Aussie 18s Find Light Air in SF

August 25, 2010 (Updated August 29)

Aussie 18s don't do well in light wind. Today they got a late start in no more than 10 knots of breeze in the first heat wave of the year for the the City. But day one and two (Sunday and Monday) were what everyone expects for racing in the Slot. "I always wanted to do this event," said Aussie Michael Coxon. He has never sailed here, but placed second this year in the JJ Giltinan Trophy regatta at Sydney, Australia, which crowns the class's world championship. "Everybody says how good it is." Now everyone is saying how good Michael is, as he and his crew of Aaron Links and Trent Barnabas have won the series.

©2010 Erik Simonson/www.pressure-drop.us

The 18-ft Skiff International Regatta has been run since the 1980s in one form or another, and boats from Australia and New Zealand show up year after year. John Winning, Sr., a longtime winner on the world circuit, has been spreading the word. This year New Zealand will be represented for the first time by three boats. "To the sort of people that sail skiffs, it's the perfect place," Winning said, while also giving his home waters their due that, "This place is like Sydney when a nor'easter's blowing." This is also the first year for a local all-girl team, 'Chad's Angels'.

A light air start this afternoon. ©2010 Erik Simonson/www.pressure-drop.us

Racing for 13 or 14 boats, give or take, starts at 1300 daily, except today (Tuesday) , when they didn't leave the beach until 1500 due to the lack of wind, and tomorrow (Wednesday) when the skiffs are scheduled to start at 1700 to precede the Ronstan Bridge to Bridge race past the City for anything that floats or, occasionally, flies. Last year the Spencer 65 Ragtime even sailed in the Bridge to Bridge. Maybe a first for a leadmine. Let's hope for fog, wind and cold air. Really?

- Rich Roberts and norcalsailing.com

Post-script: Wednesday's Bridge to Bridge and Thursday's final day of racing got plenty of wind all right, with ensuing damage to equipment and personnel. Rich Roberts reports on the Bridge to Bridge: "Australia's Michael Coxon, New Zealand's Alex Vallings and Australia's Herman Winning swept the first three places over all of the kite boards and windsurfers, with Herman's father Woody fifth. But only one other 18 finished and two sailors were injured - Maersk Line skipper Graham Catley with a severely cut lower left leg and Chad Freitas, leader of the Bay's Skiff Sailing Foundation, with possibly broken ribs."

For more information, see www.stfyc.com. For a video of Day 1 from Erik Simonson, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPyk5rSTW5c For Simon Brown's video, see www.18footerstv.com.