Race Week ends on rain-filled weekend

In heavy rain, the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta in Marblehead wrapped up Sunday and all boat classes were able to complete at least one race on Massachusetts Bay. Linking together a series of strong results throughout the weekend, skipper David Nelson from Stoughton was awarded the Overall Winner trophy at the regatta, which coincided with Marblehead Race Week?s 125th anniversary.Nelson and his crew aboard USA 3172 in the Rhodes 19 class excelled in a variety of wind conditions during this year?s NOOD Regatta. They won their class through tactful decision-making regardless of the conditions, and sailed their way to first place in a class that saw its share of jockeying for the lead.As the overall winner in Marblehead, Nelson and crew received an invitation to compete in the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Championships in the British Virgin Islands, courtesy of Sunsail. Winners from each of the NOOD regatta series events are invited to participate in the October regatta.Skipper Nelson commented on his victory, “We mixed in a few different crew members throughout the weekend. In this case, we stuck to the left side of the course and it paid off.”The J/105 boat with the lowest cumulative score at the end of the weekend was awarded the Wilmington Trust leader spinnaker, a prize that was new to the Marblehead NOOD this year. Going home with bragging rights, and the keepsake sail created by North Sails, was skipper Ric Dexter and his crew aboard Circe?s Cup. The Swampscott team stayed at the head of their fleet consistently over the three days of racing. The class was extremely competitive this year; the top three finishing teams were all within one point of each other.In addition to Marblehead, the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta series was also held at St. Petersburg, Fla., San Diego, Calif., Annapolis, Md., Seattle, Wash. and Chicago, Ill. this year.For more information on the 2014 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta, visit www.sailingworld.com.