Dinghies littered the race course like plastic shopping bags in Sunday’s Small Boat Midwinter. Although the race committee outside the breakwater recorded breeze of only 12-18 knots, the 3 to 4-foot chop and cold gusts made it feel like more, on three racing areas near host Richmond Yacht Club.

The Opti Juniors and the El Toros (Juniors and Seniors) raced on the  most protected and most easterly area, the Portrero Channel. Only a couple of Opti Green fleet sailors ventured out (or were allowed out by their parents); the rest were more experienced.

Sailing back to the club in an El Toro with 14 inches of water sloshing around in it chilled one racer. “There were some serious puffs out there,” commented another back at the club. “The first time I ever turned turtle,” said another. “All my stuff floated away.”

Even before racing began, sailors were bailing, literally and figuratively. The carnage on the Southampton course put an early end to the afternoon, after just one race. The crash boats were just spread too thin wrangling I-14s and Lasers.

Results had not been posted by Monday evening, but you can click here to check on them when you read this. The common wisdom holds that, “This’ll probably be the only windy one we’ll have.” The next Small Boat Midwinter will be held on Sunday, January 6.

On the same day, over on the Knox course, Sausalito YC held the second of their midwinters. We were told the big boats over there had winds of 16-22 knots. Go to www.syconline.org for more on that series.