Solid breeze continued Friday on Lake Erie, although from the South, meaning flatter water for teams vying for the 2019 J/70 North American Championship at Edgewater Yacht Club in Cleveland, OH. Four epic races went in the books, bringing the total to nine, heading into the final day of competition Saturday. Oivind Lorentzen’s Nine and Joel Ronning’s Catapult played chutes and ladders for the top two positions, with ultimately Lorentzen holding the overall lead, albeit by less than one single point (24.3 to 25). Twelve races are scheduled for the Championship. Nine suffered an 18 in today’s first race, which became their discard, however Catapult’s throw-out is only a sixth so far. Temperatures reached the low 80s in Northeast Ohio, with partly sunny skies and a beautiful South wind between 12-15 knots. Kevin Morgan’s Wild Child took control of the 13-boat Corinthian division. Ronning’s Catapult handily took Friday’s opening match, with Keane’s Savasana and Brazil’s Haroldo Solberg on Viking getting in on the action. Lorentzen’s Nine then took their turn at the front of the pack in the next contest, ahead of Pamela Rose’s Rosebud and Keane in third this time. Solberg’s Viking kept up their solid day by winning race eight, as Keane was again near the top in second, chased by Brim’s Rimette. Following Bruce Golison’s Midlife Crisis to shore after the final duel were Lorentzen and James Prendergast. Photos are available at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7etudvj42ma4z23/AACoYQb3Eawm3EeHhRLsZNrXa?dl=0, and complete results may be found at https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=6145.