Tim Russell's Weckless Wabbit and Dan Thielman's Melges 20 Kuai raced in RYC's Small Boat Midwinters on Sunday. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

RYC Midwinters Go Out with a Bang

March 7, 2013

In what could be described as classically blustery conditions, the final races for Richmond Yacht Club's Small Boat Midwinters went off with a bang on Sunday with some bruised bodies and boats. Racers made it back to the club earlier than expected when the race committee called it a day. The middle Potrero Reach Course which handled the medium-size boats such as Snipes, Bytes and Daysailers had flat water, but the puffy wind caused many boats to tip and racers to go swimming. They did manage to get in three races.

Snipes and Bytes raced inside the Richmond breakwater. ©2013 Richmond YC

Brenda Tostenson's Byte and Craig Perez's tricked out Banshee took a break from the race. ©2013 Richmond YC

The El Toro Seniors and Juniors set up off of Parent's Point but could not escape the gusty breeze, and they too retired a little earlier then planned. "When the Seniors are tipping over a lot then you worry about the Juniors," remarked El Toro sailor Gordie Nash. They finished the day with four races.

25 Seniors and 29 Juniors raced in El Toros. ©2013 Richmond YC

On the outside Southhampton course the waves, not the wind, caused the most damage. Although it was only blowing 18 knots from the southwest it was the short chop that made it difficult for the boats stay on their feet and had the crash boats working overtime. But the keelboats had a fine time in the conditions and reminded those who like a little comfort why they like some lead under their boat. The only casualties for the keelboats were the Open 5.70s snagging marks with their keel bulbs. "They were scooping up our marks right and left," said one RC volunteer. The small fleet of Wylie Wabbits, Ultimate 20s and Melges 20s made it around the course cleanly in the three races scored for the day. But the skiffs and fast dinghies had a hard time, and after many capsizes and crashes one by one they peeled off to the club and eventually home.

Lively Open 5.70 action. This is Jeff Smith's Impulse. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Pieter Versavel tries to put the spinnaker back together on his capsized Musto skiff. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Another capsize. This is Christopher O'Leary's 5o5. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Mike Mezaros' Flying Dutchman dismasted and got a tow in. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

For complete results, see www.richmondyc.org.