Big Daddy Pursuit Race
Just like the Doublehanded Lightship's super fast runs the day before, the Big Daddy pursuit race on Sunday proved to be one of the fastest Richmond YC pursuit races in many years, if you chose the right way to round the marks - Angel Island and Alcatraz. This year it seems clockwise was the right choice.
A pair of J/24s, including Froglips, started the reverse-handicap race first, at noon. © 2009 norcalsailing.com
Several Express 27s (this is Xena) and this lovely Cal 36, Holiday, committed early to Raccoon Strait. © 2009 norcalsailing.com
Arcadia winds up for her start. Left to right: driver Gordie, trimmer Ruth, cockpit Chris, guest rockstar Dylan. © 2009 Laura Watt
With the boats facing a ten knot southerly for the starts most chose counter-clockwise through Raccoon Strait first, with the lucky few going for Alcatraz. Gordie Nash of the modified Santana 27 Arcadia said it wasn't luck that made him decide that direction. "I just knew it was going to shift to the west. We had no last minute decision making. And we got lifted right up around Alcatraz." Arcadia finished sixth.
Too Tuff was one of several Ultimate 20s. The healthy fleet raced both days. © 2009 norcalsailing.com
Irish Lady, a Catalina 42, celebrated St. Patrick’s Day early by rolling some smaller boats between Angel and Alcatraz. © 2009 norcalsailing.com
The wind built as squalls came through, and the fleet saw great runs from Alcatraz back to Richmond YC in both directions. The biggest wind was saved for the last finishers, who saw plenty of round-ups and excitement right alongside the finish RC trawler.
Running for home aboard the Express 34 Two Scoops: Sue grinding the spinnaker sheet, Greg driving, and Tom trimming the guy and the GPS. Photo by Christopher Longaker © 2009 norcalsailing.com
Peter Stoneberg brought out his silver bullet in the form of Shadow, the newest Pro 40 cat to arrive in the Bay. While their overall win was great, the question of the day was "Where's the other Pro 40, Tuki?" If they had shown up then we would have seen a great race for sure. As it was Shadow finished in just under an hour.
Hoppy Hare zipping off to Alcatraz. © 2009 Laura Watt
Right behind Shadow (so to speak) and the first monohull to finish was the little Wylie Wabbit Hoppy Hare - again proving the small can win big in this race. Erik Menzel summed it up with his description of their race: "Going clockwise was the deal. Also we were just barely able to hold the chute for a tight reach from Alcatraz to Angel Island. Then the wind picked up in a squall for a very nice fast run through Raccoon to the finish." They make it sound so easy. Click here for a view of the race from the Wabbit-cam.
A view of Raccoon Strait from the Wabbit-cam. See the slideshow for more! Photo by Rolf Jaeger’s head © 2009 norcalsailing.com
The Hoppy crew. Left to right: Rolf Jaeger, Paola de Cecco, and Erik Menzel. Guess which one they put on the trapeze? © 2009 norcalsailing.com
Many thanks to Hoppy Hare and Two Scoops for carrying our cameras onboard. You can see more of Laura Watt’s photos from Arcadia at www.flickr.com/photos/lawatt/sets/72157615323832699.
Be sure to see our story on Saturday’s buoy racing. Results were posted at www.richmondyc.org, but they seem to have disappeared overnight. “Information is final” - but there is no information.
March 17, 2009
Having gone counter-clockwise, the Antrim 27 Arch Angel and the Express 37 Elan, race each other to the finish in front of a squall. © 2009 norcalsailing.com