is sitting in first place after the end of day one by sweeping all three races. Potvin opened the day by capturing the top spot in race one finishing the race in just over an hour.
Sailing commissioner Fred Smith was pleased with the way the first day progressed.
The first race took plenty of time to get started as little, if any, wind was in the air. The race finally started about 20 minutes after the boats were on the lake with Potvin crossing the starting line first to race his way to a one-hour win over the rest of the field.
Robbie Harrison secured second place in the first race, while Greg Patterson and John Smith rounded out the four boat field after race one.
The second and third races of the day found the competition get a little more stiff with Potvin taking the No. 1 position with a time of 23:37. Harrison checked in with a second place finish in race two with a final time of 26:00.
Potvin won the final race of the day with a time of just over 28 minutes, and Harrison was in second place at the end of the day with a time of 33 minutes in race three. Patterson and Smith will be in third and fourth place heading into action today at 9 a.m.
Potvin has been a part of the State Games sail boat race since the beginning of the event, and the Petal favorite will be hard to beat in the final day of action.
Smith is hoping that the wind will be cooperative today to race two more heats to end the weekend.
Medals will be given out to the winners at the conclusion of action at the Mariana at Okatibbee Lake.