SF NOOD Regatta

June 27, 2010

It's been awhile since the NOODs have been in town. Six years ago the Sailing World-sponsored races were mainly big lead-mines bashing around the Cityfront. Now it's the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta, and we guess they are looking for the youth market to fill their shoes because now dinghies (Finns, Lasers, Flying Dutchmen), multihulls (F18s, Wetas, Corsair 24s) are included. Even a kiteboarding division raced around the course. That must be a first for the multi-city event.

Joey Pasquali came in third in the new to the NOODs Kiteboard Class. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

The Formula 18 catamarans had the best boat turnout, with nineteen of various makes: Hobie Tigers, Nacras and a C2 made up the fleet, which uses a box rule. Both days of the weekend featured typical San Francisco Bay conditions. "It was perfect, and we really like it here," said Brian Hunt of Team Storm, racing with Seamus Woodward-George, from Vancouver, BC, on a Hobie Tiger.

Brian Hunt of Team Storm adjusts the onboard camera. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

"We don't usually get to race with the idea of the wind filling in like clockwork like here. And to practice in these conditions will help when we go to the Worlds in a week." The F18 Worlds will be held in Erquy, France, on July 3 and is one of the reasons for the good turnout here. Several teams are flying out straight away to France, and this regatta looked like a good chance for a last tune-up.

The Cityfront course starts were off of Alcatraz Island. Will Baylis and Charles Froeb sailed Kaos vs. Control based in Tiburon. The blue boat is Pete Melvin's Infusion from Huntington Beach. In front of them is Bryan Colwell's Laser Tag from Stanwood, WA. ©2010 Sergei Zavarin/http://ultimate-yachtshots.smugmug.com

Dennis Key on Team Spun from Southern California is heading to Erquy and likes the idea of the matching conditions predicted. "They have lots of current and hopefully lots of wind. I'm looking forward to it. Big tides, big fun."

On board Team Spun sponsored by Australian High Performance Catamarans. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

The lead-mines also raced, with most of their action on the Olympic Circle and a few classes on the Cityfront course. Just like old times.

Folkboats racing on the Cityfront. Some things never change. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

Trinity and Cheeseburger fight it out in the small J/22 fleet. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

For more on the F18 class, see www.f18-international.org and www.cvberquy.org/f18worlds2010.

Time for a picnic and three races. The beach cats live up to their name. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

For complete results of the regatta, see www.sailingworld.com/nood-regattas/san-francisco.

Greg Thomas's Red on the Head from Temecula won the F18 division. ©2010 Sergei Zavarin/http://ultimate-yachtshots.smugmug.com

Local photographers know a good opportunity when they see one; be sure visit Serge Zavarin's site, Erik Simonson's gallery, and BAMA/Slackwater SF's gallery.