Sixteen J/24s from across Texas gathered to race in the 2019 running of the Houston Open One-Design (HOOD) Regatta on September 21-22. Following major flooding in the Houston region, five races were held in “sparkling mud” conditions. Saturday saw steady, consistent winds in the 6-8 knot range that emphasized tuning and boat speed over all four races. Winds Sunday were a little stronger, with a right shift that allowed some quick-reacting teams to make huge gains. A single race was held Sunday morning before the final race was cancelled due to impending white-out rain conditions. The competition for the podium was fierce, with a mere two points separating first from third. At the end of it all, Pedro Gianotti and Cliff Rademaker of team Yikes! took home first place. In second place and taking home the coveted Beasley Cup were James Freedman and team Miss Conduct, while third place went to Chris Holmes and team Bad Moon. For complete event details, visit http://www.houstonyachtclub.com/Racing/HOODRegatta.aspx.