THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 22, 1994 TAG: 9408220152
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Mark Arnold boasted jokingly weeks ago that he would win his fourth international mobjack sailing championship.
Sunday off Willoughby Spit, he made it look easy, winning the fifth race going away and capturing the overall title in the 35th annual International Mobjack Championships. In the five races, he had four firsts and a second.
``I did it with a vengence vengeance,'' Arnold, of Virginia Beach, said after winning the last race in a fast-paced 23:43. ``I did it with authority. Really, it was just one of those weekends where everything clicked.''
Arnold gave considerable credit to crewmate David Carre of Australia.
``He called a lot of switches that I didn't agree with at first but went with them anyway,'' Arnold said. ``We ended up smelling like a rose.''
Arnold also won titles in 1984, 1987 and 1991, and defeated fellow Broad Bay Sailing Association member and defending champion Trey Smith in capturing his fourth.
Smith was in 11th place going into the final race but didn't compete when his crewmate failed to show.
``It's unfortunate, but these things happen,'' Smith said. ``I would have liked to have been out there, but there probably wasn't any beating Mark this weekend.''
Arnold dominated the 28-boat fleet, finishing with an 11-point advantage over Steve McDonough of Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Arnold was so far ahead of the pack entering the final that the only way he could have lost the championship was if McDonough won the fifth race and Arnold finished lower than eighth.
Arnold's finish was never in question, as he crossed the starting line with the pack and rounded the first mark with a sizable lead. He increased his lead on every leg.
Tim Rice of Newport News started the race in third place, just 2.75 points behind McDonough, and needed to beat the Californian by at least four boats to take second overall. Even after he was fouled on the start, Rice held a three-boat lead over McDonough as he set to round the final mark. But while taking down his spinaker, the boat capsized and McDonough sailed by.
``It doesn't really matter,'' Rice said. ``I needed another boat or two between us.''
As champion, Arnold retains the right to host the regatta here next year. by CNB