Light Lightship

March 25, 2010

Saturday's OYRA Crewed Lightship opened the ocean racing season with a pleasant light wind affair around the 'Lightbucket' and back. Forty-eight boats started, and because of the conditions the big heavy boats came out on top. There was also a showing of the NorCal Minis with three out of four registered on the line.

Rhum Boogie, a Quest 33 has the navigator on the rail wondering how long the race will be. ©2010 Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com

The happy full-crewed Catalina 42 MkII Irish Lady. ©2010 Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com

"I was expecting more for being outside the protection of the Bay," said Paul Sutchek, regular crewmember on Richard Von Ehrenkrook's Cal 20 Can O' Whoopass. "After spending close to a thousand dollars on safety equipment, we didn't need any of it! The wind didn't hold above five knots all day, and with a few postponements from the race commitee we were hard pressed to get past Mile Rock before the tide turned. Looking toward the south we didn't see any wind, so we headed up the coast a little, following a few of the faster boats. I finally convinced my skipper that we weren't quite heading toward the mark, so when we did tack to starboard we swiftly got swept southwest and closer to the mark. We stair-stepped our way to the Lightbucket limping along at two knots. NOT quite burning up the course! We had plenty of time to take in the sights: seals, dolphins, crab pots and all of the boats passing us on their way back in!

A chick crew spotted on the normally all-male, normally doublehanded Can O' Whoopass. ©2010 Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com

"One of the requirements was to have a person onboard who was first aid and CPR-certified, so we asked a friend along for the day. Camille works at the Coast Guard base in little Two Rock, west of Petaluma. She had a lovely day and jibed the spinnaker three times her first time out on a sailboat!

"The day was beautiful, albeit a little long with our 25 miles taking eight hours. And can you believe it - after the race we reached all the way home to SFYC in fifteen knots. If I can convince my skip, next up: Doublehanded Farallones."

X-Dream resets with a new kite. ©2010 Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com

The Farr 36 Wicked not so happy in the light airs. ©2010 Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com

Even on a mild day, the Mini Daisy Cutter finds an active South Tower Demon. ©2010 Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com

For the results see http://yra.org/OYRA/oyra_race_results.html

The Olson 34 Temerity, formerly Ozone, flying an Ozone lightning bolt kite, has the finish in sight. ©2010 Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com