The YRA and the America's Cup

November 17, 2010

The official close of this year's YRA racing season ended with the awards party at Berkeley Yacht Club on Tuesday. At the crowded bar and clubhouse outgoing Chairman Pat Broderick outlined some changes for next year's racing. The HDA and ODCA will have six races together in a Spring/Summer Series, and the Party Circuit regattas will no longer be scored as a series. The OYRA will have a Daylight Series of just shorter races, in addition to the regular series including all races. A changing of the guard has happened with Gerry Brown replacing Pat as Chair. Pat has been working tirelessly for the last four years at the YRA and many shook his hand and thanked him at the meeting for his service.

Sally Richards of Pineapple Sails awarded the Carl Schumacher Trophy, a working barometer, to Tony Pohl of the Farr 40 Twisted for best performance by a PHRF boat in the Second Half Opener. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

Pat and the last board initiated guest speakers at the awards meeting. Last year Kimball Livingston talked about racing and the America's Cup, and this year Tom Ehman of BMW Oracle Racing spoke about the America's Cup. That is the only news these days, right? Tom led a quite open, entertaining, and candid look into the goings on behind San Francisco and GGYC's bid to hold AC 34 on the Bay. One of the most revealing topics was how in the hell will they keep the 72-ft wingmast cats safe at the dock in the South Beach winds when they are not being used. It turns out one plan is to flip them over at night like big Aussie 18s. Bay courses were also discussed, and the choices will be windward/leeward on the Cityfront, a triangle in the Central Bay or a Bay tour which will include poking into the South Bay past the Bay Bridge. A course out under the Golden Gate Bridge is also being considered. Now that would make for good television.