Love Reigns o'er Pink Boat

October 15, 2012

It was the second year for the Pink Boat Regatta at the Corinthian Yacht Club on Sunday, and Sunday couldn't have been a better day for this unusual race benefitting a very good cause. The event is a fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and was created by Tom Watson, the owner of Darwind, a pink Pearson Triton that he races singlehanded. The course rounds some nearby buoys, but it's not who finishes first (there is no finish), but how many buoys you pass within a three-hour time limit.

The crew of Ohana raced in pink straw hats and grass skirts. ©2012 Roxanne Fairbairn

The marks were a temporary pin near the club in the usual wind hole, Point Stuart which you only need to sail past on either side to gain a point, and the Pt. Knox buoy in plenty of wind on the edge of the Slot and the fog. But the first boats to reach Knox couldn't find it. CYC set the photo boat on station until another crash boat could rush out and drop a temporary mark. The race committee called the Coast Guard and were told that the buoy was "no longer needed," so it has been removed permanently, leaving some regulars feeling a touch of sentimental melancholy.

Jim "I only did foredeck" Quanci on Green Buffalo. ©2012 norcalsailing.com

Heroes of the day included Mary Lovely and Jim Quanci of the Cal 40 Green Buffalo, who won for most overall points (buoys plus donations), and Katie Love and crew on the Aussie 18 The Love Machine. Katie painted her sails pink, with house paint and a roller, for the event, and one of the five trophies she won was for Pinkest Boat. She also won for most buoys rounded by a woman skipper, most buoys rounded overall, third place in the A Cup division (built for speed), and third place for overall points.

Race organizer Tom Watson and Katie Love, holding four of her five trophies. ©2012 norcalsailing.com

Racing around the wind shifts and holes for three hours straight in an 18 must be a lot of work, but Katie thought it was a breeze. "It was okay. After three hours though we were a little tired." It's easier to power up and down a keelboat in the changing conditions, but an Aussie 18 is pretty much on full throttle all the time. Green Buffalo looked good the whole day and proved that no matter what race format Cal 40s are still young at heart.

Rowena Carlson, Jim Quanci and Mary Lovely of Green Buffalo. ©2012 norcalsailing.com

Richmond YC won the prize for 'Pinkest Club' with their entries Green Buffalo, Georgia and Stink Eye. The awards ceremony was almost as fun as the racing, with a silent auction, pink champagne donated by Chandon, a fun dance trio (Sidewalk Society), and ice cream bars from the new Garden Creamery in Tiburon.

Dance party on the Corinthian's sun-soaked deck. ©2012 norcalsailing.com

Tom is planning to singlehand Darwind around the world to continue raising awareness and cash for breast cancer research. We wish him well, but we hope that adventure won't interfere with plans for future Pink Boat Regattas! See www.thepinkboat.org/Regatta/PBRSF.aspx for more results and details and Roxanne Fairbairn's SmugMug gallery for more photos.