RegattaPRO Winter One Design

November 13, 2011

With three and a half hours to get off two races in light and shifting conditions west of the Berkeley Circle, RegattaPRO's race committee has their work cut out for them. On this Saturday, the northerly breeze hadn't quite settled in and race #1 was postponed while the marks were reset. Originally set just to the east of Southampton, the windward mark was moved to just west of the big platform at Southampton.

The J/105 Moonshine. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

Soon enough the rolling starts began for four asymmetrical one design classes: J/120s, J/105s, Melges 24s and Antrim 27s, in that order. Race #1 went off without a hitch, a two-lap windward-leeward course. On the first lap, a dying flood current was definitely a factor, and the Southampton Shoal platform played a part in the race too, just by its proximity as an obstacle. By the second lap, the flood had started to shift to ebb.

The doublehanded J/105 Racer X at Southampton, spotted from the rail of E.T. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

Designer Jim Antrim trimmed the main on Tony English's Antrim 27 E.T., with Dan Natake at the helm, as they try to figure out the best way to play the course in the light air first race. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

Abracadabra and Always Friday, two more Antrim 27s. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

By the end of the first race, the wind had lightened even more, presaging a shift. But the race committee got the J/120s started on their second race before all the Antrims had even finished. But wait - the westerly's filling in. Three blasts of Mercury's horn called the J/120s back. When the three boats racing didn't return immediately, the RC got on the radio and called them back. "C'mon back, J/120s - you're racing to nowhere." The mark set boat had already zoomed off to reset the windward mark.

Jay Hickman at the helm of Sausalito YC's Triumph. "I'm earning my beers today," he said. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

The second race was delayed long enough for the crews to quaff a quick beverage and eat some cookies, then they were off again, to the west this time, in a nice steady breeze that actually called for some rail meat. It may have gotten up to 10 knots.

Another J/105, Wianno, in pre-start form. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

The distance of the second race was shorter than the first, but the racers were given twice around again, a preferable choice for good competition.

Melges 24s sailing jibe angles on a downwind leg. Personal Puff is featured in the foreground. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

Results will be posted at www.regattapro.com/regattas.html. Sausalito YC is lending their assets to this series and really encourage the racers to go to the club after sailing for drinks and burgers. The next race is coming up in a month on December 10.

Unfortunately, the RegattaPRO series conflicts with the neighboring Berkeley YC Midwinters, but you can't pick a Saturday in the winter without conflicts. The first weekend has the popular GGYC Seaweed Soup series, the third Saturday of the month is crowded with Encinal YC's Jack Frost, South Beach YC's Island Fever, and, in January and February the boat-hogging Corinthian Midwinters. Then the fourth weekend is set aside for the holy trinity of holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Three Bridge Fiasco. Oh, the woe of the poor San Francisco sailor - so many races, so few weekends. Meanwhile, back in Buffalo…