June 10, 2013

Carnage on the race course included a dismasted J/105, a broken boom, round-downs, shredded sails, and injuries, in up to 40 knots of wind on Saturday. But that was on San Francisco Bay's Olympic Circle, in San Francisco YC's June Invitational, not this year's Delta Ditch Run. The high winds that plagued the boats racing in the Slot didn't quite made it to the Delta until after the race finished (just in time for the delivery home for some).

Dan Delave's Nacra F-18 Nauti Angel was one of eight F-18s racing. This one came in third. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Starting south of the Brothers, the fleets saw a nice 5-8 knot northwesterly wind and the new moon flood carrying them into San Pablo Bay and onward to even lighter breeze until Benicia. The wind never turned off all the way to the finish at the Stockton Sailing Club.

Although dinghies and skiffs are not eligible to enter the race, an Aussie 18 and a foiling Moth completed the course. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Although most of the boats made it in with no damage some suffered the usual Ditch Run maladies. Greg Mullins' Farr 52 lofty Zamazaan had to wait around at the Benicia train bridge for a train to pass so that the bridge could be opened to let her through.

Mark 19 claims another victim. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Beyond the Antioch Bridge, the Express 27 Expressway dismasted at mark 19, a notorious boat grabber in heavy wind years. The F-18 Le Zebra, brightly painted with zebra stripes, ran into something hard and had enough damage to require help to keep from sinking. The Moore 24 Adios didn't sustain damage, but got stuck in the mud on Suisun Bay.

Adios stuck in the mud while another Moore 24, George Mckay's Cookie Jar, sails on by. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

The F-18 Le Zebra waiting for a tow off the rocks. They broke a daggerboard and slot but promised to be back. ©2013 Jeremy Leonard/www.sailrevolution.com

The Ultimate 20 Layla had her boxing glove ready. ©2013 Marianne Armand

After mark 19 the sailing got a little friskier in 20 knots of wind with gusty side blasters and shifts keeping the drivers and trimmers working hard. Once past the abandoned Lost Isle Resort, where you can still hear the ghosts of bar bands playing Mustang Sally, the wind mellowed but never stopped on the final run to the club.

As the temperature crept up to 107, layers came off. ©2013 Marianne Armand

A post-race dip cooled off many hot sailors. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Preliminary results were quickly posted and it looked like the speed challenged boats may have made out for top honors. Richard vonEhrenkrook's Cal 20 Can O'Whoopass corrected out on top in an early posting of the results but was later penalized 20% for being OCS (starting early). But Richard takes it in stride. "We had a great time. It was our first Ditch Run, and we'll do it again. It was really tootin' on some of those reaches."

A rare third crew member sighting on Can O'Whoopass: Grant Senner from Maui joined Richard and Paul. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

So the winner overall is David Paudler's Mull 22 Navasana from Ventura Yacht Club. Navasana rates 162 under PHRF.

The Pyramid 660 Tortuga sets the kite. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Although the Ditch Run has a diversity of boats, the going trend seems toward small trailer-sailors with a rating of 99 or less (plus the healthy Moore 24 fleet), but we hope others with slower boats will give it a try. Once you do The Ditch you'll be back for more.

Mooretician leads a small pack of Moores in Suisun Bay. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Results can be found at www.stocktonsc.org.

This year's event ended in tragedy Sunday morning when a young man met his death at destination host Stockton Sailing Club. Nolan 'Noe' Goodman was first missing, then found in the water at the marina. For the complete story, see www.pressure-drop.us.