Nespresso International 18' Skiff Regatta 2012

This week the feisty 18ft Skiffs return to San Francisco Bay with Nespresso coffee products as the title sponsor of their 11th annual International Regatta, hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club. Some days the fortunes change as fast as these little boats sail. In today's racing Grant Rollerson finished first and second in the first two races and was leading the third when his skiff flipped moments after rounding the first windward mark. Overall, Rollerson in third in the 18-boat battle, a point behind the USA's Howie Hamlin, who is seven points behind pacesetting Alex Vallings. Today's winds were 15 to 20 knots, relatively mild compared to Yesterday's boat-flipping 25 to 30. No matter what happens the rest of the week, watching 18' skiffs tear around San Francisco Bay is great fun. Copy by Rich Roberts and edited here by Vince Casalaina