Tiburon YC Midwinters

January 14, 2013

Compelled by the relentless tug of heavenly bodies, water rushed away from the northeast Tiburon shoreline to join the river that is the shipping channel, which it would follow in a torrent out the Golden Gate in its effort to follow the sun and moon on their trek to the other side of the world. The start-finish line at Tiburon YC runs perpendicular to the shore, in line with the streaming current. This presented a challenge in starting to the 15 crews that came out on Saturday in the North Bay for TYC's first of three midwinters races in a very light southeasterly.

Natural Blonde and and Jerry Tostenson's Alerion Express 28 Jewel. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Race Chair Ian Matthew picks up the story: "The Race Committee (Lon Woodrum) selected a short course in order to try to make sure the race was completed within the time limit. As it happened, only nine boats finished. In Division One, Mark Eastham's Corsair 31R Ma's Rover pushed the start line a little too hard and ended up having to restart, giving the rest of the division an advantage. However, spinnaker boats definitely had the advantage and Ma's Rover quickly caught up with the rest of the division. But in the end it was Dennis Deisinger's J/105, Natural Blonde, which took first place over the Laser 28 Stink Eye in second, with Ma's Rover in third." In Division 2, Ian said his own C&C 29 Siento el Viento gained invaluable assistance from their spinnaker, giving them a comfortable first place, with Ann Watson's Cal 2-27 Wind Dance second and Gerry Gunn and John Sullivan's (new-to-them) Harbor 25, Diversion taking third place.

Alice Martin Shinn's blue Laser 28 Sonata used to be Joan Byrne's tan Takeoff. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

TYC split the divisions by PHRF at 174. At check-in, skippers indicate whether they'll fly a spinnaker or not. If not, they're given an 18-second per mile adjustment to their rating. You can find complete results online at www.tyc.org. The next race in the series will be on February 9.

Bill Hoehler's J/105 Joyride, Sonata, and Diversion. The conditions were challenging on Saturday, but the scenery was gorgeous. ©2013 Carole Gunn