13 Mercs entered the final day of racing of the 2018 NORCAL Series. The day was all sunshine, about 80 degrees or more. The breeze was about 2 to 6 plus knots and shifty as usual.There were five races, all windward leeward finishing on the wind.

The key to the day was stay in the wind and hope the right shift comes at the right time. Bill Buckingham and Blair Peterson got the start and built a nice lead. However Dave West and Chris Krueger were a little faster on the long run and were able to pass Buckingham for the win. Buckingham was second followed by Jim and Kathy Bradley. One could try to guess which side of the course to play.

Race two Doug and Michael Baird had an excellent start, went to the north shore and they were gone. No one was going catch them. Bradley was second and Buckingham was third. 

Race three Pax Davis and Aaron Lee played the north shore and as the wind was going more Northerly they got some breeze and built a nice lead. However the fleet, with a nice wind, came down on them and squeezed the fleet together. Davis hung on and was able to hold off Baird and Bill and Katy Worden. Worden was second and Baird third.

Race four had West leading the group up the South shore, carrying a lot of the north puffs. Baird played the North side, but could not catch West. Baird was second and Chris Davis and Bob Scholl, sailing their best race of the series, placed third.

Race five, after three general recalls, was sailed in the strongest north puffs of the day. The starting line was altered and
the course slanted so hopefully it was not a reach. Baird got the start and went up the north shore. Buckingham and Bradley went
up the middle. All three hit a couple of headers while Davis was able to make it on one tack. Baird rounded first and was
followed closely by Davis, Bradley and Buckingham. rounding the leeward mark first, Baird tacked, Davis continued and got
more favorable shift and placed first. Baird was second and Buckingham third.

Baird won for the day and the entire series. He missed one race day, five races, that is why we have five throw outs, one throwout for each four races sailed. congratulation to Baird

Thank you to Ken and Marianne Popplewell for conducting the series. They leaving tomorrow to go to Marianne's birth country of Sweden. They will see the Volvo race that goes there. We also thank Theo Rohr, vice commodore of EYC for all he has done this year for the Mercury Class.