Oktoberfest and More

October 22, 2012

The day was Saturday, Oktober 20, 2012, the weather was warm and sunny, and the winds were light (too light?). On this day, Berkeley Yacht Club hosted the fifth annual Oktoberfest pursuit race, the second annual BAMA Multihull Slalom Run and YRA’s Champion of Champions and Yankee Cup.

A Yankee Cup start. ©2012 Lori Tewksbury

Fifteen boats showed up for the pursuit race with the Start at XOC on the Berkeley Circle. They sailed around Alcatraz in the skipper’s choice of direction and finished in front of BYC. Congratulations go to Zachary Anderson on the Express 27 Motorcycle Irene – for a first place after 2 hours and 46 minutes to cover a mere 11.3 miles. Second place, 2 minutes, 37 seconds behind was Centomiglia, Fabio Maino’s FT 10. Just 1 minute, 19 seconds later, Valentyn Liulevyc’s J/24, Shut Up and Drive showed up for the third. A hint at how light and fluky life was out there is evidenced by the last finisher. Wally Whittier’s J/24 Woof enjoyed this honor and was a whole 1 hour, 5 minutes behind sistership Shut Up and Drive.

Shadow and Emma in the Multihull race. ©2012 Lori Tewksbury

Out at FOC, eight BAMA multihulls were treated to two very light air races, each 6.8 miles long. First place, with two bullets, was taken by Bill Roberts on his Corsair 31 Emma. In second place, with a consistent second for each race, was Travis Thompson on Chaos, a Corsair F-27. Ross Stein’s Origami, a Corsair 24, took third.

Also out a FOC, BYC ran the newly formatted Yankee Cup and Champion of Champions race for YRA. The participants were all winners of their respective divisions in HDA, ODCA, PC and OYRA. The Yankee Cup was vied for by those boats rating 111 and less, while the Champion of Champions Cup was raced by those boats whose rating was 114 and higher. The goal was to have three races, but the wind gods decided otherwise. Just two races were accomplished, and those two were just 5 and 4 miles long.

The Santana 35 Ahi raced in the Champion of Champions. ©2012 Lori Tewksbury

The Yankee Cup was won convincingly with two firsts by Trig Liljestrand in Ragtime, a J/90.  Stan Glaros in his 1D35 Zsa Zsa took second, and Peter Cook in his Ultimate 24 For Pete’s Sake gathered the third, out of seven boats racing.

Aboard the J/90 Ragtime. ©2012 Lori Tewksbury

In the five-boat Champion of Champions, four boats tied in points for first. By winning the second of the two races, the first place went to George Ellison in his custom Schumacher 30 Shameless. Second place was taken by Richard Von Ehrenkrook in his Cal 20 Can O’Whoopass.

Full results of the YRA races are up at www.yra.org and the full results of the pursuit race and the multihull race can be found at www.Ofest.Berkeleyyc.org.

- Bobbi Tosse, BYC Race Chair

See more of Lori Tewksbury's photos here.