Wiver Wun

August 9, 2010

A white spinnaker peeped out from New York Slough on Saturday. Quite a ways behind were several more in a bunch, all looking to be about the same size and shape. But who would be running a one design race under the Antioch Bridge? Why, none other than those wascally Wabbits of course! The 24-ft Tom Wylie design, a keelboat crossed with a racing dinghy, apparently doesn't get enough downwind inshore sailing in the Delta Ditch Run, so the fleet sails upstream in August for the Wiver Wun.

By Mark 19, the Erkelens' Jack had done a horizon job on the rest of the bunch. Jack's lead held to the finish. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

"We started at Richmond YC using the Beer Can starting line," explained organizer Colin Moore. "We used to do a LeMans style start under the hoist, but the harbor reconfiguration made it too tight. The new start is much fairer. There is no sponsoring yacht club; it's not even a race, just a group of friends going sailing in a sort of organized way. It's the most important event of the Wabbit year.

Bad Wabbit, Erik Menzel's boat, came in second. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

"Just after the photos you took we head up Three Mile Slough. The fleet really packs up because the current is against us and we have to get around what we call Coffin Corner just before the finish. It's named that because of a nasty hole at the corner. The finish is at Brannan Island SRA where there is a very good launch ramp.

"This was a very good year. We had solid wind at the start and all the way; nothing too nuclear in Honker's Bay. Five and a half hours for nearly 50 miles of sailing, and we even got to BBQ in the daylight. By the way, it was the 28th wunning."

Colin Moore's Kwazy chases the leaders. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

And Bear's the back door. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

Some comments from the racers:

"We had nine boats, with 13 minutes between first and last. Winds were 12-25 from west. Biilly and Melinda Erkelens plus their 13-year old son Josh won. They were trying out a new spinnaker device that snuffed the kite for the heavy air jibe. (They and Simon Winer are taking the Wabbit in the Double Damned this weekend, where it will come in handy.) The whole race was close - so no rest for a 45 miles." - Sarah Deeds

"We started in front of the Richmond YC on a flood tide to pay homage to warm winds, flat water, and glorious reaches. This cruise has been longer running and is quite different from the Delta Ditch Run. It is ostensibly more fun because the fleet gets to ditch at Brannan Island rather than slog up the Ditch to Stockton. And compared to the 2010 Ditch Run's 68 miles of upwind torture, the Wiver Wun was actually 47 miles of downwind joy. Chutes went up shortly after getting out of Potrero Reach, and were not taken down until after Mark 19, near the barges. Never being terribly scared or wet, the fleet averaged slightly over 10 knots of boat speed and arrived at Brannan Island in fine form about 10 minutes apart. Some quick notes: Cruises are fun for kids - several Wabbits had kids under 10 along; everyone had a kid over 40 years of age on board. It was not a hard race for the trapeze guy, but at least one boat had their trap line break and two boats demonstrated impressive tea-bagging techniques near the finish. And there were no protests filed at the large evening BBQ on Brannon Island." - Erik Menzel

And some comments from the fleet's Yahoo Group page:

"Hey that was absolutely FUN!!!!!!!!!! Which is why I sail in this fleet on these boats - more smiles per mile lived up to the  moniker." - OJ (Harry) Olsen

"Hey everyone - if you missed yesterday's Wiver Wun, you missed a good one! There was plenty of breeze, sun (once the boats left the fog behind), great competitive racing, camaraderie, friends, food, and lots of tall stories.  As Stan said, it doesn't get any better." - Treacy

"Just the right combo of wind and fun. Fleet stayed really close, which was great. I liked how many boats had a kid along. Jack with Josh, Keala with Kelsey, Bear with Joey, Bad with me...  New rule - one crew member on the Wiver Wun has to be or act younger than 14." - Erik

"A good time had by all. The actual distance is about 47.5 nautical miles. 
As a side note, we all went around the wrong mark at the beginning (R6 instead of R2) but since we all did it who cares. Of course some people went around Red Rock too. That’s a first I think." - Colin

"Red Rock wasn't horribly bad. Just bad." - Erik