Richmond Small Boat Midwinters

December 6, 2010

Sunday was the start of the Richmond Yacht Club Small Boat Midwinter Series, and, as the weather guys and girls at NOAA predicted, there would be rain. And Kim Desenberg on the Wabbit Mr. McGregor confirmed it succinctly, "It was damp."

The Wylie Wabbit Usagi ghosting along. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

The RYC Midwinters are a low-key, diverse group of boats racing on three courses spread from the Richmond Channel to Southhampton Shoals. The small boats (El Toros and Optis) sail in a protective cove east of the club, the medium boats (Snipes, FJs and a mixed bag of others) right outside of the club's breakwater. The fast boats (International 14s, Flying Dutchmen, Wetas, Hobie cats, plus Lasers) are out on the Bay near Southampton.

Zhenya Kirueskin-Stepanoff's Flying Dutchman almost grounded. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

All the racers report having had a good time in the very shifty, light and frustrating breeze, but most admitted that when it came to winning or losing, chances were it was purely luck. "Today was an easy day to have a bad race," remarked one competitor.

A trio of Snipes battle it out in the dying breeze. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

The El Toros had the most boats for a one design with 32 on the line with half Juniors and half Seniors. And they had the course to themselves as the Opti kids' racing has been moved to Saturdays. It seems the Opti coach boats have been getting in the way of the other racers so they kicked them out to help ease the congestion. (Remember the days when your folks pushed you off the dock then went back in the club to watch football, leaving you on your own to figure it out?)

El Toros and one Opti sailing in Potrero Reach. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

These party crashers in an Aussie 18 spent their Sunday having fun on the water. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

All the courses had the same weather conditions, with light showers and a strong ebb that helped push boats around and into the marks only to have the rain dump down just in time for packing up the trailer and driving home. All the fleets got in multiple races despite the fickle breeze. El Toro sailor Mike Pacholski had the closing line for the evening: "You can't buy fun like that - it just happens to you."

Calum Finlaysun trying to make it to the windward mark. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

Nico Columbo's classic wood Tornado in the mist. ©2010 norcalsailing.com

Steve Cameron on his Antrim Wingdinghy, one of two that raced. How many of these early Jim Antrim designs were made? ©2010 norcalsailing.com

Thanks to Del Olson for allowing us to attach a camera to his International Canoe. Results can be found at www.richmondyc.org.