By staying focused and overcoming a DSQ in the third race of the series, Kara and Chris Busch's San Diego-based team on Wild Thing have won the 2001 West Coast Championship on a tie-break with Fred and Steve Howe's Kaizen. Their scores of two third place finishes in some extremely close racing was enough to also win the North Sails daily first prize by earning the best performance of any yacht on this finale of the three-day event, presented by Yorkshire Pine, North Sails, and Carroll Marine.

"It was really tough, especially after we were in danger of losing our momentum after the first day," said Kara Busch of Wild Thing. "But I'm really proud of the team for hanging in there after some exciting and anxious moments." The Wild Thing team was a family affair, with Chris and Kara Busch joined by Chris' sister Karen, and Brian and brother Dan Terhaar, and two Camets, Alex and Brian. Jim McCleod rounded out the San Diego-based team.

For consistent performance over five West Coast events, Doug Ament's Koinonia was also named the 2001 West Coast regional series champion. They lost on a tie-break to Bud and Jason Stratton's KT's Choice for the third place position in this event.

The next stop on the 1D35 tour is the National Championship Regatta, held in Miami Beach, FL over November 9-11. Twenty-five entries are expected from throughout the US.

For more information, results, and photos, visit the class' website at www.1D35.com or the San Diego YC's website at www.sdyc.org.

Results:

1. Wild Thing Chris & Kara Busch 1 1 DSQ 1 4 9 3 3 34 pts
2. Kaizen Fred & Steve Howe 4 5 5 3 9 1 6 1 34 pts
3. KT's Choice Bud Stratton 3 2 4 6 7 6 2 9 39 pts
4. Koinonia Doug Ament 5 4 8 2 5 5 8 2 39 pts
5. Jacaibon John Musa 2 11 3 5 8 2 1 11 43 pts
6. Tangled Web Neil Senturia 9 7 2 8 6 3 5 5 45 pts
7. Tabasco John Wylie 8 3 6 DSQ 1 4 9 4 47 pts
8. Joss Owen Kratz 10 9 9 7 2 9 4 6 55 pts
9. Kill-A-Watt David Rillie 11 10 1 4 3 7 10 10 56 pts
10. Zsa Zsa Bill Wright 7 6 7 9 11 10 7 7 64 pts