Richmond YC reports that the first Small Boat Midwinters of the 2009-2010 season got about 161 boats in 15 classes enjoying 3-5 races on a cold to really chilly day with some showers. Packs of Optis manned by junior sailors were everywhere; 28 of them raced, led by Jack Barton.

Twenty-seven El Toros raced, about evenly divided between seniors and juniors. Will Paxton topped the seniors and Michael Pacholski the juniors. Twenty-seven Lasers signed up; 18 of them raced; young Drake Jensen leads the division after three races with one first place and two seconds.

The day started out puffy and stayed that way, with wind chop even on the most protected courses. The sun came and went; the rain made a brief appearance after lunch. Racing was held on three courses: out on the Bay at Southampton Shoals for the Lasers and bigger boats, the outer harbor near the breakwater entrance for medium-sized dinghies, and Portero Channel at the inner corner of the harbor for the eight-footers pictured above. The inner courses got two races before lunch and three after.

For complete results, see www.richmondyc.org. Next day of racing in the series is January 3.