The Yin and Yang of Midwinter Racing

February 20, 2011

Saturday's racing could be considered the 'yin', with rain, not much wind, and lots of current. "Cold, wet and wild," said one skipper, describing Saturday's Corinthian Midwinter. "Not wild at all," countered another racer. "There was supposed to be some rain, but it rained all day," said another.

The Farr 36 War Pony was the first boat to finish the Corinthian Midwinters on Saturday. Mark Howe and crew also won a tie-breaker to place first in the series. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

Although the boats pictured here made it around the course, they started early in the sequence and suffered less ebb than the later starters. The ebb got going early on account of the run-off from all that rain. And cold? Somewhere under the rain clouds, Mt. Tam was covered in snow.

L-r: Wicked, TNT, Racer X, and Chayah file past Elephant Rock. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

L-r: Tiburon, Golden Moon, and the new Invisible Hand. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

TNT, Eight Ball and California Condor check out the Caprice Restaurant. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

The new 1D48 Bodacious+ (foreground) and the Frers 40 Jeannette. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

Unfortunately for those who started later in the sequence, the ebb was too much. Six divisions failed to have any finishers on Saturday.

If Saturday was the yin, then Sunday was the yang. Still cold, but mostly sunny, and with ten knots of healthy westerly, even the slow boats could get around the Corinthian's courses. New this year, CYC has added a non-counter bonus race to the series, on March 19. Their website was down for a bit this evening, but you can find the results now at www.cyc.org.

Crew from the Olson 34 Temerity checked the results at CYC on Saturday night. L-r: Fred Eagle, skipper David Nabors, Char Nabors. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

New day; new conditions. Bill Mohr's J/124 Spirit of Freedom and Dan Pruzan's Express 27 Wile E. Coyote on the first upwind leg of Sunday's Brunch race. Wile is leading in their division. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

Meanwhile, on the Estuary, the Oakland YC's Sunday Brunch series continued, with a gusty westerly breeze and warm sunshine. Although the racers had to sail through a fleet of Opti kids racing in a BAYS regatta a few times, no incidents were reported, and a good time was had by all. In this series two weeks ago, a bad collision between a Columbia 5.5 and a Santana 22 resulted in serious injury requiring an ambulance. You can read more about that on OYC's site. The series finishes up with one more race on March 6, and single race entries are welcome.

Lelo Too, Emil Carles' Tartan 30, on the first of three downwind legs. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

For more photos of Sunday's Estuary race see this gallery.

Saturday's South Beach YC race was postponed, thankfully before anyone left the dock. They finally abandonned the race due to lack of wind. You can check the standings in their Island Fever series at www.southbeachyachtclub.org.