Jazz Cup

September 7, 2010

Sailing conditions couldn't have been much better for Saturday's 25-nm Jazz Cup from the Treasure Island starting area to Benicia. One might have wished for a flood instead of a light ebb, but the ebb made the race more tactical. At the starts just after 1100, the wind was moderate, enough for the short upwind leg, building for the early reach and the later run.

The foggy first leg aboard the Santana 22 Tchoupitoulas, which won her PHRF division. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

Once into San Pablo Bay, the fog lifted and the wind and waves ramped up, for an exciting, fast run (and some surfing) to the Carquinez Bridge.

Hank Easom's 8-Meter Yucca (seen here just past the Brothers) won their division. ©2010 Jennifer McKenna

Don't tell anyone, but this J/24 is Stolen. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

As is fairly common, the wind went mellow again before the Carquinez Bridge and in the western part of the Strait. The ebb was strong here, as crews who tried to cross over to the north side found out.

Dale Williams' Wasabi sails under the Carquinez Bridge. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

Takeoff (tan Laser 28 with blue spinnaker) feels the squeeze. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

By Port Costa, side blasters were keeping trimmers on their toes, and by the Benicia turning marks, the wind had ramped up again for a short reach and beat.

The race went fast, especially for those who recall hot and sweaty drifters, when the flood was the only means of inching forward. Alan O'Driscoll's D-Class catamaran Beowulf V, having emerged from her retirement in the Redwoods of the San Mateo mountains, finished first, followed by Bill Erkelens' sistership Adrenaline. A new course record was set: Beowulf finished in 2 hours, 9 minutes.

Beowulf at the finish. ©2010 Slackwater SF

Since the starts went off in reverse order (slower divisions first), the arrivals at Benicia Marina were compressed. A festive raft-up formed, while an afternoon band followed by a DJ entertained the sailors. After dark another band played upstairs in the Benicia Yacht Club bar. When they took a break, the awards were given out, an hour earlier than scheduled. Charlie Watt's Antrim 27 Head Rush corrected out to first overall monohull, and the Jazz Cup itself went to Doug Gooding's Islander 36 Moondoggie.

Head Rush (left) finishes ahead of the Sydney 36 Encore. ©2010 Slackwater SF

The Jazz Cup is a perpetual trophy which is awarded to the top finisher in either of the organizing clubs, South Beach YC and Benicia YC. Moondoggie hails from South Beach. For complete results, see www.southbeachyachtclub.org. More finish photos are available here.