August 19, 2013

Carnage, breakdowns and upsets plagued the racing on the Bay last weekend. But unlike the Louis Vuitton Cup, the annual pilgrimage of singlehanded and doublehanded crews to Half Moon Bay that started on Saturday morning with 54 boats was a pleasant affair. The start line was at Little Harding buoy, and, in a flood current, the fleet found moderate breeze at the Gate and a nice 8-10 knot northwesterly once past the shipping channel.

You may remember the Sig 45 Vamonos! from last year's Rolex Big Boat Series. Tom Siebel and Zan Drejes sailed her to Half Moon Bay. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Jonathan Hunt and Rodney Hagebols on the ID35 Dark and Stormy tack their way out of the Bay. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Steve Wonner on Uno (left) caught up and passed fellow Wyliecat 30s Whirlwind and Nancy. Steve went on to win overall singlehanded monohull honors. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Andrew Zimmerman and Alexia Marcous slid the Olson 30 Warpath under the Golden Gate Bridge. ©2013 norcalsailing.com

Overall doublehanded monohull winner on the J/30 Wind Speed, Tony Castruccio (whose crew was daughter Maureen) summed up the weekend: "We had a nice breeze and were able to set the kite around Colorado Reef all the way to the finish at Pillar Point."

Wind Speed, as seen from the race committee boat, Green Buffalo, which accompanied the fleet to HMB. ©2013 Bob Johnston

No doubt setting a new course record, Steve Ravussin and Jean Marc Normant on the MOD 70 trimaran sailed the course in 2 hours, 49 minutes and 53 seconds.

Doing the turn-and-burn, Orion was already on her way back up the coast before her competitors finished. Here she crosses paths with the F-31 Ma's Rover. Note the constellation of starts on Orion's jib. ©2013 Kristen Soetebier/Tiger Beetle

Those who stayed for Saturday night dinner and drinks at host Half Moon Bay Yacht Club had an easy trip home on Sunday. "It was a great delivery home except at the Gate," said Tony. "We blew up our kite as the wind picked up a little too much and the old chute couldn't handle it." That sounds like the only casuality in a great weekend. At least for the rest of us.

The trophy meeting is scheduled for – oh, never mind – they handed them out at HMBYC on Saturday. For full results, see www.sfbaysss.org. Continue on for a report from Nancy.